I was riding on the Stewart trail the other day, when I noticed a park ranger vehicle slowly trying to drive up the road. They asked if they could pass the horse group and a very tan white haired woman who was leading the group literally screamed NO!! at them and kept on riding. I was shocked by her lack of courtesy and professionalism. You could tell by the look on the faces of others in the group that they were surprised by the extremely rude attitude of this woman. I've been riding this trail for years and have often suggested 5 Brooks to others but this experience really turned me off to this place. DO BETTER!!! read more

My family and I always wanted to visit a horse ranch and ride. This was our 1st time ever to experience something like this and it was marvelous! Our guide was Andrew and he was a very experienced rider with almost 40 years of training. We had a great time and the quick lesson was very straightforward. Will definitely come back! read more

Five Brooks is THE BEST!!!!! My daughter took three rides during our vacation, and she loved it. The horses are amazing and lots of fun to ride. My daughter also loved the guide, T, and she had an amazing time. I would give it ten stars if I could!! read more

We had an excellent time at Five Brooks Ranch! It was my daughters first time riding and let's just say it had been awhile since I had been. We did the one hour beginning trail ride and it was perfect! It was gorgeous scenery and our guide Michelle was helpful and reassured my daughter when she was a little unsure. We are DEFINITELY coming back and next time for a longer ride! read more

FANTASTIC guide ("T") who had such a great enthusiasm, was constantly checking our comfort level, and had fun facts about the flora and fauna along our trail ride. The horses were well-behaved and perfect for my 10 and 12 year old first timers. We did the 1 hour ride, but wish we had done it longer. =) read more

Great trail ride in the incredibly beautiful Olema Valley. Lots of fun trail ride options. Our guide was fun and interesting. And the horses were amazing! read more

Hubby booked a 2-hour ride on my birthday and the experience was simply an adventure. The reservation had to be made at least 3 weeks in advance to get the date we wanted. The rates are reasonable compared to other ranches we checkd in the entire Bay area. 1 hr $40, 2 hrs - $60, and so on. We went on a Sunday and there were many other celebrating parties. We reached at 11.30 AM for our 12 PM ride. The ranch has many beautiful well-groomed horses. Us being beginners, 2-hr ride was enough as our legs started hurting towards the end of time. They have a 6 hours ride to the ocean up to Almera falls. But this trail is not recommended for beginners as its pretty long. The staff working here is very friendly, engaging and fun. Riding the huge horse made me nervous initially as I have never done it alone. But the horses here were well trained and we were given instructions on how to maneuver the horse and safety tips. Soon we became more confident and comfortable. We rode through a beautiful trail up the hill through redwoods and meadows. A great experience and we plan to come here every year with friends and family. Fun weekend activity and a great birthday gift from dear hubby. read more

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Booked a 2hr trail ride at 9am for my family and I who are from out of town and are all beginners. We arrived at our scheduled time instead of a bit early due to my GPS sending us to the right instead of left where the ranch is located and losing connection. I called to let me know we would not be arriving early as requested. Upon getting there the horses looked verrry tired and not awake or alert. Their eyes were low as if they could fall asleep at any moment. One of my family members had to ask for their foot rests to be adjusted because the staff did not ask or ensure that everything was probably fitted to the rider. Another family member was assigned a verrry stubborn/slow horse named Scout. Given that we were all beginners it would have made it a more enjoyable ride to be given a more compliant horse. At one point my family member was given a stick to try to get the horse to move faster to keep up with the rest of us. The guide ended up walking/pulling the horse towards the end seemingly blaming his slow pace on my family member saying that all they have to do is continuously kick him and tap him on the shoulder with the stick and that he is slow because they were allowing him to be slow. It made it a tense situation as she did not hide her frustration at my family member for something they were in control of, that is assigning a slow and stubborn horse to a beginner. Lastly, my horse's (Cody) shoe was not on properly and coming off which I did not notice until the family member behind me told me and told the guide. The guide didn't seem concerned and said they check it out once we get back. When we did get back a staff member who got my horse to help me get off seemed to have known about this prior to our take off because when I told them they responded " yeah I know " with no concern again. I don't know much about horses but that cannot be comfortable to walk on especially when going over uneven ground, and rocks . Our horses were Rowdy, Scout, Cody , and another I can't remember the name of. I expected a bit more out of this place given the high reviews which is why I chose to give it a try for my birthday today. It's was mediocre at best. Unfortunately, I did leave a nice tip when I paid prior to starting the trail which I should've put off until the ride was done as I would not have given as much or any. read more

One time we went and the horses pushed us off. My sister fell and my dad.Me and my mom were okay. I hate it because they almost killed my family. read more

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Absolutely loved it. Our experience was amazing, we were all smiles the whole time. T, our guide, was awesome, she was super friendly and informative. Will definitely be coming back again! read more

There are no words to adequately explain how wonderful this place is. The owner definitely puts a lot of love and intention into it from the way the animals are treated to the caliber of employees working here. This was my first experience horseback riding and I was so grateful to be under the guidance of such a skilled guide, not to mention true cowboy . David made this experience one where I felt safe and genuinely cared for. He has a fantastic personality and went out of his way to capture this memory by taking pictures. I will be back read more

My boyfriend and I had a private 2 hour session with Marie and she was fantastic! I am a little experienced as a rider and he had only ridden once or twice before, but we both felt comfortable the whole time. Marie continually checked and gave us tips to make sure we were riding as safely as possible and kept us entertained with her hilarious stories. Would definitely recommend! Note: bring some cash to tip your guide!! We didn't realize this was an option and didn't have any on us :( read more

We had an amazing time riding with T. She was super friendly, and taught us so much about the area, horses and riding. It was obvious that she loved her job working with the horses and that really made our ride so enjoyable. read more

Did a 2 hr tour. The trail itself was pleasant enough, can't say the same for the staff and lead guide, can't remember his name. Would not recommend for beginners since the horses we got were pretty stubborn and kept stopping to snack (not sure if that normal horse behavior or if these guys are underfed). I'm giving them 3 stars because one of our guides, Jenny, was super, but everything else was not. Will not come back and would not recommend. read more

I don't usually leave reviews but this place was outstanding. The road was closed to our original destination so we took a detour, and we arrived to the ranch within an hour of them closing. The entire staff was friendly and accommodating, they did one last ride for us and our guide Carrey (sorry if misspelled) was excellent. Overall we had a really fun time and if I could give more stars I would. Thanks! read more

Highly recommend this ranch! We choose to do the 6 hour ride and it was an incredibly beautiful experience. The horses were funny, each with their own personality. Our guide was Ramiro and he was awesome! He was super friendly, knowledgeable of the area and made us feel safe (we were not experienced riders.) Definitely ask for Ramiro if you go! read more

My partner and I mostly enjoyed our experience here. We were a little confused about how the whole process was supposed to begin which I think could've been avoided with slightly better customer service. We would go back, nonetheless, and will highly recommend:) read more

I had the pleasure of seeing Five Brooks last week and meeting the owner. It seems like a well organized operation with clear care for animals and clients. I'm anticipating my next visit with enthusiasm and delight. Thank you Five Brooks! read more

There is truly a good reason why this place has such amazing reviews.... Let me start out by saying how beautiful and amazing the views are while you are on your ride. They were breathtaking! Like others mentioned the horses are very well taken care of, but more importantly they are very well mannered and super sweet. I brought my dad here for Father's Day and he really enjoyed it as well. We had a 2 hour ride (which for a beginner might be too long) but we really enjoyed our experience and look forward to coming back! read more

Amanda is a phenomenal guide! So personable, knowledgeable, really feel safe, and just overall quality company! Will be going and requesting her as my guide every time I visit the area with my mom now. Made it a super fun time and even took great memorabilia pictures! read more

HORRIBLE SERVICE Because of the pandemic I wanted to cancel my appointment. I called three different days because I haven't gotten my money reimbursed. I was told all the trails were cancelled anyway, then I called the next day wondering why I still got the email reminder stating they can't wait to see us for the ride so I called again ( nothing was resolved). I decided to call AGAIN for the third time ( the day I'm suppose to ride) and I was told, they can't give me a reimbursement bc I did it online but they can give me a "certificate" that I reschedule it. The only way to get my money back is to email but the email that was linked in the email confirmation IS NOT WORKING! I went to the website and texted the number that was linked and hopefully they will get back to me soon. I honestly couldn't wait for a ride but this service it pretty awful. read more

Five Brooks Ranch - Proof of bad service (emailed linked is not working) - Horseback Riding Near Me - Olema, California

My husband and I booked the 6 hour ride to Wildcat Beach and the experience exceeded our expectation. Our guide, Ramiro, was so helpful and friendly. He was helpful with riding tips, shared stories about the area and made the day that much more fun. We can't wait to book out next ride. read more

I booked a picnic horse back ride for a Birthday present. They have a beach ride which I believe is six hours and a private ride which is listed as two hours but it was about three hours of total riding time. If you have not been on a horse much I recommend going with the shorter trip as your legs will probably hurt. The people that worked here were all wonderful! The ride was a beautiful one through a forest. The picnic lunch was in the middle of the forest and they asked me when booking the trip if there were any dietary restrictions or special requests. Great place and people!!! read more

If I could leave 0 stars I would. My 3 girlfriends and I booked a horse back ride to celebrate my 8 years cancer free anniversary. The DAY BEFORE, I receive a call saying they accidentally overbooked and can no longer take us. Now my special day is ruined but hopefully you read this in time to NOT book here as they're unreliable, unprofessional, and doesn't care about anyone's time but their own. Don't waste your time. read more

Amazing experience, truly a memory that will last for a lifetime. The ranch is beautiful and so are the horses. The staff was super friendly and overall would recommend. They also have taken all of the precautions for covid. Just make sure to save the google maps offline as there might not be reception 20 mins from the ranch read more

This was my first time horse riding. My friend invited me to go and I dived in. This place has guided horse riding trails for a very reasonable price 1hr- $40 2hr- $60 3hr- $100 6hr- $180 each hour set has it's own trail We did the 2hr fir top trail. Greeted by horses, naturesque trees and friendly ranchers. Our horses were Hodina, Dancer and Spider. I was assigned Dancer. The workers helped us saddle on the horses and off we went. So the first half of the ride Dancer was consistently 6ft behind the guide Adam and Spider was all up on Dancer's behind. And whenever Dancer stopped Spider would stop. Being a noob I really didn't know what to expect and horses can tell if you know what the hell you are doing. Hence Dancer would stop in the middle of the trail and go 'eh, dun feel like walking and just stop.' It went to the point where Adam had to take Dancer's reins and pull him along like a 5yr old on a leash. We did some trotting and boy was I on bouncemania. The trail was very serene. It's a nice change from hiking. Here I was riding through nature. Very lush and green area even this time of the year. Besides observing by surroundings, in the back of my mind I kept saying 'dont buck me off, don't buck me off Dancer.' Half way through the trail, the guide let go of the reins and I had to use a stick to keep Dancer going otherwise we'd probably still be there. Me kicking him and talking to her wasn't enough to nudge her--only with a stick did she got her act together. I enjoyed myself very much. It's great getaway if you cannot afford a vacation to Australia. Fairly good trail. 2 hours is a good starting point, not too short and not too long. Pointers: if the horse stops, well he's taking a crap. If you hear belching, well he's farting. If the ears pull back, he wants space. Warning: They have bathrooms here however use the bathroom before you come here. self explanatory. read more

Wonderful experience taking our son here for their drop-in toddler pony ride. We called ahead to make sure they were open. Warmly greeted by Flora and Lily, and Tug, Flora's Lab, taken for a walk through the grounds and our son was in awe the whole time. Things to note: 1. Parking available just above grounds near trailhead - a short walk to enter the ranch. 2. Wear outdoor clothing and study, waterproof shoes, especially if it has recently rained or if it is a wet time of year. We visited the ranch in late December and it was (of course) very muddy. We wore our (city slicker) rain boots and they worked great. 3. Toddler rides include a borrowed helmet. 4. Saddle was appropriately sized for a toddler's body and leg size. Children are not strapped down (maybe I was imagining a belt like a carousel?) Our son held the "horn" and his feet were safely secure in the stirrups. The pony walked carefully and nimbly. 5. Our guide, Flora, was gracious, enthusiastic and very sweet. Overall a very good experience for children who are fans of farms, farm animals and the outdoors. We paid $20 for the ride and tipped Flora $5. read more

It was such a great First day of 2023! Great ride, great people! Our group are all beginners, and we received so nice and friendly service. Definitely we will come back. read more

Originally planned for a 2 hour trail at 12 which car accidents and road work prevented us from being on time. Valentines week celebration and I was crying with no idea how to detour in an area I am absolutely unfamiliar with. I called Lisa to cancel me and I think she heard the tears in my voice of disappointment that I don't know where I am or how to get to the ranch. She reassured me and accommodated my ride just enough so that I could make it to the ranch! She even verbally gave me directions which I located on a map because google maps wasn't functioning to detour me. Once I arrived I was greeted by a man which Lisa called Jesus I believe. Jesus was our guide on the trail and he made our ride the most fantastic it could possibly be. He let us know we could make a loop if we are fast, or come back down the same way if want a slower ride but the same views. We chose the scenic route and got to canter the horse! I didn't mind having to go fast at some points because I like to canter the horse, and also helped us get the best views out of our ride! This is all thanks to Jesus he was an amazing guide and Lisa for accommodating us. I would recommend to anyone looking to try something new or want to try again! This is a great location with beautiful trails and different duration options. read more

Five Brooks Ranch - Skipper and I on Bolema trail, switching to Olema Trail. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Olema, California

My friends and I had an awesome time on the 2 hour ride! We used our yelp deal that we got and it was well worth it. Our tour guide Jesus was great. He made sure that we had a good time on the ride while making sure we were safe and comfortable. I thought that the ride was going to be very slow paced but it wasn't because we were able to do a lot of trotting and some galloping as well. I guess it may depend on your horse as well because mine was pretty fast and kept up with the other horses, but some of our friends got stuck with the slower ones. But our guide always let us knew ahead of time when we would start going faster so that we would be prepared and he always checked up on us to make sure we were having a good time. The trail and scenery was nice as well. Mostly trees and you get to see a little of the creeks below and the views of some mountains but no views of the ocean for the 2 hour ride. Our guide explained that there's two different trails that you could take for the 2 hour ride, one has more chances to trot and gallop and the other one has less. We choose the one with less trotting and galloping since we were beginners. I would definitely come back to try another trail. read more

Five Brooks Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Olema, California

Stellar trail ride with T. She was kind, patient and happy to stop and pet the salamanders . Best memory of our Marin County trip!

One of my best rides!! I'm a (very) casual rider, grew up riding for fun on friends horses etc and never had lessons or anything. I love horses but my last real, free (cantering etc) ride was 11 years ago- so I know the basics but hadn't ridden in a long time. My husband knows I love riding and got me a private ride for my bday. My guide for the ride was Carol and she was wonderful!!! She is a true horse expert. Major resume. Big thing for me... She taught me how to post!! After all this time I never knew how to do that right and she taught me in a matter of minutes! I don't think it's that easy of a thing to learn either!! She made me feel so comfortable and confident (I have a bit of fear after falling off a horse). She selected a horse that was perfect for me too- I was supposed to get a bigger horse (I am tall and listed 'intermediate as my skill level) and she stepped in and asked for a smaller, better tempered horse which was a really great decision. And she had my stirrups shortened. Between all these things I had an amazing experience. Thanks to Carol and Five Brooks ;). read more

Five Brooks Ranch - One of the many beautiful views. Honestly you can't get much better than a ride in Marin. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Olema, California

Visited Five Brooks Ranch this past weekend and it was exactly what I needed. Horseback riding is something that can't be explained and one really must experience for themselves. I was pleasantly surprised with variety of horses, the size of the ranch and how well they are taken care of. You can tell these people love horses! The horses are well groomed and in good shape. When you arrive, you read and sign the waiver along with choosing your previous riding experience, 1-3, where 1 would be little to no experience and 3 being master. Horses were geared up with a saddle immediately then our stirrups were adjusted, which some places don't take the time to do. Logan assisted me and my fiance with our stirrups and then the three of us were off through the park in mountainous area near the coast. We traveled through a handful of trails with inclines and declines, fire trails, and some sweet single tracks. Speaking of single tracks, the horses knew to follow behind one another and not to go past our guide so there was no way we could get lost or the horses just take off. The three of us had a break mid ride in this little tucked away part of the forest, which was setup for the horses to be tied off and area we could sit down to have a bite. After our picnic, we saddled up and continued on our way. During our ride, Logan shared his experiences with horses, educated us about some of the differences, training, and much more I can't remember. He had a beautiful painted horse with a pattern you wouldn't believe if I described it. You really have to see it for yourself (look for the grey that separates the brown and white patterns throughout). Also during the ride, he pointed out edible vegetation and stuff about the area I would have never known. Super chill guy, easy to talk to and just made the experience better, no b.s.! We will be back for sure! read more

Took our 6-year old daughter for a 2-hour ride. She enjoyed it. She didn't notice, the way I did, how one woman (the owner?) was slapping the horses on the face as soon as they rebuffed or jerked in the slightest way, often for just no reason. Horses looked depressed, not cared for, and way overworked. When I pointed out to our guide that one horse in our group was limping, he just ignored it. Would not recommend this ranch. The ride itself was very slow and boring to death. read more

Helpful Hint: Suck it up and pay the extra $20 for a private ride!! My husband bought me a 2 hour trail ride through yelp for our anniversary. I have been riding for a long time, but I haven't been able to do a ton of western trail riding since I moved to California 4 years ago. I was psyched! I am a pretty experienced rider. My husband is the once every 3-5 years trail rider. That being said we have a large gap in our skill set. I've been on a lot of crappy trail rides, and a lot of good ones so I knew better to ask ahead of time about the ride, and the gentleman on the phone suggested the upgrade to the private ride. Best suggestion ever! As soon as I got there I got a pretty good vibe about the horses. They looked healthy and happy - they actually wander around the grounds and just relax. A few horses tacked up (without bridles) but most of them hanging out in the arena munching away. Our guide, Warren, was wonderful. He also gave good instruction on how to sit a trot for my husband. Lucky for me I know how to post! After I asked he also let us canter quite a bit which is always a good time! I think the horses appreciated the change of pace as well. My horse, Hank, was wonderful! Nice soft mouth, and he only tried to eat a few times and was very responsive when I gave him signals not to. My husband's horse was a typical difficult mare, and a little pokey on the downhill part, but he still had a good time. I would definitely recommend this place (and Warren) for folks looking for a good ride and especially if you have some experience. This is not the nose-to-tail bored and bitter trail ride that I've experienced before. I can't emphasize enough the value of the private ride!! So much better and so much fun! read more

Five Brooks Ranch - Getting a drink after a fantastic 2 hr private ride! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Olema, California

Such lovely trails here. We celebrated our daughters 9th bday party here and the horses were so calm and gentle. The staff is very connected with the horses and you can tell they are rustic and organic. You feel the real olema vibe here. Nothing pretentious. Just nature trails and calm. read more

Very professional. Had a small obstacle course with cones and simple things to maneuver your horse through. We had a group of 5 young girls and two adults. Was a fun, safe COVID activity. They size the horse to the rider which is nice. The views are gorgeous. Highly recommend. read more

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The horses were well taken care of and the event was well organized. The humans were largely friendly. My complaint is that the ride did not match the description. The Fir Top trail was supposed to take us by an osprey nest and to a point that we could see the ocean peaking through. We walked VERY slowly for one hour up and at the one hour 5 minute mark we U-turned back. The guide, on a horse named Cowboy, was about 20-30 feet in front of the first rider, a small child, and hardly ever looked back unless someone made a noise of distress at which point he would tell us that the horses cannot walk next to each other. Fair enough, but the first horse was so slow that the other horses would have to stop walking to stay in a line. Beginners don't know how to do that. The guide was also texting and talking on his phone throughout the ride. I am disappointed that the ride wasn't as the description, but it was a nice location for a ride. read more

Five Brooks Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Olema, California

We had such a fun private ride at Five Brooks! Our guide was excellent and even let us trot and canter along parts of the trail. Very friendly staff and beautiful horses. Can't wait for my next ride. read more

Cheaper price compare to other stables around SF area beautiful scenery, amazing outdoor location Quick effective lesson for new riders If u don't mind going little further north of sf for horseback riding this is the place! BTW limited Internet, or call signal read more

Five Brooks Ranch - Had a blast riding Scout, great lesson i learnt to ride quickly - Horseback Riding Near Me - Olema, California