10/10 Our guide was knowledgeable , great at teaching, and attentive to both riders and horses…read more Plus gorgeous views on the ride!

Amazing. I brought my 9 yo granddaughter on her first one hour weekend ride. We both had a great…read moretime. She got to ride wonderful Harley who was calm and easy to handle. Lucas was our guide who is patient, kind and good with the horses as well as my granddaughter. We had such a good time and a safe ride that we went again the next weekend I highly recommend the one hour ride for beginners. When I asked my granddaughter how she liked it her response AMAZING. We can't wait to go again.!! a special thank you to Lucas for keeping us safe

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.

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.

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!

If you're thinking about booking a trail ride with Boarding on the Lake, do it--you won't regret…read moreit! My granddaughter and I chose the two-hour trail ride around Folsom Lake, and it exceeded every expectation. I've owned horses and have ridden extensively, so we came with experience and simply wanted to enjoy a beautiful morning ride together. Our guide, Will, was outstanding. He was knowledgeable, personable, safety-conscious, and made the entire experience relaxing and enjoyable. You could tell he genuinely loves what he does and cares about both the horses and his guests. The horses were well-mannered, the scenery around Folsom Lake was breathtaking, and the pace was perfect for taking it all in. The best part? The smile never left my granddaughter's face all day. Those are the kinds of memories that last a lifetime. Thank you, Will, for making our ride so special. We highly recommend Boarding on the Lake and can't wait to come back!

I was visiting my girlfriend in NorCal and asked her if we could go for a horseback ride. She…read morebooked the ride at Boarding on the Lake in Granite Bay. When the day came and we arrived we were greeted by Marina and other staff members. They were all so nice. Marina asked each one of us that was going on the trail ride what our experience on a horse was. She paired us up with the best horse for our experience. We had an awesome ride by the lake with beautiful scenery and Marina even took pictures of us along the way and shared them with us after. She was such a great guide and I hope to go back there again when I return in September. Thank you Marina and Boarding by the lake!!

Everyone here is amazing, if you are looking for a place to volunteer or ride I recommend A T Ranch…read more& Equestrian Center 100%. These people clearly know horses and whats best for them! Kim is really nice and understanding and is an excellent riding instructor. The horses here are well taken care of.

Kathy is the Equestrian instructor ; she is extremely patient and knowledgeable about what she…read moredoes. My girls so love and always look forward to going here

I've visited Shadow Glen Stables several times, and the owner has always been extremely kind and…read morewelcoming. My past experiences were consistently great. However, during my most recent visit, I encountered two staff members I had never seen before, and they were noticeably rude and pushy. The tall, large‑built woman at the front seemed upset or irritated, and her attitude made the interaction uncomfortable. Their behavior genuinely made me reconsider returning, which is disappointing because the stables have always been a lovely place before this.

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 attend their firewalks every chance I get. The ladies that run the place are both amazing…read moreladies. I can't wait for the next time I can firewalk with them.

Sometimes in life exactly the right situation shows up when it is needed. That is how I feel about…read moreThe Cowgirl Up Ranch and the kind teaching of Marybeth and Esther. I found them on google traveled from Santa Barbara and attended a weekend retreat where I met a variety of women all ready to learn and have fun! I surprised myself with some of my feats! I only wish they were closer but I would love to attend another retreat soon!

I started with Jill back in 2011 at age 26 as a complete novice with no experience on horses aside…read morefrom pony rides at the fair. I trained for over 2 years with her and learned things such as horse's upkeep, correct feed, horse kinetics/movement, riding (at a walk, trot, and a canter), the importance of the riders position and seat, and so much more. She is really patient with new riders and always instills the importance of safety on and around horses, even down to the proper attire and boots. She also has 3 really amazing gentle horses with their own personalities so a person can really see that all horses are not the same.

From the owner: Knoll's Basic Horsemanship helps teach people learn what they should know before they ride or buy…read more a horse. Four classes are offered for adults and children 12 and up which include horse psychology, basic care and handling. Also ground school, round pen, and riding demonstrations. The goal is to have a safe and happy relationship with horses using natural methods which teach horses with respect and communication versus force and fear. Also offer horse and rider problem solving and new horse owner support and guidance.

This was a great gem we found on a family day trip to Columbia. The people at the ticket counter…read morewere helpful with all the questions my husband had. My son loved seeing outside in all the trees and rocks. Even saw a cat. He was happy. My 2 year old loved the horses. She could see them from the window. We were allowed to take as many pictures as we wanted and they even let my kids pet the horses. All around a great experience.

As we walked in to Columbia State Historic Park we saw a couple climbing out of a stage coach; but,…read morewe were not interested in a stage coach ride just then. After spending nearly two hours exploring the Park, we saw the stage coach coming back into town and decided that it was time to take a ride. A young lady took our money, gave us our tickets, helped us board the stage coach. Boarding requires agility that we old people no longer have; but, we managed to get inside. Riding inside this over 100 years old stage coach gives you a small taste of what travel was like late in the 19th Century. My wife commented that she doubted that the original seats were not as padded as the ones we were sitting on. The seats were probably just bare wood. About half way through the ride the driver stopped and explained that Columbia was "dry diggings" meaning that water needed to be imported. Miners paid $6-$9 a day for water. With the price of gold being as low as $12 an ounce, miners needed half to three quarters of an ounce of gold just to pay for water. Guess who was really making money. The rocks around us are limestone exposed by miners digging around them looking for gold and smoothed by the weather once they were exposed. As the driver was explaining the history of the stage coach, I was admiring the craftsmanship that went into its construction. Once back at the stage stop the driver helped us down and talked to us a bit about the team pulling the stage coach. If you are every in Columbia State Historic Park, get a taste of what it was like to travel in 1850 by riding Quartz Mountain Stage Lines.

Had to put a star ! Cause did not have a choice . I was one of her guest, yet she by all means is…read morevery rude . Has no filter. Yes the ranch is nice but comes with extras.

Avoid Rancho Cortez at 10082 E. 8 Mile Rd…read more Do not rent from Julia, the owner, as she is unprofessional, rude, and intrusive. The rental starts at $3,000, but once the deposit is paid, she adds numerous hidden fees: $150 for PGE, a $1,200 deposit, insurance for her ranch, and up to four security guards for events with over 200 guests. Julia claims the venue can hold 400 guests with plenty of parking, but the lot only fits about 100 cars. She also denied entry to some guests while allowing her own family to crash the event and help themselves to our food and drinks. Throughout the event, she constantly nitpicked and intimidated guests, making them feel unwelcome and turning what should have been a celebration into a stressful experience. She bragged about her private bathrooms near her home, stating she supplies extras like bobby pins, menstrual pads, and hair ties, but refused to let guests use them, directing everyone to portable toilets instead. In the end, the cost rose to nearly $5,000--far from the original $3,000 we were quoted. Julia is dishonest and will find excuses to keep your deposit. Avoid this venue at all costs.