Pearl is a great instructor! Highly recommend. The horses were sweet and patient and my son had a great experience. read more

Hillcrest Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Granada Hills, California

Oh if only 0 stars was a thing.... I booked a Saturday lesson with a trainer and Shelly the owner was who i spoke with she was very nice and we spoke fluently....until i had to cancel 5 DAYS BEFORE my lesson. There is a 24 hour cancellation policy but no one and no where does it say that there is no refund. I zelled her $85 for a lesson and when I cancelled she decided she was going to keep the money and then decided that she would venmo it because she doesnt want to "add me to her zelle" THIS IS EXTREMELY UNPROFESSIONAL PLEASE DO NOT BOOK HERE AND DO NOT GIVE THEM BUSINESS SHE IS A SCAM SHE WILL SCAM YOU AND TAKE YOUR MONEY. read more

My daughter loves this place! She's 7 and always wanted to be around horses. Her instructor, Emily, eased us into the process, and my child enjoys her weekly lessons. She learns something new every time. There's parking outside the property, and a nice little park with a playground right next to the ranch. Scheduling is flexible, if needed. read more

I want to start out by saying that the staff working here are sweet and kind. Misty and Jolene worked with my 2 girls (4,6 years old) for horseback riding lessons for almost 4 months and they were very patient with new riders and loving towards the girls. Jolene even gave our girls gifts for their birthday. However, the experience we had with the OWNER SHELLY, was down right terrible. Keep scrolling through these reviews, it's states she verbally and physically abuses her staff. And it's absolutely believable with how she SCREAMED at me, my fiancé and our 2 small girls for sitting on a bench that wasn't a bench? (Her words). She screamed at us from across the coral and then later screamed at us more for being too close to the fence (we were 4 feet away) from the fence watching our 6 year old on a pony ride. We were so taken back because at first we didn't even know who this lady was. It was the trainer that told us it was the owner and even apologized for not understanding why we couldn't sit where we were sitting. My fiancé confronted Shelly after our lesson and started off apologizing for sitting on a bench that she didn't want us to sit on but asked that next time she approached the situation nicely. She started SCREAMING... SCREAMING. "I did say it nicely! Don't come back here! This continued for several minutes, with multiple people around. To which we replied "oh don't worry we won't" I don't know who this lady thinks she is or what type of anger issues she suffers from but when she's screaming at people in front of children its clear she shouldn't be running any type of business. I would NOT recommend giving business to someone so abusive and unprofessional. read more

I just love this ranch. The boarders are super nice and friendly and fun to ride with. The stalls are roomy my boy loves his stall.. Shelly lives The horses and she always has a person to call if you have to get your horse to a hospital. The riding areas are so beautiful to ride along with a park right down the road. I love it here. Thanks Shelly read more

My daughter has been riding here since the beginning of the year and loves it! Dayna, Jolene & Emily are all great trainers and truly care, not only about the horses, but showing each student a safe and fun riding lesson. The owner Shelly is always friendly, quick to respond and accommodating when any changes or issues arise. I can't recommend this place enough!! read more

Hillcrest Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Granada Hills, California

This is a 5 star experience! My daughter who is 6yrs old took a lesson just to see if she liked it. She didn't like it, she Loved it! The trainer explained everything about the actual care of the horses in language that was fun & functional for her age. The owner was personable, kind, flexible with times excellent with booking and all around so professional without being stuffy. We are 8 lessons in and not only is she progressing as a proper pony rider, her confidence and joy has increased exponentially. We've already booked for the next month! This place is the real deal. read more

Great ranch in an amazing setting...the most beautiful area of the San Fernando Valley...my horse loves it here, and I just bought another and am moving him in a couple of weeks from Ojai. Lots of equestrian trails surround the ranch Reasonable rent, spacious stalls.....staff is super helpful and goes above and beyond. Can't wait to finish this review and go riding !! read more

Hillcrest Ranch is amazing. Shelly is an amazing person. The horses are well cared for and riding them is pleasurable experience. There are many different levels of horses to ride. If you are a beginner there are horses that are gentle and if you have more experience, there are horses that are faster. The trainers are very experienced and work well with all levels of riders. I have watched the trainers work well with little kids as well as adults. I full heartedly recommend Hillcrest Ranch. Shelly and the trainers will take good care of you. read more

WARNING / BEWARE of the this horse boarding ranch. I boarded my horse there for a miserable year and a half and that's because there was no where else to go. Shelly Steinberg is an unhinged tyrant that can't be trusted. She doesn't care about her boarders or their horses. I was constantly harassed by her . She tried to embarrass me at every turn. That woman was relentless. It was the most humiliating time of my life. She spied on me and blamed me for every menial thing she could come up with, charged for damage my horse never did so she could fix her stalls with my money. Her obsession with locks is ridiculous. If you forget to lock the out house bathroom she will berate you non stop. She has no respect for anyone. Treats everyone like a child and constantly threatens you with throwing you and your horse out . She has been extremely rude to my friends and family that come to the ranch and she has thrown them out without cause. I was extremely miserable the whole time I was there. I talked with one of the many ex employees of her ranch and I was spied on by her while I was taking to her horse lesson person that quit a few days earlier for verbal and physical abuse by Shelly. I was then confronted by Shelly the next day with a profanity laced scream from her that demanded what our conversation was about. She kept screaming at me and humiliated me in front of strangers waking by. I have never been treated with so much disrespect in my entire life. I got sick with pneumonia and I was in the hospital for 2 weeks. I was finally able to see my horse and take him to the park. As she was leaving she locked the gates and I couldn't get my horse back in . I called her as she was leaving and she saw me in the park with my horse and refused to pick up the phone. I finally got a call back from her as she said she was too far to turn around and that I should suck it up. I was in extreme distress as I couldn't breath. She told me to too bad. I could have been out here for hours waiting for another boarder to visit the ranch to let me in. I was devastated. Shelly couldn't care less. I had a n agreement to get a refund pro rated amount of boarding. 2 weeks she owed me . She said I won't refund unless I get the gate key.. I left the gate key and she said NO refund! She also took a security deposit from me that she refuses to give back. There is something very wrong with Shelly. All the people at the ranch knows what a maniac she is and agrees that she is mentally unstable and cannot stand her. She treats everyone like a child and there is no room for discourse as she will threaten you with expulsion. This Tyrant has no business running a ranch. I have to take her to small claims court now and from what I have found out she is no stranger to being sued. She hates horses.. I will be filing animal abuse charges against her as I have witnessed her abusing my horse. If she doesn't like you you are in big trouble and be prepared to be on edge every time you are at the ranch. She watches everyone like a hawk and you are always uncomfortable. Be very wary about boarding your precious animal there as you may end up moving it very soon after you move in. If you value the peace of mind and safety of your horse "DO NOT TAKE YOUR ANIMAL TO HILLCREST. YOU WILL REGRET IT." Many people in the business know her and are very aware of her mental state. I think she is a sociopath. I like many horse owners love my horse and he is a major priority to me. He is my best friend and I cannot forget the horrible experiences I have had at the hands of Shelly Steinberg. There is no appealing to her good side as she doesn't have one. She is completely heartless. Shelly's own greed selfishness and disregard for others got her this review. read more

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My daughter loves it here, we love bringing her here once a week for her lessons. My daughter has been riding here since this past summer thanks to a dear friends recommendation and bringing her over for a summer riding camp which was amazing. Now we love this place, its super peaceful, Shelly the owner is super kind and knowledgeable and our trainer Emily is top notch! My daugther went from knowing nothing about horses to being an absolute horse lover and learns something new every week during her lessons. The horses are all so amazing! If you ever want to feel like you are in a different world away from all the busy/crazy life of LA, then just come here and hang out and watch the awesome horses. Such a fun, beautiful and amazing place to spend time! read more

This place used to have a great lesson program. I would bring my daughter here frequently for riding lessons. She loved her trainer, and loved coming to learn. Recently there are new trainers who are very unfriendly, rude and look like they want to go home. On top of it the owner is a pill to deal with. Mad and unhappy at every interaction. Its such a shame as the property is very nice but I would rather give my money to a company who deserves it. read more

My daughter has been taking lessons at Hillcrest Ranch now for a couple of years and has loved every minute of it! She loves the lessons and has gotten better and better with time. Shelly has been very accommodating and helpful for our sometimes crazy and unpredictable schedule. She is always there to help. We have loved all the trainers that my daughter got the privilege to work with especially Emily who is full of a multitude of fun and engaging lessons teaching her how to be an excellent and safe rider. Thank you Hillcrest Ranch for all you do and have done for us!! read more

Hillcrest Ranch - Lydiya cantering Joey - Horseback Riding Near Me - Granada Hills, California

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Absolutely the best place around for riding lessons. My daughter (11 yo) loves it here as she has been doing it for a year. Jolene is awesome!! Safety is her first concern, we appreciate that. We looked around at a few different spots before we settled here. Great atmosphere, great people, love the horses. If I could give it 10 stars, I would. read more

We've been riding here since March 2021. Shelly is very communicative and easy to schedule with. The trainers are all INCREDIBLE - caring, knowledgeable and patient. Any concerns are addressed quickly and efficiently. We've done private lessons and camps and we've been so happy with how we've been treated here. read more

I took my son Cash to Hillcrest Ranch for the first time today and it was an amazing experience! From the phone call with Shelly, to the trainer Fallon, it was absolutely wonderful! I highly recommend Hillcrest Ranch! read more

Hillcrest Ranch - Horse and people - Horseback Riding Near Me - Granada Hills, California

5 stars! I enrolled my daughter here just to see if she would like it and she really does. She has enjoyed each and every one of the horses she rode on and cannot wait to go back each week. The trainer is also really kind and caring. She teaches my daughter how to take care of the horses, the terminology for each item they put on the horse, the body language of the horse, and so much more. The trainer is really supportive and teaches the correct way to ride the horse. My daughter and the trainer work on many skills such as turns, two-point, and more. I absolutely do not regret signing her up for horseback riding. read more

I have been sending my 9 year old daughter here since Feb 2020. We love the location, the trainers and the owner! Respectful, friendly, and reasonable. The owner has been extremely flexible with our schedule. She's always helpful, informative, and caring to us. Thank you Hillcrest Ranch! We keep coming back! It was supposed to be a birthday gift and now it's the gift that keeps giving because if your service and staff. FYI - I read the reviews below and what I know is that the service is great because I understand them. The staff and owner are very clear with their instructions and I can get it once given their professional tone and mannerisms. They don't provide any passive statements not implications. I know what I'm getting. read more

I wish I could give ZERO stars. The lady is so rude it was INSANE. I emailed because someone in a moms group recommended I try here for lessons for my son. The lady was semi rude the first email but I let it go because Covid times are rough. She told me to email when my son turned 5. I waited and emailed to schedule a lesson 3 weeks out. She said it was too early. So I emailed 2 weeks out. She said the date was fine. One week out she asked if 8:30 worked I said yes and she told me to Venmo. So I did, right after she emailed me the time. So I sent the $ and then she said that 8:30 wasn't available and I needed to pick another day! I explained to her I had been requesting that date for weeks as it was a gift to my son for he bday. She emailed me back the most rude email! You can see it attached. Who the heck says they resent someone emailing them at all hours of the night? I'm sorry did I ring your doorbell or send you a work email to your work email account? read more

Hillcrest Ranch - Rude email from Shelly - Horseback Riding Near Me - Granada Hills, California

I found Hillcrest and started taking lessons for a few months, I ended up rescuing a horse and now I am an official boarder here. I honestly love this barn, the overall vibe and space is great. The stalls are spacious and always clean. I love the grass pasture to let me horse graze too. I am so happy with this place, thank you Shelly! She also recommends the best farrier and helps me with any questions I have. I am happy and mostly my horse is happy. read more

I wanted my six year old son to learn horseback riding and he has really fallen in love with it at Hillcrest. The trainers are so sweet and patient and make every lesson a ton of fun. He's 7 now and I'm excited for him to keep learning! read more

My daughter is attending winter camp - and I can't say enough great things. She described today as "magical" - which says something. The staff is wonderful with kids and has really shown my daughter love, appreciation, and respect for the beautiful horses. Can't recommend enough! read more

I was really surprised by their indifferent and unpleasant customer service. They advertised themselves on FB and I was eager to schedule a lesson but after a text exchange and a brief call I decided not to book. read more

I love this place! I have been bringing my 6 year old here for a couple of weeks now and he's just super happy, he has learned so much about horses. In addition, his instructor Fallon is very knowledgeable, she has a great attitude, she is very good with kids, my son listens to her and likes to be at the ranch. I couldn't ask for more. Very professional and ethical but at the same time really fun and relaxing. I'm even thinking about taking lessons for myself, it's just a great environment to be in. I must add this is been a great therapy for my son since he's very hyper. Thank you Fallon and Hillcrest read more

Hillcrest Ranch - Hillcrest ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Granada Hills, California

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My experience with Hillcrest Ranch was great, Shelly was very kind and was very easy to schedule. My daughter who is 12 and took her first lesson with Emily had a great time. Emily was good and knowledgeable. We totally recommend for our friends and family and anyone into horse riding. read more

We have boarded here for over a year and taken lessons here before that. Love the boarders and owner, it's a nice friendly atmosphere. Plenty of turn outs and a great arena. Shelly was great helping us learn the ins and outs of horse ownership and recommending trainers as we got our new horse broken and now we are working with Brittany who is the in house riding instructor. We feel like part of the family here. read more

I find it very interesting that the people who left negative reviews, minus the one from 2013, were people who were asked to leave because of their inappropriate behaviors that were causing distress to other boarders, and more importantly, the horses. For those of you who like facts, the facts are this: Hillcrest Ranch is so well loved that our stalls are constantly full, so much so that the owner is in the process of building additional stalls in the next month because of the continually high occupancy rate; The boarders refer to each other as extended family a lot of the time, always watching out for each other's horses and treating each other with genuine kindness and respect; The lead ranch hand Victor is AMAZING, has been there for years, and truly cares for the horses, often times working well beyond his normal work hours to see that everyone is getting the best care everyday. Kerri also mentioned an alcoholic ranch hand who was inappropriate. That was another blatant lie of hers. She is referring to another tenant, like herself, who was renting a trailer on site who was also asked to leave because of his inappropriate behavior. He was never a ranch hand, he was never employed at the stables or worked with the horses. He merely rented from the owner. Yes, the owner did at one time rent out a couple of trailers to those who were going through tough times, because the owner has a heart and was being kind. Kerri herself was one of those who rented a trailer. The two of them didn't get along because her son would wake him up and they would constantly argue with each other, often causing the horses undo stress, as well as the boarders when they were on the grounds. This, among other reasons were why they were asked to leave. The owner has always been fair in all that she does, and has guidelines (specifically time related) for the arena so that ALL boarders get their time to use it, instead of one or two boarders monopolizing it for an infinite amount of time. The hay quality has never been an issue, there are always shavings and pellets available if needed, and all prices here are way more reasonable than the majority of stables in the valley. You will not find another group of nicer people, a cleaner and more serene boarding facility, in the San Fernando Valley. But don't take my word for it. Come check it out yourself, YOU judge it for yourself! Don't let a couple of bad-mouthing people who were asked to leave because they were not being respectful of others, form your opinion of us. If you would like to come up in the morning, I'd be happy to give you a tour of the place. Just call ahead and the owner will let me know someone is coming. I don't work here, but I'm here everyday. I'm just a boarder who loves the horses, people, and environment that Hillcrest Ranch provides :) read more

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This ranch doesn't look like much, but the horses are lovely, well cared for and the instructor was amazing! I would recommend anyone with a kid who loves horses or an adult who wants to ride to talk with the owner, Shelly, and ask for Kristine, she made the ride so fun, informative and my child learned!! We love Hillcrest!. read more

I called to get lessons for my daughter and was given Natalie's info. We went for the first lesson(back in June) and Natalie offered us a good deal for future lessons, and I was naive enough to Venmo the money to her. We were unable to make it to the second lesson and by the time we were ready to resume I receive a text from Natalie stating that she wasn't able to provide the services and could restart in July or refund me the money. I opted for the refund. A week passed and no refund so I texted Natalie and she said she had been in the hospital, so being a human, When she asked for a extension I said it was okay. But Unfortunately after several attempts to text Natalie it's August and I still don't have my refund. No lessons, no money! I'm posting here in case you come across this person, do not trust. read more

Hillcrest Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Granada Hills, California

Unreliable location, unfriendly people and dangerous for kids to take riding lessons.

I just took my kids to the park and a lady working at the ranch invited me and my kids for a mini tour of the horses. She was so sweet and the horses were beautiful. Thank you! read more

Owner buys cheap hay, horses get diarrhea, owner padlocks the lights so no one can use them unless she's there which is only weekends, don't complain because she will kick you out then say you didn't pay even though she has your check... Owner treats workers like shit, makes them work in 120 degree heat with no water then fires them without notice or pay......should I go on? The fact that this ranch is capable of holding up to 100 horses but there's less than 10 should be a BIG sign! Not worth it! read more

This is a really great place to take lessons and learn to ride. The owner Shelly is super nice and my private lessons are very easy to schedule. I appreciate how the instructors are very patient, knowledgeable and they are safety conscientious where they genuinely care for the safety of both the rider and the horse. Great place for learning and riding. Highly recommend! read more

I just signed my daughter for riding lessons and this place is great. Fallon, the handler is amazing. They are really flexible with scheduling and the price is amazing too. We love it. Thank you. read more

This place is great ! My Son has been taking private lessons, for a very affordable price, from trainer Fallon. She is great, very personable, patient and lovely. He loves it, has learned allot and wont stop talking about all his horse knowledge. I highly recommend Hillcrest. Its beautiful and therapeutic. Really appreciate the teams skills and relationship. They really care about the horses, business and customers and it shows Big time. Thank you ..Thank you read more

Hillcrest has everything I need, and I recommend this ranch if you want a quiet, low key barn without the typical barn drama. The owner Shelly tries very hard to accommodate you and your horse's needs, and I always appreciated her efforts to keep the place nice and clean. No barn is perfect but I can say this is the best one that I have boarded so far. read more

I have boarded my horse here for almost 4 years and have had a very positive experience. I travel a lot and am very busy with school, and have always been able to rely on Shelly (the owner) to take care of my horse while I'm gone. Shelly has also been helpful and flexible in emergency situations. Also, the property is very beautiful with a nice park beside it. I'm sad to leave but recommend Hillcrest to others! read more

Hillcrest Ranch is a very nice place and my daughter got an amazing teacher. She is so patient with my her and my daughter learned a lot from her. Thank you Fallon! read more

Hillcrest Ranch - Frances learning to ride with her teacher Fallon - Horseback Riding Near Me - Granada Hills, California

Natalie is an amazing horse riding teacher. She has been teaching my 9 year old daughter, and she has learned so much from her. I have taken horse riding lessons myself, and am blown away by Natalie. She is so patient, kind and knowledgeable. She is very caring and the horse we are riding (Joey) just adores her - she is gentle and very kind to him. She is simply the best, and I cant wait for next weekend for our lessons again. I would recommend her to anyone who is interested in learning how to ride and learn more about these amazing creatures! read more

Please beware. I was looking for a place to take lessons and the owner offered me a partial lease of her horse which included one lesson per week. I made it very clear that I was a beginner. Upon the advice of the ranch trainer, Karlee, I decided to take a couple of lessons a week for a month before leasing the horse. Boy am I glad I did. That horse was clearly not for a beginner and bucked me off during the third lesson. I also had lessons for my daughter on a horse that was supposedly bomb proof. That was not the case either. Thank goodness nothing happened while she was riding. I did not board there, but did witness an argument between the owner and a boarder who wanted to wash her horse. Apparently, the water in the second property is paid for by someone else so you have to walk all the way over there to hose your horse. You can only give a sponge bath with a bucket on the main property. The only positive thing about Hillcrest was the trainer Karlee who is no longer there. read more