Courtship Ranch has caring and organized owners/management. My horses are well cared for and I have made lots of wonderful friends.

Gossip , games and drama. Jealous old ladies. High turnover rate. Dirty water. Poor sheds, small stalls.

I was a first-time horse owner last year who had just rescued a 25 year-old Arthritic horse from a bad situation. I knew a little about horses, but not much. I immediately began searching for a place to board my horse and was kind of shocked to be honest by the real lack of great boarding options available. Every place we looked at was really small and many of them were EXTREMELY run down... it was depressing. Finally I found Courtship! Courtship Ranch really is a first-rate facility, beautifully kept and landscaped, well lit, great emergency preparedness, hands-on management, gorgeous covered arena, etc. One of the best parts is that the stalls are 24x12, which was one of the largest I found when touring numerous boarding facilities. In the 9 months my horse boarded at Courtship Ranch, he was well taken care of and I thoroughly enjoyed the facilities. Lyles and Phil, the owners are really nice people and super responsive to all needs - Example: my horse was fighting a bit during food time with the horse in the next stall and I told Lyles about it and Phil had it fixed up within a day so that the other horse couldn't reach over and bite my horse. I really appreciated how quickly they took care of the issue. Lyles also made lots of referrals for me, was always available to answer a question or provide advice and they really do keep up with the maintenance a boarding facility needs. She also always kept an eye on my horse -- removing his blanket if I hadn't gotten there before it warmed up, or letting me know she noticed a limp one day or what have you -- which I really appreciated! The on-site trainers, especially Michelle, were very helpful in answering numerous questions and being a fantastic resource for me as I found my footing as a new horse owner. Courtship is on the busier side, especially in the day time hours when trainers are working with students but for me and my horse this was a good thing. He had a corner stall right across from the grooming area and tack room so he got plenty of attention and activity. I mostly came at night because of my job and the place is so peaceful and amazing in the evenings! And, again, the property is very well-lit which made me feel very safe. Both the covered arena and both round pens have great lighting and all the paths are lit, there are motion detectors -- very, very safe and easy to move around there at night. My farrier even came at night to work! That's how well lit it is. I moved to another ranch recently as my horse's arthritis required him to have more natural space and less forced exercise -- it's been the right move for my horse (he's in a huge paddock with daily turnouts on over an acre in a private facility) but I seriously miss Courtship Ranch. I so appreciated how organized the ranch is, all the safety precautions, the motion detectors, the easy access outdoor kitchen area, etc. If you are looking for a hands-on place to board with convenient amenities like a covered arena (ride or walk your horse in the rain and you won't get wet!) and easy access to the trails, Courtship will be a great fit. If you need more space, however, Courtship (even with its pasture) is not the right fit. The pasture is on a hill and very rocky. It gets very slick in the winter rains. I was too fearful of my horse being on an incline in the pasture especially in the winter -- it just wouldn't work for my boy and I don't think it would work for any older horse to be honest. But if you regularly work your horse and want a great ranch - Courtship is a wonderful, beautiful place to call home. I miss my friends there (equine and human) a lot! read more

See all

I knew from the moment I set foot inside Courtship Ranch that this is where I needed to stay! I've boarded at a few different barns in the same area and nothing even compares! The covered arena is gorgeous! Not only can you ride in bad weather but you don't need to worry about waiting a week for the footing to dry out! The facilities are great with multiple turn out pastures below the ranch and two large round pens. The best part is that the owners are absolutely dedicated and are always making improvements to the ranch to make everyone's life a little better. When I was given my first tour, over two years ago now, the owner told me that she makes these improvements because she rides herself and wants to enjoy them. That's always great to have one of the most active riders at the barn be the owner but, beyond that, they go out of their way to make life better for EVERYONE! The barn is also in a prime location for trails with access to all the Hansen Dam has to offer as well as a really great ride just outside the gates into the mountains! - Clean and safe! - Access to awesome trainers and shows - All disciplines welcome (jumpers, dressage, western, even just casual trail riding) - REAL hay fed - Gorgeous facilities - Fabulous trails read more

See all

I love Courtship. I toured many places before choosing to board my first horse here. Lyles, the barn manager is on top of everything and makes sure the entire barn runs smoothly. Whether its from repairs, simple every day questions you may have, and emergency protocol (we experienced fire evac this past year) - she's got the answers! There's also a variety of trainers here so you're not limited to just one discipline. Everyone is so friendly and the place is very clean. I trust that my horse will be safe and well looked after here, so there is never a worry in my mind when it comes to the care of my horse! read more

A beautiful fully equipped equestrians dream home for riding training and enjoying ones horse . Top flight staff happy well cared for horses and knowledgeable capable on site owners . read more

Years ago I boarded my horse at this facility. Today, it's unrecognizable. The improvements are amazing!!! Now every day I look forward to coming to visit with my horse. Courtship Ranch and its environment gives you all the "tools" to enjoy your horse. They have a covered 200'x90' arena and 2 spacious rings. It's easy to find peace on the trails starting right at the gate. The trainers are fantastic. See the raving reviews for Northstar Farms http://www.yelp.com/biz/north-star-farms-los-angeles The trainers and their students have a lot of fun at all the local shows in the area and I've made real friends at one of their many parties around the fire pit. I hope that any reader will come up and see how they too can make the most out of their time with their horse in this peaceful and affordable setting in Lake View Terrace. Btw, I live in Pasadena and it only takes me about 20 mins. to get there. I hear about the same from boarders who come from the Valley or Burbank. read more

See all

Courtship Ranch has to be my favorite boarding experience, and I've boarded at quite a few big and small barns in the valley in the last 10 years. Everyone is great here, laid back but serious when needed. Boarders range from western and trail riders to, dressage riders and lesson kids. There is a little bit of everything here! No matter what your riding style is, you will fit in. There are 2 trainers available for help and instruction, whether you want a lesson on your horse, or your daughter wants to learn how to ride a pony! What I love about Courtship, and you will to: -HAY CHOICES! yes!! They feed more than just alfalfa! You can choose oat hay (a 3-way type usually) or bermuda grass. This is a HUGE plus for my fatty Haflinger! -Fully gated property. I am always worrying about worst case scenarios, and knowing my horse won't go running down the 210 freeway loose is comforting! -Covered arena! You read that right! Not only can we ride when it's pouring rain, but we don't get a sunburn when riding in mid July! -Trail access. I'm not much of a trail rider, but it's nice to have access to trails, either right up the hill behind the barn, or out into Hansen Dam. -Everyone is friendly, and usually willing to help, whether your horse is sick, or you just can't seem to figure out the knot on your new rope halter! -Fun atmosphere. We have frequent events to get together and have fun off and on our horses. Love the fire pit! Only bummer: buying your own bedding if you want it BUT I always found myself unhappy with shavings at other barns, either to dusty or not enough provided, and was purchasing my own all the time, At least now I can decide what kind of shavings and how much is in my stall. And if you keep on top of the bedding, the cost isn't bad at all. Overall, Courtship Ranch is one of the best barns I've found locally! Come check it out, you won't want to leave! read more

Courtship Ranch - Fire pit at the holiday party! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Sylmar, California

See all

Courtship is a well run, well maintained facility. The barn owner is always concerned for safety, particularly with fires, and makes sure drills are done on a regular basis. Most of the boarders are friendly and it's a good environment with reasonable boarding costs and a great location. read more

I've had my horse at Courtship Ranch for over 10 years, and during this recent fire and evacuation I was reminded of why I'm there and not at another facility. During the fire I was unable to get to the ranch and unavailable because of a singing performance. My horse was evacuated to the Equestrian Center (I just found out today when I was finally able to go) taken care of, attended to by the most caring and prepared people (the owners of Courtship Ranch). I am so lucky and privileged to be part of a family of horse owners who care and look out for one another and their horses. I highly recommend Courtship Ranch to anyone looking for a facility. read more

Terrible footing; passive-aggressive management; terrible trainers, especially the male dressage trainer who can and does make any horse rear with his ham-fisted faux-dressage. I'd give zero stars if I could. read more

This place would be a lovely neighborhood boarding facility if not for the astonishing lack of competent trainers. Currently Matthew Walsh of North Star Farms is a "trainer" there and let me tell you, after what he did to my horse I wish I had never even heard of Courtship Ranch. Matthew Walsh ruins horses, makes them hateful in the face (because he clamps down on their mouths and NEVER gives at all), always speaks rudely of the horses and of his clients (often to other clients) and in general creates a very negative environment. He also has a reputation for summersalting horses on their faces. His horses are all heavy on the forehand, and that combined with an iron death grip on their faces makes for a very dangerous combination indeed. To date he has summersalted hind end over front end at least four horses at this barn that I know of, with a variety of resulting injuries. I was lucky that he didn't have my horse in training longer than he did. Many of the horses he has in "training" were completely sweet and docile when they arrived and now lunge at people in their stalls, bite, and in general refuse to move forward under saddle. It is my sincere hope that they get another trainer, before all of the horses that he handles at Courtship end up "dangerous." This facility (with their lovely covered arena) has the potential to be wonderful, if not for this trainer who seems to be ingrained there for the long haul. read more

Except for the covered arena, this place is average.. The owner and manager are nice, arena is nice, and they have made many good improvements to a previously run down facility. There is drama and complaining just like at any other barn, which if you've boarded anywhere will be nothing new. Good trainers and a lot of different stuff goes on, you won't get bored here. In short- good barn for the area, prices are competitive for the area. read more

great access to miles of trails, nice arena and nice people. Helpful trainers, too. All around good place to board a horse in the Los Angeles area. read more

The ranch is owned and managed by the wonderful Perkins family. Juan oversees the place and has a good knowledge of horses and will notice if a horse is ill. The place is well organized. Broken things get fixed. People are required to clean up after themselves and do. Your horses will be well cared for with hay feedings and cleanings twice daily. You have a choice of hay and the standard board includes up to 4 flakes daily. Additional services such as supplements, blanketing, turnout are available at a reasonable price. No shavings are provided but that means no complaints about the quality of the shavings. You can choose what type of shavings and even store a few extra bags in designated areas. The two trainers on the ranch offer a range of disciplines from dressage to Western Pleasure. You can take lessons, have your horse trained or buy a lesson/training package. Visiting clinicians offer additional training including upper level dressage and the opportunity to observe the experts if you are not participating. If you want to show, you can do that too or just go cheer on your friends or one of the Perkins kids. There is a covered arena which is just as great for sun protection as it is for rain. You can pretty much ride every day here if you want. There are arena lights until 9 pm and in addition to the covered arena, there is a large round fenced arena and a smaller oval. There is direct access to trails up in the hills and access to Hansen Dam which requires crossing Foothill Boulevard. Tackrooms are shared and locked. The atmosphere is friendly. There are potlucks and ranch play days from time to time and frequent (but not too frequent) emails with ranch updates. Fire safety is practiced included trailer loading clinics. The ranch itself is fully gated so a loose horse is not going to end up on the road. There is a large handicapped bathroom, a fridge and even a washing machine (for saddle pads and wraps). Parking is not an issue. The place is well kept including really nice landscaping and covered tacking up areas. I've been here two years and don't think there is another boarding facility that can compare for the quality and value. read more

Courtship Ranch is my home away from home. My horse Jazzy has never been happier in the 14 years we've been together. She apparently is a late bloomer and I attribute all of it to the great environment, owners and trainers, staff and fellow boarders at Courtship. read more

I've boarded horses all of my life (60 years), and have never had such a great experience as I have at Courtship. I've been here for six years, and during that time it has been a pleasure for both myself and my horses. I brought in a horse that had been roughed up by muckers at a previous barn and was very wary of humans. He slowly healed mentally....and loved his life here. I've noticed this about both people and horses, everyone just becomes their best selves. Blood pressure drops, mood stabilizes and there is no drama. The ranch is so spread out, people and horses can breath. It's a pretty and clean boarding facility. There is always a refreshing breeze, and the nights here are magical. It's like being on retreat. There are magnificent mountain trails and no crazy rental riders. We also have the wash area that is filled with water crossings and deeply shaded trails, great for hot days. Hay quality is great, with your choice of three types of hay. We also have a huge, professional covered arena, plenty of turn outs and a hammock under a pepper tree, so we can relax while our horses frolic with free time. It's my bliss, both for the trails, the tranquility of the ranch, and the care that the owner/manager shows each person and horse. This place is unique and wonderful. read more

Excellent boarding facility and the price is even better. The new owners/manager live on the ranch and are 110% dedicated to their horses and riders. They've even made some great improvements to the ranch since they took over which includes a covered arena.. read more

Whether you're a serious dressage enthusiast or an avid trail rider, Courtship Ranch offers a wonderful boarding experience. The ranch offers a number of riding options, with a covered arena, two round pens and adjacent trails, and a casual atmosphere that makes everybody right at home. Lyles Perkins is a conscientious, hands-on owner who sees to it that all the details are just right -- from clean, airy stalls to groomed arenas to our terrific barn manager, Juan, who takes such good care of our horses and us! read more