I went on a trail ride with Laura along with my cousin and two friends on March 27, 2026. We range…read morein age from mid 50s to mid 70s. I had not been on a horse in 45 years. It was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life. It was also a miraculous gift to my 73-year-old friend Lisa. She has been completely blind since an auto accident on the way to a horse show in 1969. She was only 16 years old and in training for the 1972 Olympics in dressage. This ride was her first since that day. Laura is incredibly compassionate and an absolute expert with horses. She is exceptionally safety conscious. She set Lisa up with a gentle horse named Mama, and at Lisa's request, Laura led mama from a few horse lengths away. The experience was amazing and Laura made it possible. I cannot recommend her and Trails of 49 highly enough. Laura is also a great historian. My mother's family has been in Calaveras County since the 1850s. While I live 300 miles away now, it's good to know that the history, horses, and land is so well cared for by such an exceptional person. I was born in Calaveras County and will be buried there, and I'm glad Laura is taking care of it in the meantime!

Such a great horseback riding experience! First off,…read moredefinitely use Google Maps to get here--Apple Maps took us to the wrong spot. The entrance is a bit tucked away off a driveway and dirt road, and depending on the signage, it might not be super obvious. But if you follow Google Maps, you should be fine! We did the 1.5-hour ride and it was totally worth it. You cover a lot of ground, and the property is massive--it really feels like you're out in nature. Even though everything was pretty dry and golden this time of year, it was still beautiful. We saw cows, open fields, and got to take in the peaceful surroundings. Laura was an amazing guide and host--so patient, kind, and knowledgeable. She matched us with the right horses for our level and even took pictures for us during the ride, which was such a nice bonus. Also, shoutout to them for providing water--it was super hot and I was not prepared for that sun! Definitely wear sunscreen if you're going during the summer months. All in all, a really memorable experience and I'd absolutely recommend it. Great for beginners or anyone just looking to unplug and do something special outdoors.

A nice working ranch that also is a party venue. Had a nice wedding service in front of the big…read morebarn and then a great reception and party afterwords. The Bride and Groom had a day they will remember forever.

hello, i Want to get my daughters horseback riding lessons but I called the office and emailed and…read morehave not gotten a response it's been 3 weeks.

It was so beautiful, so much fun the horses were so beautiful you can tell everyone takes good care…read moreof the horses. Marina was very attentive explained the process well made the whole experience wonderful and she took plenty of pictures thought out the ride and airdropped them after. I Definitely would go again, highly recommend this.

What an amazing experience! Couldn't have asked for better weather or a better guide. Mariana (I…read morehope I got her name right and apologize if I didn't) was an awesome guide. She knew all the horses personally and could read them like a book. She also took pictures of us along the way and air dropped them to us at the end of our trip which was a huge plus. The place was easy to find, plenty of parking, and the instructions for riding you receive ahead of time (as long as you follow them) are perfect. I do recommend a hat or sunscreen. The trail ride is beautiful, the lake even more so. This experience was an anniversary gift to my wife because she loves horses and grew up with them and this was the perfect gift. I rode on Hercules and my wife on Rango, the cute inseparable duo. Hercules had me laughing throughout the ride and definitely has a mind of his own and a stomach as much as I tried to keep him from snacking along the way. I highly recommend the trail ride, we had a blast and will definitely be doing it again in the future. Cheers!

Shadow Glen Riding Stables was hands down the best field trip we have been on in years!…read moreAs a 3rd-grade teacher, I cannot say enough good things about Terry and the wranglers. They were welcoming, patient, knowledgeable, and made every student feel included. Our students had an incredible opportunity to learn about ranch and farm life, tractors, horses, foals, farm animals, hay, and the daily responsibilities of caring for a ranch. The hands-on experiences were the highlight of the day. Students were able to groom horses, interact with animals, ask questions, and gain a real appreciation for agriculture and animal care. Terry and his team kept the students engaged from beginning to end. What made this experience even more special was Terry Howard's generosity. Shadow Glen donated approximately three hours of their time at no charge to educate three classes of Center Joint Unified School District students. That level of community support is truly appreciated. Our students are still talking about the trip, and the adults had just as much fun as the kids. It was an outstanding experience from start to finish.

I must admit so was a bit anxious about riding, since I hadn't really been on a horse except…read morebriefly as an adult and also as a child. However, the horses were very well behaved and easy to handle. Big shout out to Cheryl, our wrangler, who made it fun with her cheerfulness and experience. My husband and I both enjoyed our rides and wouldn't mind going again. It's so relaxing being out in nature on a horse. Recommend whether it's your first time riding a horse or you are a seasoned rider!

Absolutely love this place. Thank you so much Shelgh for all you have done teaching my daughter…read more She loves learning new things and excited every time we come in. Thank you again. Definitely will recommend more friends

Backyard with swing at the guesthouse. Fantastic family getaway, beautiful views, great walks,…read morehorse heaven. Thank you!

Beautiful scenery. My kids have lots of fun here. They can ride the wagon, feed the chicken and…read morelook the horse very closely.