Very pleasant experience overall. Sofia, Cheyenne and the rest of the staff were patient and very attentive. Our ride was short, an hour, but enjoyable. Clifford was a little feisty but we got along great in the end. I would recommend this for a gentle, relaxing walk within irvine Regional Park. read more

Country Trails and Riding School - Clifford - Horseback Riding Near Me - Orange, California

Another negative review. This place has a number of them now. Disappointing customer service. These people have no consideration. Outdated website. Never answers phone calls, and slow email replies. They will snake you for your deposit even if you cancel months ahead of time. They want to act like they are so busy but can't open the website for cancellation. Consider Norco or Laguna Niguel for your horse riding experience read more

Terrible customer service. No one pick up the phone when calling, no support, very unprofessional with what we pay.

My grand daughter just completed the Summer Camp Horsemanship class this past Friday. I can say she absolutely loved the entire week. There was such a good staff to rider ratio, and the class was small. She learned so much. I really want to recognize the great job that Country Trails Riding School did and know we will be returning soon to go on a trail ride or two. read more

Country Trails and Riding School - Riding day at Country Trails Horsemanship class this past week. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Orange, California

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND HORSE BACK RIDING HERE! It was soooo fun! My husband and I went for my bday and it was so nice! The horses are beautiful! Our guide Margot was so nice and knowledgeable she took so many pictures of us and was a blast to ride with! We will be back you need to try this trail it's relaxing and beautiful! read more

Country Trails and Riding School - Horseback Riding Near Me - Orange, California

First time riding a horse it was real easy to the hang of it. We rode in a group of 6 plus the 2 guides. It was a real fun experience read more

Country Trails and Riding School - Horse - Horseback Riding Near Me - Orange, California

See all

Very friendly and helpful staff. Good horses in a nice peaceful canyon setting. Its only a walking ride, so if you're looking to gallop this isn't it, but for a nice trail walk ride this is great. read more

Great trail, well-trained horses, and knowledgeable trail guide! The only caution I have for future riders is their sensitivity to allergies. There was lots of wild shrubs that bloomed recently due to the rain and had to cut my ride short due to my sinuses being irritated. In fairness, I just had sinus surgery in March so that could have been a large contributor. Pop a sinus medication and you should be good to ride! read more

Country Trails and Riding School - Riding Jewels! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Orange, California

I had the best time here, and if I was not moving out of CA, I would continue my lessons! I started in April and had lessons 4 times a month until September. This is my first time taking riding lessons and I was a little bit worried about my lack of experience and age! Alisha, Shannon, Amanda and Emily made me feel so comfortable and supported each lesson. I got to take from multiple instructors and ride about 5 different horses so I feel like I got SO much experience in such a little amount of time. Everyone is smart professional and I leave feeling really confident about continuing lessons. I will return for a trail ride any time I am back in OC and would highly recommend riding with Country Trails :) Thank you, ladies! read more

See all

Took my girl friend here for her birthday and we had such a good time riding horses and learning about the trail, our horses. and how to ride! Ashley was our guide and she did a wonderful job. It was about $80 per person for the hour ride. read more

Came trail riding here and it was great! It does take a while to get into the park, so make time before your appointment to find parking, especially during the fall season with all the other events occurring at this park. Their horses were well-behaved and the guide was very helpful and informational about the area we were riding :) read more

I do like this place. Lauren and Alicia are awesome. But I was told by Patrice the manager at Anaheim Saddle Club where I board my horse that I should not be coming here. I have attached her text message to me. According to HER the horses at this location have some diseases. What?? I think it's absurd but just thought I'd share. I think this place should go after Patrice for spreading falsehood if this isn't true. read more

Country Trails and Riding School - Horseback Riding Near Me - Orange, California

Went for a trail ride today at Country Trails and it was just delightful! The horses are well cared for and all behaved well which made it even more enjoyful for us riders. It was a walking guided ride, mostly on flat ground and the scenery was just beautiful...including wildlife....and peacocks (just beautiful) serenaded us as we left the stables and returned. It is cash only and a bit pricey but was definitely worth it so I would definitely recommend! I went to their website for info and then emailed them to reserve a spot. read more

My daughter has been coming here for over a year. She takes summer camps and also volunteer to work here when she wasn't in camp. This is a great environment if your children love horses. My girl learned so much, not just about riding but so much more about how to care for the animals, and building relationships with each other. Great place. Highly recommended. read more

Unpretentious barn. English and western riding lessons for all ages. Staff is helpful, knowledgeable, caring. Lessons do not just consist of proper (and safe) riding technique, but total equestrian care. Students learn focus, work ethic, and compassion. They cheer each other on, pick each other up, make each other laugh. Students ride a variety of lesson horses giving them a chance to learn handling different breeds and sizes. The facility shows its age with sagging fences, well worn saddles, plywood porch, etc. But, for what it lacks, it more than makes up for in character. The school is clean, and the horses are easy to fall in love with. Friendships we have made here will last a lifetime. Trail rides are guided by staff who genuinely love what they do. Gorgeous views paired with tranquil surroundings make you forget you are in the city. Photo packages are also available! We have seen some AWESOME photo shoots. read more

See all

Had a great experience on the 1 hour trail ride. Our guide was very knowledgeable and very nice. Can't wait to go again. read more

Country Trails and Riding School - Trail loop - Horseback Riding Near Me - Orange, California

Hi!! I'm Addi and I ride jack on the English saddle. Ctrs is honestly amazing. It's a little different then a regular day there, but I still get to hang out after wards and help out. I ride in the 8:30 lesson on Wednesday with 2 of my friends, Delia and Katie. We all ride English and we have lots of fun. A lot of people tell me that they don't like jack because he is slow and mean, but I love him so much and will never stop. He is my buddy, and my bestie!!! Although I do want to try riding Stoney!!! Extra special thank you to Alicia, Bree, Gracie, and Naomi for helping me with my riding. I really enjoy my time up here, especially when I get to hang out with the horses!!! I would definitely give this stable 5 stars!!!! Love you guys!! read more

See all

I took the hour long guided trail and it cost 55 dollars. It was definitely worth the money. It was my first time on a horse and the women that led us on the tour was absolutely amazing. read more

Country Trails and Riding School - Horseback Riding Near Me - Orange, California

See all

Traveling to Irvine Regional Park is like taking a trip into what A.A. Milne imagined the 100 Acre Wood should be like. Picture a vast landscape of green with all different colored leaves scattered across the skyline or glittered onto the ground. You'll find yourself gazing into large lakes with waterfalls and cobble stoned bridges. Irvine Regional Park is thriving with various kinds of wild life you can visit at the zoo, on the trails, or even at the stables. Horses are wonderful creatures and with the right guide and good company, you can have a fantastic ride. The stables are located near the entrance of IRP so you won't have much issue finding them. There are also various signs and labeled parking lots to help you along the way. You have to make an appointment in advance to go horseback riding and make sure you show up early because you have to go through some paperwork. On the weekdays admission into the park is $3 and $5 on the weekend. I would say that the trails are designed for beginners and the horses you ride seem to be equipped only for trail riding. I have quite a bit of horseback riding experience under my belt so I was a bit underwhelmed with the pace of the ride. In hindsight I probably should have written that I was an experienced rider instead of a beginner but that'll be an experience for next time. I've gone riding here 3 or 4 times, usually for birthdays, and I've always had a great experience. The horses are gentle and don't get rowdy or try to gallop suddenly. The tour guides I've had have always been professional, informative, and great people to talk to. Request Devon if you can because I've had the best experience with her. The horse I recently rode was Miller (yes he was named after the beer) while my sister had Guinness. The trails are beautiful. You'll find yourself on long winding paths sprinkled with various kinds of wildlife and plant life. Per my guides request I picked a couple sage leaves and enjoyed their sweet aroma. In all my visits I have seen male peacocks on the trail with their feathers displayed as if it were for the visitors enjoyment. I also recently saw a road runner dash across the path on my ride. This horseback riding location is great for all ages. There are horses of all sizes and this location caters to all levels of riders. Depending on the tour guide you can go on some pretty cool trails. Each time I've visited this location I've been taken on a different trail and had a new experience. Don't worry too much about going up and down hills because the ground is relatively flat on most of the trail. Go experience nature with a trusty steed and a good group of friends. I highly recommend this place and am truly surprised it doesn't have more and higher rated reviews. Note: this place is expensive so be prepared to spend a little cash. It's $45 for 1 hour and $90 for 2 hours per person. The cost is the only bummer about this place; otherwise I would come here once a month. read more

Country Trails and Riding School - Birthday ride with the family! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Orange, California

Booked a trail ride on Sunday, Jan 19. Ride went fine until the way back. All of the horses were walking really slow and my wife's horse started to crow-hop all of a sudden and she tried to hang on but fell off. She had significant pain for the next couple of days. Was in too much pain to go into work on Tuesday, so she stayed home. We had emailed the company the day of event recapping the event, listing concerns we had and asked what actions were going to be taken after what happened. The manager offered us a free trail ride. I gave my number and had asked for the owner to call me. The owner did not call me. She emailed me today, which is 4 days after our ride. She apologized to say, "...sorry that there was some unplanned excitement during your ride." Also, she emphasized the inherit risks of riding horses saying, "...that is just the nature of the sport." She did not address what I asked about the guide not calling for help after my wife fell - and how I, a beginner rider, was left to supervise the 2 children on the ride and hold the reigns of my wife's horse with my free hand (when the guide checked on my wife). Also, she did not address that we were not given the training we needed before the ride began. There are more details but I feel these are the most important. We also wanted to emphasize we had tried to talk with the company. They basically communicated that our bad experience was just the product of the risk we took. The way the owner responded came off as dismissive and unkind as the experience caused us pain, a very scary experience and the time my wife missed from work. Update: My wife responded to the owner's email and asked if we could have a refund since we didn't want to do a free ride. They sent us a check in the mail pretty quick. read more

Terribly managed, run down, money sucking VS zero customer service! Don't waste your time going there or taking your child..the first couple of times could be a good experience, but once you start going regularly, it all starts crumbling right before your eyes. The manager Alicia acts entitled, doesn't bother returning calls or emails and wouldn't admit how poorly the place is managed. The extremely high staff turnover speaks for itself. Overall, very unprofessional, disappointing for the prices of lessons, often overlapping classes, double booking, with more than 5 kids on horses roaming around a small, not very well maintained arena. Too bad they are located in one of the best parks around - waste! read more

$75 cash for a 60 minute guide trail ride with Raider, their hungry and gentle horse. I booked a couple weeks in advance via email. It was me and three other people there during the session. The guide (forgot her name) was nice and knowledgeable. The trail was beautiful and the horses were all sweethearts. I loved this experience and I look forward to riding again. Watch out for your horse peeing. It's like someone hosing urine straight down and it may splash back on you. Also, the poop. Their poops are huge. But hey, they're big beautiful creatures and we don't deserve them. :) read more

Tried calling them 3 times to make an appointment and no one picked up. Their automated message said walk-ins are welcomed so we took our time to drive to this place and they turned us away saying reservations only. Super disappointed. Why would they say walk-ins are welcomed when they're not?? Cash only btw. read more

What a fun and great experience! Nice and easy, great horses, fantastic staff. Very clean. Just an all around great time. Everyone in my family from 8 and up had a great time. Definitely recommend heading here! Can't wait to go back! read more

First time rider accompanied by my best friend. Aaron our tour girl was so great. she answered all our questions, made sure we felt safe and comfortable. She really knows what she is doing which made me feel alot better as I was pretty nervous. What impressed me was how she couldn't have picked out a better horse for me! (not sure if planned or at random.) Regardless, I truly enjoyed my first horse riding experience here. Thanks guys! read more

Waiting list for lessons to those they deem not serious or worthy of their time. Suggesting trail rides to learn how to ride, great advice! Must be under 200 lbs NO EXCEPTIONS. Must be weeks in advance to reserve. For a trail ride?? Cash only. No thanks Alisha. read more

Just finished a guided trail ride and i must say its a great experience, I've taken other guided trails and this is the best one yet. They're so nice the horses are so tame. Absolutely loved it. Plan on coming back! read more

Very rude. Not interested in customers or students. The manager or the owner who ever she is she needs to first learn how to welcome her customers or new students first before she teaches anybody anything. Would never come here again. read more

It basically is what is...$45 for a walk in a big giant look along the park. Don't get me wrong, it's pretty and relaxing, but I was hoping for something a little more engaging and exciting for what I paid. I asked one of the guides if we would be able to canter or gallop at all...she disappointingly said no. One reviewer commented on the dirty helmets, I second that. They should be hosed off every once in a while! It was a good experience, but I wouldn't go again. read more

Loved it! The staff were very organized, professional, and knowledgable about horses. Its $45 for a 1 hour ride. Must wear boots/shoes. Helmets are optional if youre over 18 yrs old. The trail was mostly in the sun but they did take us to some shady spots under the trees which was cool. Great experience over all! read more

See all

The staff has no common sense or customer service. Unsafe stables. I watched my daughter take two lessons at Country Trails and would not recommend these instructors for a child or adult. The 1st lesson my daughter had no help or guidance to saddle her horse. The short little instructor spent more time watching and yelling at us(parents to stay away) instead of instructing my daughter to saddle a horse. At a distance I had to watch my daughter clean a horses hoof by herself as she was under the horse(totally unsafe, no instruction was given beforehand) two instructors standing around did not help her. The second lesson my daughter was ignored and an instructor spent the entire class helping another student saddle her horse that was a foot taller and 50 pounds heavier. The other student had more lessons and was older than my daughter but received personal assistance. My daughter is not tall enough to halter a horse but the instructors ignored her and helped others that were physically able to. I watched an adult receive lessons and she had no confidence in handling her horse. The instructors did not give my daughter guidance for proper form while on the horse. It is sad the horses are more trained than the instructors. Safety should be a priority but the staff is not concerned about it. read more

A couple friends, my sister, and I came to Country Trails to celebrate all of our July birthdays. We paid $45 each, in cash, for a ride that lasted about one hour through the area hills. Staff here are very friendly. As others pointed out, it seems to be run by young adults who know their way with horses. As for the ride itself, it was very steady. No running, galloping, or other fast action. Just a quiet ride up and down the trail, through some open brush and occasional forests. Bring sunscreen and make sure you're well hydrated before hitting the trail! One hour seemed just right, as by the end my back and hips were getting a little sore. I wasn't "paying for it" the next day, so I guess one hour is the perfect amount of time. As for pricing, keep in mind that it's $45 for the one-hour ride, plus a few more dollars just to get in the park. Would I return here soon? Probably not, and if I did go with another large group, it might be worth it to pay for the extra gas and try cheaper places out in the Inland Empire. But overall, I did have fun, enjoyed the people who helped us out, and am glad I did it all. read more

My boyfriend and I had a fantastic experience at country trails! Our tour guide was Justine - she was wonderful. She was very warm and patient the entire time ensuring a comfortable ride for the two of us. Thanks Justine, sweetie and Patti!! read more

Our entire experience was perfect!!!! Our guide, the trails, the horses and the weather. My 11 year old daughter and I have found our new favorite thing to do together. read more

Horrible place! I called 2 times and still no answer I even drove there with my family and my daughter that wanted to do a trail ride. A girl comes out of the staff room and says hello sorry you should make a schedule next time you call but she didn't even answer! And she could've just racked up 3 horses for my kids! They're very upset now and we're never going there again! They're awful!! read more

A friend and I took our daughters here for what was supposed to be an hour ride. I was right on time and our friends were early so they filled out all the paperwork and all I had to do was sign the waiver which took all of a minute. It took the girl who guided our ride 15 minutes to get the 4 of us on our horses. The two kids were so patient waiting. The ride was fine but very short. We asked why the ride was only a half our instead of an hour and the guide said it was because we were late! We asked to speak to a manager and the manager was extremely unprofessional and argued with us saying it was our fault we only got a half hour. We asked for half our money back and she said there are no refunds. Basically this place doesn't care about their customers or repeat business and they are completely rude!! read more

My family and I took the one hour ride this weekend. It was fun and the perfect amount of time for first time riders, The two girls guiding the ride were knowledgeable and friendly. I was at the end of the horse line so I was able to ask the back guide questions about the horses and the facility. If you are looking to gallop or do tricks, this is not for you. It was a slow nice ride and ideal for inexperienced riders. read more

My family has gone horseback riding many times together including Mt Charleston in Nevada, Las Vegas, La Verne, Santa Monica, Corona, and now Country Trails. We all had a great time, and my son who is 8 especially loved his horse. My daughter said this was her absolute favorite ride so far. The weather was perfect, and the scenery was brilliant with lots of wildlife, and blooming flowers. The animals ranged from Peacocks, to Turkey Vultures, and other birds. We saw mustard flowers, daisies, lilac, coastal sage, and giant oak trees. This place truly deserves a higher rating than what it has. Irvine park is right next door, and apparently some of the reviewers are not horse people. They are average park people that don't anything about horseback riding, or what to expect. Our guides were super informative, and friendly. The horses were very tame, and controlled. All around great place to take your family for a day out, and was the highlight of our day, and we also attended the nearby zoo, and train ride. read more

See all

3.5 stars. I am considering a second ride from them, so overall a positive experience. It didn't teach me anything about horses, and I was a bit stiff after the ride, but I was still pleased by the experience and found it money pretty well spent. Country Trails in located in Irvine Regional Park, which has an entrance fee. They are closed Mondays and are pretty much "appointment only" for everything because they book up quickly. My experience with Country Trails involves their Guided Horseback Tours, which are either 1 or 2 hours long. The prices are $45 per rider for one hour, or $90 per rider for two hours, which I thought was a great deal. I called one day in advance and was able to schedule an appointment for two, though I've been told this is a rarity. Inconveniences and small qualms: - They are cash only. - Most of the time, no one is in the office / at the front desk, and you are stuck waiting around. - You should aim to arrive at least 20 min prior to your appointment to register and sign waivers because of this. - The woman who registers you, the woman who picks your horse, and the two women who escort you on the tour, can all be different. So they're not trying for any sort of personalization here. - The provided helmets are very worn, and are mostly bike helmets with soiled foam. Some notes on the 1 hour Guided Horseback Tour: - It is not in an arena. It is out on an open trail for about half the ride (with the other half spent on paved roads / sidewalks). There is very little shade. - Your horse is not led by, or connected to, a trainer. It does a good job following in a line, but you are still required to steer and control it. Chances are high it will stop to eat. Be prepared. - The trail ride in itself is about an hour, so the whole experience is actually around 1.5 hours (including paperwork, mounting, pictures, dismounting, etc). - You are not allowed to bring a camera with you. They will take your picture at the end. - The max number of riders in a group is 8, not including one guide in the front and one guide in the back. - There were no children, though I'm sure they are allowed. All of the riders were adult couples. - I had never been on a horse prior to this experience. They had no problem outfitting me with a "calm" horse, but still expected me to be able to dismount after the ride. - I was told they enforce clothing guidelines; like jeans, high socks, and closed toe shoes / boots. However, there was very lax enforcement for this dress code. IE: one girl wearing tights was not turned away. - The tour description reads "learn of the native flora, fauna, and history of the area from our guides." This is not true. The guides do not speak at all during the ride. The occasional times they did speak up were to let us know of a steep incline or rocky path. Also, the guide leading us actually yelled at one of the riders in my group because she couldn't get her horse to stop eating the grass. It was a really unprofessional response to a customer clearly unfamiliar with horses. She should have been more helpful. At the end of the experience, nothing else is expected of you. So you can meander around until they ask you if you need something, or just walk right out. No requests for gratuity. No attempts to sell you on another riding experience or lesson. Nothing. They really just expect you to leave immediately after, I suppose. read more

This was the first barn I took lessons at, about 2-3 years ago. I came back, hoping for a better experience, but I was not pleased. The lessons are very slow paced, and not very serious. You will not learn anything here, they mold you into a terrible rider. The summer camps are terrible as well, dangerous and not fun. I seriously recommend you to go somewhere else. read more