FHS and trainer Stephanie Walker are the best. She has created an exceptional environment where the…read morehorses' comfort and happiness are always the priority. She helps all levels of riders realize their full potential in a very unintimidating way. I would highly recommend this barn for boarding, leasing, training, and lessons.

Stephanie Walker at Free Heart Stables is a true horseman. She understands the equine holistically…read moreand teaches her clients from where the horse is at physically and mentally, and always for the good of the horse. My daughter entered into the horse world via typical horseback lesson experience. She received excellent instruction in rider form at a top riding school but she became bored with just jumping on a horse for the purpose of getting through the transitions and jumps while looking good. She craved a deeper bond with her equine partners. So, being a brand new horse person myself, and only to support my daughter from afar, I found Stephanie in a Google search. I figured some horseback lessons that simulated actual horse ownership would cure the bug. I also decided that since this experience would be more than just tacking up the horse and riding, I decided to take lessons too so I could supervise my daughter from the ground. When my daughter first started riding, I wouldn't even pet the horses, and I was the least likely candidate to be a horse owner, that's how resistant I was to this whole horse fever she caught. I thought for sure these true "horsemanship" lessons would end this nonsense. Well, Stephanie didn't cure the horse bug. She made it worse, it was contagious, and I caught it. She stirred a new passion in my daughter and I that opened up a whole new world where horses are now more than a hobby, we have a new lifestyle. Fast forward to today, we are the humble owners of a beautiful, dramatic, and sensitive thoroughbred gelding and Stephanie is our trainer. Forget thinking that this is your typical trainer situation where the expert does the hard work of training your horse and you come out only to ride and experience the fruit of that labor. Stephanie is teaching US how to train our horse. Her lessons involve us in every part of the equine from the how the horse thinks to how the horse moves - on good days and bad days. Some of our best lessons, even when we first started, have been in (and continue to be in) imperfect conditions where we were making mistakes and Stephanie patiently taught us what was going on with the horse mentally, how we created the situation, and how to correct it. She will not do it for you, and she will make you take it slow to do things right. You can do things fast, or you can do them right. Thankfully, she has the patience and calm demeanor of a saint with kids and nervous, newbie, somewhat resistant, older adults. Stephanie just has something special to offer people that is vitally lacking in our fast paced, over tech'd, and over-achieving culture. The character qualities that are being instilled in my daughter (and myself) through this journey is not something the fanciest training barn or most expensive private school could ever teach. It is hard work that teaches you how to slow down, be present, and be teachable. Though the word has lost its meaning, Stephanie is a true natural horseman and she will teach you how to understand and communicate with the horse from the moment you make contact. If you want a truly fulfilling equine partnership that is unlike anything offered at training and lesson barns, contact Stephanie. Your horse will thank you.

We've had such a wonderful experience with this barn! My son is taking horseback riding lessons…read morewith Johnny, and she is absolutely amazing. She's incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and clearly passionate about what she does. She has such a special gift for teaching children--making them feel confident, safe, and excited to learn. My son looks forward to every lesson, and we've seen so much growth in his skills and confidence. Highly recommend to any families looking for a positive and supportive environment for their kids!

We love riding horses, and this experience meant so much to us. My daughter has special needs, and…read moreJohnny and Amanda treated her with genuine respect, patience, and kindness from the very beginning. Johnny took the time to understand her riding ability and encouraged her in just the right way, pushing her enough to grow while making her feel safe and supported. Because of that, she not only excelled but continues to build confidence every time she rides. We're incredibly grateful for such a thoughtful and inclusive experience. We look forward to our next session. We Highly recommend Johnny 6 Stables!

Rancho Gavilan is a beautiful, quiet, well maintained boarding stable in Gilroy, CA. The footing is…read moreexcellent and includes a covered arena with mirrors, a dressage court, jumping arena, box stalls and pipe stalls, pastures, turn out, a hacking path, and access to trails that wind through rolling hills with oak trees. The trainers available are second to none and include Jason Canton, a USDF Gold Medal CLS 5 Star Rated International Grand Prix dressage rider. Jason brings his expertise of 28 years of training over 25 horses to the FEI level of Grand Prix dressage and many riders trained to achieve their USDF medals. Very few facilities can boast this level of quality care. Highly recommend Rancho Gavilan.

Great experience with Diane !! We really recommend her ! All of our 3 kids really liked her and the…read moreway she teaches . The horses were very quiet and the little one was so cute , she also has more animals on property which made it even more fun!

Diane does great work. Had a mini horse with curled hooves. A disaster. Diane made them look normal…read moreand brought great relief to the horse. I was astonished she was able to get the hooves in such great shape. Diane works to make the horse comfortable and doesn't push and lose her patience.

Lone Oak is a great boarding stable. The facility is very clean and quiet. They have several…read morearenas. You will most likely have the arena to yourself. The arenas have great footing. They take pride in the facility and security. The only downside is fall is in the winter time only the covered arena is open sometimes. They do seal the outside arenas. So once the outside arenas dry out they open them back up.

I've been taking private lessons with Shari for about three years now, and I couldn't recommend her…read moremore highly. I was initially referred to her because of the facilities, and the care for her horses. I also appreciate that Shari owns the barn, so I never have to guess where my lesson will take place. A lot of trainers in the area seem to move barns frequently, but with Shari everything is consistent and reliable. Plus, as Morgan Hill can get hot, I really appreciate having access to the indoor arena. There is also a dressage ring and an outdoor ring, so there's plenty of space and flexibility depending on what you're working on. I got back into riding about five years ago as an adult after growing up with my own horse, although now I ride mostly to stay connected to horses and continue learning in a safe, supportive environment. Shari does a great job meeting riders where they are, whether you're returning to the sport or advancing your skills. Shari also hosts local competitions at the barn, which creates opportunities for riders who want to push themselves further. Overall, it's a great place to ride, learn, and be part of a welcoming horse community.

Shannon is an exceptional instructor. She has been teaching my daughter horseback riding for the…read morepast 10 years, and my daughter absolutely loves her kind, patient, and encouraging approach. Shannon has played a huge role in helping her grow and progress through the levels with confidence. My daughter truly loves the horses and the entire stable environment. It's also a wonderful place to spend time while waiting--calm, peaceful, and welcoming. We're so grateful for Shannon and the entire team.

We have been attending lessons at Painted Star Equestrian for 5 months now. We LOVE Shannen's…read morecurriculum for horseback riding. The kids always know what their next goals are and how to level up and what they need to do to get there. My youngest fell in love with horseback riding here. She is often overshadowed by her two older sisters' achievements and she has found her own "thing" here. She has learned a greater level of responsibility and independence. Her confidence has grown both on and off the arena and we couldn't be more proud of her and thankful for Painted Star!

This used to be a really nice facility but unfortunately has been going downhill for awhile…read more Britteny Streeval is the latest in a revolving door of barn managers. No one wants to work for the barn owner for long. He is rude, doesn't respect women, and condescending. Brittney doesn't know anything about horses or the care that they need. She outright refuses to address potential safety hazards, instead prioritizing weed whacking. If boarders come to her with complaints she is likely to lose her temper, yelling and waving her hands violently. There are many trainers with excellent programs, but if any handicap person wants to come watch their child ride there is no handicap bathroom for them to go to. Very disappointing that a public facility doesn't have handicap accomodations. In addition to this, the bathrooms chronically have difficulty flushing and the toilets are almost always full of poop. The arenas dragging is poorly done, leading to bad footing and rivets in the sand. This is a shame because the arenas used to have extraordinary footing, especially in the indoor arena. Break ins to vehicles is not uncommon, as well as cigarette butts found in horses stalls. Communication between management and boarders is limited. The board has been raised twice in the last 6 months, even during the decline in quality. On July 4th the horses didn't get fed until 10pm Sometimes the hay is moldy. Boarders are not always notified when their horse gets out. Stall cleaners do not always remember to chain gates.

Nice facilities, including round pen and two large, open arenas (not covered). Owners: Shirley and…read moreAlbert are quite nice and reasonable. Unfortunately, their daughter Perry, has an aggressive American Bull Dog, Quincy, that roams the facilities and has attacked my horse (Feb 2009). Moved from this facility immediately thereafter as the owner had no remorse and even commented that her dog has attacked her horses as well.

This is one of the best horse stables I found in Morgan Hill. The owners and other boarders are…read morevery attentive and helpful. They feed excellent hay, they keep the facility in clean and well maintained condition. All of the ranch dogs including Quincy are very friendly and well behaved, I always enjoy the dog friendly greetings when I arrive at the ranch. Great place and great family!

When I imagine what a barn should be, Three Horse Farm is exactly what comes to mind. The head…read moretrainer, Lizzy Green, is kind, supportive, talented, and truly cares about her clients. No matter where you are in your riding journey, beginner to advanced, she will bring out the best in you with positive and empathetic coaching. My riding has improved to levels far beyond what I ever thought I could reach. My fellow riders and I cheer each other on and celebrate successes, and support each other through the tough days. We truly have the best barn family ; there's nowhere else I'd rather be!

A friend and I stumbled upon Three Horse Farms after purchasing a Livingsocial.com deal for a 1…read morehour riding lesson-- what luck! Julia (a co-owner of the business) gave us a very informative and fun lesson. She is VERY knowledgeable about horses and as such I always felt safe while we were grooming or riding. I'm so glad we were able to experience riding-- even only for a short while-- with THF. I would love to come back as soon as possible! Thanks Julia!!