My daughter and I had a great time. The scenery is awesome, the horses beautiful and the service was satisfactory. I would definitely go back and recommend it. read more

Talley and Ashley were great and put this unexperienced rider at ease immediately. Had a wonderful time and will definitely go again. Beautiful location and the horses were magnificent! read more

I signed up as a beginner with Talley for lessons and trail rides. She started out kind and informative, but at every lesson, her personality would shift and she'd make a rude or condescending comment about my inability to quickly grasp a concept. Specifically, some of the things she said were: "You're making bad choices. You're not listening. You need to make better decisions." Her tone alternated between sarcastic and antagonistic. The first few times she did this, I attributed it to her being better with horses than people. Since I enjoyed the horses, I continued with lessons, even though I wasn't thrilled with her teaching style. On one of my trail rides, at Talley's invitation, I brought my teenage daughter, who has some riding experience, but not on trails. Throughout the ride, despite my daughter's earnest efforts, Talley berated her for not keeping her horse from stopping to munch and stay focused. She was bullying, and I regret not sticking up for my daughter, who was extremely unhappy at the end of the ride. I also regret that I went back two more times after this. My only excuse is that despite the fact that Talley is just plain mean at times, she can actually teach riding skills, and being on the horses was exhilarating. The last time I went, Talley invited her friend and her boyfriend along. During the ride, Talley was encouraging, and I thought maybe her combative communication strategy was over. At one point during this ride, Talley told me she has chronic pain and is on the highest dosage of painkillers she can get from doctors. I realized then that Talley is compromising her own and everyone else's safety. Also, this information might explain some of her weird and hostile behavior. (As a side note, Talley never wore a helmet during the time I was with her and has a sneering attitude towards adults who do.) At the end of the ride, I agreed to help return the horses to their pens and feed. As I led my horse to his pen, Talley started laughing at me, called me cute, and scolded me as I struggled to navigate the steps to the pen. Her directions about where and how to lead the horse were confusing, and when I told her this, she talked over me, becoming more angry when I stood up for myself. At that point, I shut down and determined to finish up and get out. I'm positive her friend and boyfriend witnessed all of this. I went to help the boyfriend with the feed buckets and he said, "I'll only let you help if you smile." It was so patronizing, and clearly he knew I was unhappy. The other friend remained silent. My suspicion is that they were both used to this kind of situation with Talley. I shared my $100 private lesson with them, and I hold them both culpable in allowing Talley to be a bully. Before I left, Talley tried to give me an awkward hug, but I couldn't get out of there fast enough. I love the horses, but I completely regret supporting her with my time and money. Horses are therapeutic and magical. People should leave feeling empowered and in awe of them. With Talley in charge, the experience is intimidating and scary. It's a shame because I suspect that once upon a time she was a very skilled teacher. Certainly now, any benefits are completely overshadowed by her issues. No one should pay to feel bad like that or have their physical safety at risk. Like so many bullies, she alternates good behavior with bad, so it gets a little confusing for the victim to navigate. But you have to take a stand! I have no doubt she's done psychological damage to kids especially, people dealing with mental health issues, or really just anyone new to horses who is eager to learn. It also appears she has surrounded herself with enablers who by their inaction support her abusive tactics. I wish I had read all the negative reviews before I signed up. I see her positive reviews are pretty old. Maybe she wasn't suffering with so much pain back then. There are other places to ride with sober, safe, compassionate and patient teachers. Do your research like I should have! Take your business to one of them and avoid Talley. That's what I'm doing. read more

All i have to say is OMG...it was so much fun! Since my partner and I were a little bit more advanced...we got to have an AMAZING ride filled with the most spectacular views, mountains, ups and downs...and the best part we got to really RIDE the horses. We walked, we trotted, and we even cantered a few times. As an avid rider throughout my teens, it was a really really excellent trail ride through beautiful Malibu Canyons. I highly highly recommend Connemara Ranch to you. Talley and her human staff were impeccable, safety conscious, and made us feel comfortable from the moment we arrived to the moment we left, the horses were full of energy, spunk, and life. Her prices cannot be beat for this type of amazing ride. We are still talking about it!!! Now that i think about it, it has been the best trail ride I have had since riding as a youth in the New Hampshire mountains. Go Talley!!! read more

We had such a wonderful time at Connemara Ranch with the horses, staff and on our ride! we had such a great time! Talley and the girls were so friendly and welcoming and it was such a beautiful experience to spend real time with the horses learning about their social behavior and communicating with them. Not to mention that we had a BEAUTIFUL ride, in a breathtaking area and a sweet little picnic. We cannot wait to come back!!! read more

I so love going to ride with Talley at Connemara Ranch. I learn so much every time I get a chance to go! It is so much more than "just a trail ride"! She is so insightful...and delightful! The horses are very well behaved, and the ranch is very well cared for. And I love that it is far enough away from the "hustle and bustle" of the city, yet close enough to get to every now and then. I highly recommend taking the opportunity to visit Talley and the Connemara Ranch! You will surely want to return ASAP! read more

Its a great date or with family and friends.. They are very patient with new riders and are very knowledgeable about horses. Such a beautiful trail, you can over see the ocean! read more

Talley and Mally? You can't write this stuff. Just rode with trainer Mally Lewis this morning through the spectacular mountains of Connemara Ranch above Leo Carrillo State Beach. My horse, Angel, was a gorgeous brown and white Premarin, which I learned is a gentle giant draft horse, and thus very unlikely to buck and throw you to the ground or off the cliff. Excellent good news. Owner Talley Hutcherson, and trainer Mally Lewis were so gracious and patient throughout. Thank you, beautiful ladies. A piece of Heaven. The only thing missing was the carrots I forgot at home. Sorry Angel. Next time. read more

I really enjoyed myself. It's obvious how much Talley cares about horses and I was grateful for the ride. I felt really comfortable, even though I hadn't been on a horse in a while. read more

Talley is the most knowledgeable and conscientious instructor. She has tremendous skills but more than that she has tremendous empathetic and emotional intelligence for her riders, always moving them forward with safety and creativity in imparting skills- theres no one i trust or value more for developing my horsemanship . I recommend her for any level or circumstance, shes a treasure and her ranch an oasis for those who truly wish to learn snd connect with horses! read more

There is so much love and joy that comes from this ranch, the horses, and the people that work here.

Have been riding with Talley for years and love it every time! She's a true horse whisper and really makes you feel safe and secure and helps you understand the horses and how to interact. If you're looking for a place to ride look no further. She's you gal! read more

I ride with Talley every chance I get; she is amazing. The trails are incredibly beautiful with fabulous views of the ocean. The horses are as sweet as can be and extremely well cared for. If you love horses and riding it really doesn't get any better. read more

See all

Great riding experience. The trail guides are true horsewomen. Their horses are well kept, gentle and beautiful. The trails are lovely, good views and the smell of sage. I really enjoyed hosing off the horses after the ride. I recommend them and will definitely go back!! read more

If you want to learn more about horses than "kicking them in the belly" or pull their heads around as somebody mentioned is the way of riding in a previous review - if you have the desire to connect with horses, Connemara Ranch is a good place for you... I have taken rides at this ranch and it is the only place where I feel the horses are not just "things" for rent. Talley is a true horse woman and I have ridden with her for a long time.She has helped me to truly understand horses over the years. The trails are spectacular and I can say this with confidence, I have been on many trail rides all over the US and Europe.The horses know their responsibilities and are engaged and not dull, as many rental horses are. Talley will help you to get mentally involved with your horse and this can be an amazing experience, way more than just a trail ride. read more

Great experience, great location, great horses, great staff! I took my 10 year old son and it was a really wonderful experience. Talley really taught him a lot about riding a horse and was so attentive and helpful. The horses are all absolutely beautiful, well tempered, lovingly cared for and healthy. The ride was beautiful through the mountains with exquisite views, beautiful wildflowers and fresh air. I loved it and would definitely go back. read more

Beautiful trails and thoughtful riding instruction! This is as beautiful as it gets in trail ridding in Malibu or probably even Southern California! The trails go through completely undeveloped mountains filled with flowers, streams, trees, beautiful mountain and ocean views. Yes, there are the AT&T satellite dishes, but still you feel very far away from the rest of the world! I have been taking classes and doing trail riding with Talley for several months and have to say that she has a very special way with horses and teaches you to ride with great subtlety and sensitivity. I had taken sporadic lessons in both English and Western styles from various instructors in the past and no one taught me as much as Talley did in merely the first 5 lessons. I see a lot of critical reviews on this site for the ranch and have to say that it is more related to the people's unrealistic expectations rather than the Connemara Ranch or Talley. Remember, horseback riding is a sport that requires skill, a certain level of fitness, and great precaution for your own safety. Most places will not allow unexperienced ridders to go out on the trails especially on equestrian horses. If you want to go in a ring on a mule no problem but this is a whole other ballgame. So if you are completely inexperienced and still want to enjoy the advanced trail terrain, you should not be surprised that everything about the ride is not very easy and relaxing. Still, I think with the right expectations and with Talley's help even a first timer can enjoy the the thrill of riding these beautiful mountains. Overall I would recommend Talley and this ranch to someone who wants to improve their ridding skills out on the numerous trails that are available in Connemara and close by. read more

My friend and I went out on a ride with Talley and Reba today. It was our first time to Connemara Ranch. Our group consisted of the two of us and two other riders in addition to Talley and Reba. What a wonderful time that we had! I have to say that it is one of the first rides that I've ever been on where they really let you ride a horse. Most places cringe at the first sign of a horse moving at more than a walk. While we did some walking on the horses enjoying the beautiful scenery of the mountains surrounding Malibu, we were also able to trot and enjoy what riding is all about. Talley and Reba tailored our ride to our groups ability and made it more enjoyable than anywhere else I have ever been. Talley was great about telling us how to use the reins (which are color coded to help even the most basic of rider) and the best way to sit depending upon the terrain that we were on and the pace we were moving at. It is clear that she really loves the horses and tried to make the experience memorable for us. I for one will be back for another ride soon! read more

An amazing ride. Beautiful scenery, wonderful instruction, horses with some LIFE, and a fantastic guide. Our guide, Reba, was a blast. Very informative about the horses we were riding, about the ranch itself, and about the beautiful surroundings. We will definitely be back for more!!! read more

My family went riding today at Connemara Ranch and found it to be an amazing experience. Although my husband had horses as a child and learned to ride early, it was our son's first time. He's 10. And loved it. He now wants a horse for his birthday!! All of the ladies are incredibly nice and informative, and the way they love the horses is heartwarming to say the least. I would highly recommend this as a fun family adventure or for a super exciting date with someone special. The views are spectacular and the setting couldn't be more tranquil. You feel very removed from the "city" in fact. We will indeed be back again before summer is over. Thank you CONNEMARA RANCH for a great day! Sincerely, The Hardisty Family read more

The feeling you get while being up at Connemara Ranch and that you go away with is, peacefulness, usefulness and contentment. Talley and those who provide guidance are people you can admire, learn from and feel trust with. The horses and other animals living on the ranch are healthy, happy and also content. Nurtured and well taken care of. I would highly recommend Connemara Ranch for these aspects and an lovely afternoon ride. read more

I found out about this ranch through a coupon on TravelZoo. Since I'm an experienced rider, I did not want to take a regular trail ride with beginners, so I emailed her to ask what the options were. She suggested that I volunteer to help out with the horses in exchange for a ride. I've been doing that for one year and it's working out great! It's a beautiful place and the horses are well taken care of. read more

Connemara Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Malibu, California

See all

Connemara Ranch in Malibu is a treasure! It's just a magical place. There are so many beautiful horses, the location cannot be beat, and most importantly the team of ladies that love and care for these horses are so special. I felt immediately comfortable and safe with their guidance and leadership which was important for me in connecting with the horses and enjoying my experience. You can ride horses, for sure, but I encourage asking Talley about connecting with the horses in other ways. You will learn so much about yourself. I highly encourage anyone to spend some time at Connemara Ranch, especially if you love animals, love the outdoors, and enjoy challenging and learning about yourself. read more

Love Talley, the horses are well taken care of ,, the ride is fun, Talley is fun to ride with. I feel very safe when with her and most of all she loves what she does and she loves her horses..I beleive she really cares about the experience her clients have..I would highly recommend.. read more

My wife and I went on the 90 minute horse ride and had nothing but a great experience and a fun time. My first advice is to arrive at least 15 minutes early, as Talley will show you proper rein handling. Both my wife and I were essential new to horseback riding since it had been over 20 years for both of us. Talley was patient as she made sure we got the hang of how to stop, slow, and control the horses. Once we were all confident, it was time to meet our horses. Mackenzie and Ashley were our guides and after a few minutes of practice in the arena we were ready to hit the trail. I was extremely comfortable in the way all three ladies made sure we knew how to handle the horses for our safety as well as that of the animals. Our horses, Penny and Walley were calm and well trained. I really liked that Mackenzie and Ashley talked to us almost the entire ride. They made sure to check on us verbally and visually the entire ride. We never didn't feel safe. It's easy to feel intimidated by being a beginner on such a large animal, but neither my wife nor I felt unsafe or scared. I can't say enough about the professional level everyone displayed towards us. They all really seemed to care that our ride was nothing but fun. If you want a great time doing something a little out of the ordinary, at least for Los Angeles, I would highly recommend a trip to Connemara Ranch. read more

I bought the Travelzoo voucher for $59 for a 1.5 hour trail ride. I was able to schedule a trail time within a week. Getting there though, the traffic was horrendous. I actually thought I'd miss my ride so I called Tally and told her I'd thought I'd be at least a half hour late. She called me back in about 10 minutes and told me that she had more people than anticipated for the 2pm ride I had originally signed up for, but that she still had room on the 4pm trail ride, so I took that. The "ranch" is on Shalom Institute grounds - it's essentially the horses that the kids use during summer camp.You drive in a bit and you'll see a parking sign. There's an outdoor covered area with a few couches and chairs where you can wait and fill out your liability waiver. There's also a porta potty. Tally and Jo came back with their previous trail ride group and corralled the horses to hitching posts. Jo tried to instruct one girl to turn the hoses on and fill up 3 dog bowls for the horses to get some water. Tally told her not to bother - the horses would get water in the arena before the next ride. Meanwhile, another poor girls myst have sat atop her horse a full 10 minutes before they noticed and helped her down. It seemed a little disorganized - maybe they didn't leave enough time in between rides for setup? After my 4pm trail ride group had all gotten there, were were hastily told to pick our helmets and were assigned horses. We then walked our horses over to the "arena" - a closed in, fenced dirt yard. We were supposed to keep our horses walking around. Then they came around with stepstool crates and started assisting some of the group onto the horses. There were 5 of us and Tally and Jo. I waited around - not sure what to do. Had one of the worker guys come up to me and say I looked nervous. I didn't really think I was - this wasn't my first time on a horse - I had taken English riding lessons years ago and had been on another trail ride a few months back. But I was confused as to what I was supposed to be doing with my horse Ella. I tried taking her to the water tub in a corner, but she wouldn't drink any; instead she kept fidgeting and chewing on her bit, so I asksed Jo if I need to take it off for her to drink, and Jo said no. But that's when Jo noticed she had put on Ella's bit and bridle on all wrong. So she had to redo the saddle and bridle completely (the bit piece had been inside out). It's like my horse hadn't been properly tacked to start with. I finally got onto my horse Ella and then followed the group n walking along the arena fence. I had no idea how these horses had been trained or what the color bands on the reigns meant. We were supposed to steer them into corners, but the horses still wanted to cut them. No instruction whatsoever was given. Next thing I know, we're heading out of the arena and onto the trail. Ella literally walked right up another horse's butt. I tried pulling back on the reigns to slow her down and Tally and Jo freaked out. Jo proceeded to say you need to lay all the way back to get your horse to back off while Tally chided me by saying I should have asked all of these questions in the arena (i guess during the whopping 5 minutes we spent in there?) Maybe 2 minutes later, at the start of the ride, I'm trying to steer Ella from veering off track and Tally proceeds to harshly tell me that I have no idea what I'm doing, which I found incredibly insulting - after all, this was not my first time on a horse. She then continues to give me a lesson on steering for the next hour and a half. Needless to say, I was on edge, nervous, and lacking confidence the entire, unpleasant ride with Tally behind me. Towards the beginning of the ride, Tally and Jo also decided they want us all to trot some (I suspect we had gotten a late start), so my butt goes bouncin up and down and I'm told to put my weight into the horse, whatever that means. The view is nothing spectacular - typical canyon. There are 3 ginormous AT&T satellites, which are quite the eye sore. (Also, another fun fact, Tally has no idea who's properties the trail technically goes through - some mix of Shalom Institute, private properties, state and federal park lands apparently.) You do get a quick glimpse of the Pacific in the distance at the top of the trail, but you're told to keep moving your horse along. Tally likes to try to talk up the scenery and say how pretty things are, what a nice ride, what beautiful scenery, etc. but it was just a false front. Thankfully, dismantling was no issue. We had to take our bridles to hang up in the tack "room" trailer and put our helmets back on a table. Then I got the heck out of there! I would recommend Dude's Ranch (in the valley) or Griffith Park's Trail Rides (although those are along the edge of the mountain) over this place. You can be great with horses, but if you don't have any people skills, you won't be able to stay in business. read more

If you like to be talked down to and yelled at for not being a professional when it comes to riding horses, come here. A couple of girlfriends and I came here for a fun day out. Boy were we wrong. We couldn't wait for our ride to be OVER! Talley is so incredibly rude and disrespectful. Do not waste your time. You will thank all these negative reviews later. read more

We went last year. Awful experience. Did see the ocean for a hot minute and then back to a single line trail. Tallie, I guess the owner, extremely rude and impatient about everything. Ruined the experience for my friend and I. Very far and expensive too. Other guides are sweet and helpful, but the mood was already ruined. read more

Was give a gift from a living social deal for Christmas. I'd rather do pretty much anything than ever go back to this ranch. Never have I encountered rudeness and unprofessionalism to this degree than I did from Talley. If I could give her negative stars I would. From the beginning, she was condescending, patronizing, and outright insulting. Talley apparently didn't get the memo that putting up a living social deal would attract all different kids of people and not just cowboys. She offered little support and when she did have something to say, it was blatantly rude (told me I had 'a lot of upper body to support' and asked why I would think I could ride if I wasn't able to control my horse). I literally could not wait for the ride to be over. She does not have any place in excursions given her lacking social skills. Stick with horses Talley, people and basic social interaction/manners isn't your thing. read more

What can I say about a teacher who raves about how fantastic your child is doing, then suddenly decides she's not worth teaching when she has a bad lesson? Supposedly this was an ongoing concern. (?) Had I known there was a problem, I wouldn't have shelled out $$ for boots or signed her up for twelve more lessons (which the instructor encouraged me to do!). My daughter was very attached to Mally, and she is very sad about what has happened. read more

I wanted to go horse-back riding for my birthday ... of this i knew for certain. I didn't know WHICH ranch to choose, though. There are not a ton of ranches around the LA area, but of those I did find, reviews were mixed. I found Connemara Ranch through a living social deal ... had a good gut feeling about it, and decided to go for it. Myself, along with 5 other friends found ourselves smiling from ear to ear for almost 4 hours straight. Tally is delightful. She is an amazing teacher. Her soul breathes through her words and her demeanor immediately calms those who may be nervous around these majestic animals. She not only has a way with the horses, but also with people too. The first hour or so of instructions to help establish leadership between you and the horses, was not only insightful in terms of the animal/human relationship, but also held such powerful meaning for life situations, as well. I was fascinated. The trail ride, also .. simply amazing. You are nestled far into the Malibu hills, and though you do not get any glimpse of the ocean like I had envisioned the ride to be, there was no regrets. Lush, green hills sprawl in front of you ... as you twist and turn through the lovely hillside. It was breathtaking. I 100% recommend this experience, for beginners and masters alike (there are a variety of different lessons you can choose from) Tally is awesome. I know you'll feel the same way! read more

Gorgeous location. Lovely horses and facility. We were not novices, but could have used a bit more direction from Talley. Certainly enjoyed the experience. read more

Many many many many thanks to Talley for taking us last minute! It was completely our fault that we didn't read the fine print on living social which said that reservations must be made. She was so accommodating and helped us right away. It was my fiancés first time riding a horse and they providing instruction first on how to ride prior to us going on the beautiful 90 minute trail!!! I read a few of the previous reviews about Talley being impatient and quite honestly it seems as though people may be a little sensitive. Talley gave great instruction and if I didn't listen she reminded me to turn my head in the direction of where I wanted the horse to go while at the same time using the harness/reigns (forgive my poor horse riding terminology). If you're going to get on a horse you BETTER listen to the people that know what they're doing and not take to heart if they have to speak loudly to get you to listen - your safety is obviously their priority NOT your feelings. We left completely satisfied and will continue to return to this beautiful place!!! read more

The Connemara ranch was a great get-a way for a birthday that I swore this time was going to be different. This was an amazing experience for my family, one we will treasure. Life is about building those memories. This was truly one of those moments. This is what my 12 year old wrote: Horses Are Like Kids! By Judge Katz When I went horseback riding on my mom's birthday, there was a professional horse trainer. But not a trainer by normal means- a trainer that made a relationship with her horses and was able to sense their feelings. I'm almost 12 years old and it's the first time I realized horses are truly different. Each horse has its own personality. I would have no idea about a horse's personality. But I did choose one named Julia, her brown and white patches stood out and sort of... spoke to me. To get the best relationship with your horse would be to not continuously tug on the reigns. Just like kids. Signs of the horses mood are, head nods, twitching, tail flicking, shivering, veering off trails unexpectedly-Just slightly straining on the reigns can change the horse's temperament a ton...so keep a fair amount of slack on the reigns so you don't irritate the horse. But, if your horse continues to veer off the trail, you might have to get a little firmer. Pulling on the reigns just a little harder will probably help you stay in the direction you would like to go. To get the horse to speed up, you should just make clicking sounds, lean slightly backwards in the saddle, and nudge the horse's side with your foot. To stop, simply put your hands up farther on the reigns and pull back. Don't pull the hardest you possibly can, just ease into it until your horse stops. These tips will almost vary for every single horse, if it's an easygoing horse, you won't have to be as tough. But if it's a stubborn horse, you might need to be firmer on your directions. Just like kids. The main way to move your horse is to choose a target, and keep your eyes focused on the direction you want to lead your horse. Once you've locked on to that target, move your hands, with the reigns, towards that direction. As if you're trying to steer it... again, don't rush. Let the horse take it's time and let the horse... touch you. That is what I learned from the teacher. I'm not a professional horse trainer, but I've trained with the best, Tally Hutcherson at the Connemara Ranch in Malibu Ca. I had a great time. read more

** I didn't post right after the ride because I wanted to do some research on this gal Talley and the ranch. We had such a bad time, I can't imagine how they stay in business. If you want to read what I found out, please see it below the comment about our ride. NK Wow, what a bad day! The owner, Talley was nasty and consistently rude from beginning to end. Her assistant was late and apparently that pissed Talley off (I'm guessing). The assistant was Rebi, Revi, or Reva, something like that. So, instead of having more help or asking one of the several others around the barn area to assist her, Talley put us to work grooming the horses, which wasn't as easy as it sounds. The horses appeared to have not been bathed in months! I also noticed there was no place to bath or shampoo for the horses. The horses were down-right filthy! So now we're grooming while trying to fill out forms and get our helmets on. Yehaw, we're paying to work/groom for Talley! I went to my car to get my camera. A car drove in and parked next to my car. As a petite woman got out of her car, smoke (and no it wasn't cig or engine smoke, if you get what I mean) billowed out! Well, low and behold it was Rebi all ready to ride with us. Rebi maintained her composure very well throughout, and was way nicer that Talley. Now, more than 30+ mins. from when we were suppose to start riding, we are still waiting for the horses to be saddled. Then, finally, we start in the arena, and Talley was still in a nasty mood (I bet she's single!). After some riding lessons (laughing), Talley deemed us ready to ride. Rebi, was a happy camper, and maybe, just maybe she needs some extra green help to deal w/Talley's mood disorder. The ride was slow and Talley was bitching about something to someone on the phone! Hello, you're suppose to be taking us on a nice relaxing ride, I don't want to hear you bitching and moaning for 20 minutes. We got to the top and made it back down but were treated like we some ugly, stupid, inbred 3x removed third cousin. The best part was watching the Rebi, and true to her beaming personality, Talley was consistently unpleasant. Lesson of the day, discount horseback riding is a scam, at least at Connemara Ranch. Research: There is no real Connemara Ranch. All the horses belong to the Shalom Inst. The property is owned Shalom Inst. Talley told me she was the "owner," she is not, and that she "runs" the "summer program" for the camp. Revi also said she worked with the children. If you have a complaint about Talley, or anyone else, send it in writing or call the Shalom Inst. at 34342 Mulholland Highway, Malibu, CA 90265. Telephone: (818) 889-5500 Fax: (818) 889-5132 Email: info@shalominstitute.com It's sad and shameful that this nasty woman and her stoner side-kick are allowed anywhere near our children at summer camp! read more

I have ridden horses all over California and the best stable to ride is Connemara Ranch in Malibu. Talley the owner is a first class horsewoman, a true professional. Her horses are the best maintained animals I have ever experienced. My sister and I were able to connect with a horse before our ride which was a big surprise! We had a beautiful ride through the SM mountains and we were fortunate the weather was perfect! After our ride, we were able to unsaddle the horses and brush them down and give them carrots, Yum! Then we were treated to some turkey sandwiches and cookies! We were lucky to be able to go mid-week as I bet the weekends are packed! I will be back when I get another day off during the week! Can't wait! Giddy yup! read more

We had a great time on the ride. It was very cool because they taught us the basics of really RIDING the horse. A great experience, and I would recommend it to anyone. read more

What a beautiful way to escape from the city. Clean air, peaceful quiet and beautiful views. As described in many reviews, the human interaction was not quiet as calming, but knowing that going into the ride, I just put my focus on elsewhere and really enjoyed my afternoon. read more

We had a great time at Connemera .Horses seemed to have a lot of spirit and seemed very well cared for. Even though I have taken a Horse riding class I still feel I am a total novice, but Tally gave good instruction and I gained a lot of confidence in my abilities. I guess because I teach a dangerous sport myself ( bicycle velodrome racing) that I understood Tally's instruction in the proper light. When you are dealing with a potentially dangerous situation the instructor needs to yell out corrections. She did not make me feel that I was being scolded or anything, just enough information to help me do it right. I appreciated her comments. Hard to please everyone, but I felt a little more time in the arena with more instruction would have been helpful, but then a lot of people probably just want to get on the trail and not be in the ring. Only other thing I would suggest is to just stop for a minute and take in the really awesome veiws The area is beautiful,with fun, somewhat challenging trails. My horse Sky was a bit spirited and liked to run up the hills even with my 200 lbs on his back! After reading some other comments , I can say I really would not have minded if we had to help with the horses in any way such as removing the saddles or getting them food. We got a deal through Groupon or something which made it a very good deal. I would certainly consider coming back even if we had to pay full price. read more

I purchased a Groupon deal for a 90 minute trail ride for two. I've done a few stable rides over the years at various stables and this was by far the most enjoyable experience I have ever had. Even though I wasn't much over a novice Talley had us trot a bit on the trail which was much more interesting than just plodding along. She also offered instruction the whole ride, so if you want to become a better rider you have the chance to practice. I definitely will be going again and I would highly recommend this stable if you reallly want to have an honest riding experience. read more