Jeanette was amazing with my 5yr and 2yr. Wonderful experience, professional and so easy to work with. Everything we needed was provided and age appropriate. read more

Jeanette Arnaout Training - Horseback Riding Near Me - Gilroy, California

I don't normally leave comments, but I will recommend Jeanette Arnaout Training. My eight-year old daughter attended her summer camp this year, and she came back with confidence and joy with horses. Thank you, Jeanette! read more

Jeanette Arnaout Training - Horseback Riding Near Me - Gilroy, California

My granddaughter loved the experience at Jeanette's Horse Camp. She was the only camper there that week and got the VIP treatment. There was some down time to watch a horse movie. Her favorite part was, besides riding the horses for 2,hrs. a day, the golf cart with Jeanette to feed the horses., and the last day to decorated her horse for the show for the parents and family. Good experience for her. read more

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My twin girls had the most amazing time during their spring break for the week! The horse camp is well organized, all kids are well taken care of and happy sharing many exciting experiences every day. We hope to be back soon! read more

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My daughter did horse camp at Jeanette Arnaout and it was the best exposure ever. Faith is agirl who loves her horses and unicorns. She enjoyed interacting with the horses on a whole different level. Feeding the horses, getting water, grooming the horse, riding the horse. She left in tears her last day. We will be going here every dchool break. Jeanette Arnaout is a wonderful place, they take safety very much. If you are considering a horse camp i highly recommend this place. read more

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I signed my 8 yr old daughter up for horse camp. She had never been on a horse or even touched a horse. She was extremely excited but nervous about actually riding for the first time. I didn't realize I was expected to drop her off each day so it was a surprise to both of us. My daughter is very shy and would not usually let me out of her sight. But by the end of the first day she told me she felt comfortable enough with Jeanette that she was fine being at the ranch without me. In just a few hours on the first day my daughter was learning about the anatomy of a horse, horse safety rules and actually riding. Jeanette was very patient during the lessons. Even though camp was relatively short my daughter gained the confidence to ride and dismount. Most importantly she gained an appreciation for these beautiful animals. Priceless! read more

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this is a no frills Stable, its REAL, a perfect introduction for kids to learn about respecting animals as they are taught not only to ride correctly, but to understand that horses have feelings and thoughts as well. Miss Jeanette took special care to make sure to re build my daughter's confidence on a horse after she had been thrown at a different stable and then refused to move forward in her training. Miss Jeanette worked with her needs and got her back on and trotting. So Thankful to see my girl riding again! read more

There is a way to honestly review a business with class and tact. To several of the one star reviewers, please educate yourselves before you post such negativity and think of how you would feel if someone posted such unkind words about you or your business. I've been coming to this ranch for nearly 7 months. I'm not a "fake" or fictitious person and I'm giving Jeanette five stars, ten if it was possible. Both my daughters, who are 10 and 14, take lessons from Jeanette. She is an excellent trainer, I repeat - Jeanette is an excellent trainer. As your trainer, you will know how to ride properly, with care for your own body and that of the horse. Is that not the goal in taking riding lessons? Jeanette can be intense and direct - she wants you to be safe and aware around the horses at all times. Horses are extremely strong and can be unpredictable, no matter how sound they are. So if you are going to ask "Is it safe to ride?", then horseback riding is not for you. It is a risk, just like driving a car or even crossing a busy street, so you might re-think those things as well. Again - even the soundest of horse can be unpredictable, so if there is a hiccup while riding, that is part of the risk and you have to decide whether or not it is worth taking. The horsemanship we have learned from her has been plentiful and rewarding. My 10 year old daughter would be there EVERY day if she could. Both my girls are sensitive young ladies and tell me exactly what's on their minds. Do you think they would want to learn from Jeanette and be there every day if Jeanette was "rude and mean" as some reviewers posted? You can't take everything personally, you'll never learn how to deal with different personalities or circumstances if you do. As to the horses Jeanette has in her training program - AMAZING. Jeanette works hard to circulate you/your child through the herd to find your perfect match. Does that mean your perfect match will be your perfect ride every lesson? Of course not! Riding is HARD WORK! Both physically and mentally - so be prepared to be "talked to" in your lesson and set yourself and your children up for the work involved in the whole horsemanship process. And be at peace with the risks involved when riding - or choose something else to do with your time. Jeanette is honest, fair and generous. She ALWAYS gives praise when due and is grateful for her employees and volunteers. If they don't listen or are doing something wrong/unsafe, she lets them know. We only have a given amount of energy each day and she doesn't want that waisted, nor does she want anyone hurt. Many of the horses that come to her are given their last chance at life. She does the best she can with the resources she has! So for those of you who complained about her being short-staffed, stop complaining, pick up a pitch-fork and help out! This is not Malibu Barbie Ranch - there is dust and dirt and the barn is older. But the horses are happy and they get lots of love, attention, proper vet care, nutritious food and supplements. Isn't that more important, then a sparkling clean barn (impossible by the way) and a trainer that whispers sweet-nothings to you and your child all day? As far as the complaints about Jeanette not returning calls or emails - I can't relate. The first time I inquired about my daughters having lessons, she replied to my email in a timely manner. Remember, Jeanette is at the ranch from sun up to sun down, tending to all sorts of matters. Be patient when trying to reach her. For those of you looking for serious training and lessons, then Jeanette is your trainer. Be upfront with your expectations and if you don't like the flow of communication, then respectfully let her know so she has the opportunity to adjust to your level of tolerance. For those of you wanting your kids to just have a fun time with the horses, but not looking for serious lessons, then sign up for the horse camps. Jeanette is very flexible. Again, just be upfront with your expectations and what you want out of the horsemanship experience and she'll work with you and your child. And, if for some reason, she can't or the chemistry is not right, then everyone moves on, no big deal. read more

I was very apprehensive of starting my young daughter's in lessons but Jeannette and Fallon made us very comfortable. The patience the two have with my girls and myself make it very easy to ask any questions. My daughter's love for horses have grown and I thank it to the attitude both Jeannette and Fallon share,they are always so positive and open to the dreams my girls have. The added confidence that my daughters have recently developed is also thanks to the two of them. I am begged daily by my girls to get them in more than once a week lessons,I'm very glad to see them so dedicated. Now that my girls love for horses has grown more we asked Jeannete if she would be able to assess our horses. They came out and took there time in explaining everything we needed to know to be able to get more out of our horses. Jeannet is very admit about safety and that makes me know my children are always safe in her hands. We look forward to continuing lessons with them and HIGHLY recommend the two of them! read more

Jeanette Arnaout Training - Horseback Riding Near Me - Gilroy, California

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My daughter attended horse camp for Spring break. Jeanette sent me daily pictures and videos of my girl which was beyond what I was expecting (especially with so many kids in attendance). My girl went from never before riding a horse to not only riding but trotting. She had a great time this past week. read more

My daughter Scarlett started lessons with Jeanette a few months ago. Scarlett is 4 and Jeanette is amazing with her. She has some nice slow horses for a child to ride. Jeanette is very knowledgeable about horses. She has taught my daughter a lot and has helped build her confidence around horses! read more

Jeanette Arnaout Training - Horseback Riding Near Me - Gilroy, California

My daughter and granddaughter attended Jeanettes horse camp last week. They both loved it. My daughter is 12 and my granddaughter is 7 and both enjoyed their experience at camp. The camp includes art, horse care and of course riding lessons. On the final day there is a horse show which highlights the new skills each of the participants learned during the week. It was very cute, and the girls were very proud of themselves. I highly recommended Jeanettes camp, and her staff are great as well! Two thumbs up and I will definitely be bringing my girls back!!!!! read more

Both of my daughters absolutely loved going to horse camp here! They have already asked me to sign them up for next summer. read more

Jeanette Arnaout Training - My daughter had the best time, her first time at horse camp! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Gilroy, California

My daughter started taking riding lessons with Jeanette a few months ago and the amount of knowledge she/we have gained in this time short time is incredible. Jeanette's program teaches the rider all about the responsibility and care of a horse and we learned right away that this starts way before actually getting on a horse! She also teaches how to take care of yourself around a horse and this is exactly where my daughter needed to start. My daughter was so excited that her dream was coming true, but she was also a little nervous. She was overwhelmed at the sheer size of these beautiful animals when she first got up close...which made it all that much more important for her to learn all the aspects of what can happen even with the most gentle horses. My girl has grown more comfortable and confident in the weeks following her initial lessons. If we lived closer, no doubt she would convince us all she needed to ride every day! Jeanette is an amazing trainer, and clearly loves what she does. She is generous with her praise when earned and direct and straight forward on areas that need focus and attention. And always, always about keeping the rider safe and the horses well cared for. My daughter is having so much fun learning to ride AND getting a strong foundation on all aspects of horsemanship. We look forward to our continued journey with Jeanette and all the opportunities to learn, grow and have fun that lay ahead of us! read more

Jeanette Arnaout Training - Horseback Riding Near Me - Gilroy, California

A wonderful experience for the whole family. Our daughters attended the 2020 A Horse for the Holiday Riding Camp. Riders are perfectly fit to the right horse for their experience and comfort level. Jeanette, her daughter Ivy and all the students who worked the camp created a great environment and experience. The camp built confidence in both my girls and they couldn't stop talking about their days on the ride home. It concluded with each kid demonstrating the riding skills they learned, educating the audience, aka families, on what they learned and a visit to the stables. The memories will last a lifetime and this hopefully be the first not only camp they attend. read more

Jeanette Arnaout Training - Horseback Riding Near Me - Gilroy, California

I am so grateful to Jeanette for helping me find the perfect horse! Jeanette is wonderful to work with and an expert in training horses and riders. Not only did she help me find the perfect horse for my needs, she shared her network of highly skilled care providers to help get me started with my horse. I really enjoyed all our interactions and appreciated her advice throughout the process. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking to purchase a horse. read more

My daughter has a love for animals, but especially horses. We wanted a place she could start the process of learning to ride. It was great to find something local in Gilroy that focused in small groups no more than 6 kids. summer horse camp was a deal, camp was Mon - Thur 9-4pm. She had a blast and can't wait to go back. read more

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I was looking for a safe place to take my three young daughters to learn how to ride English style, as I did in Europe growing up. I was looking for instructors that were serious about every child's development without favoritism. Another thing was of course that there would be a variety of lesson horses and ponies that were child friendly and very patient. I was not able to find another riding school or stable in Gilroy that fit our needs until we found this place. Jeanette and Ivy are the best instructors one could wish for. Their knowledge and understanding of animals and humans are exceptional. The horses and ponies are very well trained and are patient and loving towards everyone. My girls found a love for the equestrian life and even went to the amazing summer camp as well as classes. I am disabled but still love taking a class here and there in slow pace. They train anyone at their level and are true horse whisperers. My children and my own anxiety and stress level has gone down dramatically. Way better than regular therapy! I recommend Lightning Stables to everyone. They teach both English and Western style, dressage, horse jumping and all the western style competitions. This place will change your life! That's a promise. read more

I'm not sure why I didn't write this review immediately following my daughter's horseback riding lessons with Jeanette when I could've provided direct quotes. However, when I see the Living Social/Groupon deals come around every so often for Jeanette, I think to myself that I really need to write a review about our poor experience with this woman. I honestly can't believe she's still in business. The idea of the coupons is to build her business, but a coupon is not going to make up for plain rudeness. It took several attempts on my part to schedule the lessons as I was constantly leaving messages and would receive one return phone call to my 3 messages left. Phone tag went on for quite some time until I finally got the lessons on the books. I'm not able to speak to Jeanette's training methods because I am no expert in riding. But what I can tell you is that, like other reviewers have stated, she is understaffed. This may explain her extreme rudeness and snappy comments, but it certainly doesn't excuse them. She directed one of her rude comments at me, and with my 10 year old daughter standing right next to me, I couldn't respond like I would've liked. We bought the Groupon that came with 3 lessons. My daughter almost decided to forgo the last two lessons because of Jeanette's disposition, but because my daughter loves horses so much, she stuck it out. The 2nd and 3rd lessons were better, but my daughter said that Jeanette paid much more attention to the riders with ability. I'm guessing it's because there was more of a chance of those riders becoming clients of Jeanette's. Overall, I would not recommend this facility. The better reviews spoke directly to Jeanette's ability as a trainer, but getting passed all the abrasiveness is WAY more than I'm willing to tolerate. There have to be qualified trainers who are pleasant to work with out there. Hurry, find them!! read more

Our 5 year old granddaughter recently attended a summer horse camp and absolutely loved it. She learned how to care for her horse and started off with the basics of riding. She could hardly wait to get to camp each day. Jeanette and staff were kind and considerate with the kids. Jeanette sent daily photos and videos which were unexpected but greatly appreciated. The last day of camp, the kids put on a horse show for families and friends which was so nice. We highly recommend Jeanette's camp! read more

My 12 year old daughter did Jeanette's horse camp over Xmas break. It was an awesome experience and she got to do so much hands on care and riding in such a short time. It was all she talked about for days. We will definitely be back for another camp! read more

I am pretty disappointed with Jeanette's service. I purchased the coupon from livingsocial but quickly realized it was a mistake. It's hard to schedule the time in the first place and Jeanette is very unfriendly and in some degree very rude. Especially when you take your kids with you, dealing with rude person is particularly hard. I can't argue with someone in front of my kids and I refuse to lower myself to her level. If you don't like what you do and can't be nice to your customers better stop promoting your service. Avoid. read more

I recently purchased a horse from Jeanette Aranout and she is everything I hoped for and more. Jeanette and her assistant Fallon were excellent at helping pick out the horse for me and answer all my questions about her with honesty and straightforwardness. I don't take lessons here, but if I lived closer I would sign up, the facility was beautiful and the horses are well taken care of by the staff. The facility was very clean and tidy, and the arena is beautiful. I look forward to the many adventures with my new horse, and will be reaching out to Jeanette and her team in the future when I am looking to add another member to the family. 5 stars hands down. read more

Jeanette Arnaout Training - The beautiful and sweet mare I just purchased from Jeanette Aranout - Horseback Riding Near Me - Gilroy, California

I had a groupon for Golden Ridge, but they had a busy schedule and referred me to Jeanette. She was very responsive and quick to schedule me in. My daughter really enjoyed this. Jeanette is pretty solid. She has a group of girls that help out too, which I enjoyed because they were all so nice and well mannered. Alot of her crew is nice and makes you feel welcomed. The training went well, and I am pleased to know she has summer camp too! Can't wait. Well be going back. Alot of horses, beautiful ranch, and very keen trainer. read more

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Our family has been taking lessons from Jeanette for about three or four years now. We found Jeanette through our Ocean Grove Charter school vendors list. When we started we didn't have much professional experience with horses although we owned a few horses of our own. My daughters were able to bring their own horses to the lesson, which was amazing. Then my son become old enough and he started lessons on one of Jeanette's lesson horses. So many positive changes have happened since we first started lessons. My daughter Maddie become very confident on her horse and began riding in CGA Bay Area time busters. She also ran for rodeo queen as well as rode in the Salinas, San Benito county and Gilroy rodeos holding sponsor flags. My daughter Marley got a new horse Named River over the summer. River needed a LOT of training. River had no idea what we wanted from her and she wouldn't stop unless she had a super painful harsh bit in her mouth. By the end of the three months of training, I was amazed! My daughter could ride River with no bit, she could ride in a hackamore. Jeanette has a passion for horses and years of knowledge making her an amazing teacher. read more

I recently had an excellent experience buying a horse for a lesson program from Jeanette. She was easy to schedule with, ready to show the horses she had for sale, and most important, genuinely interested in facilitating a good fit. She was open, friendly, and honest and told us everything she knew about the horse, including a vice. The horse himself is a GEM. He has fit easily into our program and we LOVE HIM. We feel very fortunate to have him and to have run across Jeanette in our horse shopping adventures. read more

My daughter went here for summer camp and had a great deal of fun. She professionally rides horses since she is 4 but she was able to learn a lot here. She especially loved that she rode twice a day. Jeanette was a great instructor, easy to follow and pleasure to work with. read more

Had a great experience with Jeanette selling my horse. She is professional, passionate about horses & horse welfare, supremely knowledgeable and very patient. Highly recommended. read more

Awesome place! Our kids loved this horse riding camp. She accommodated their wishes in a lovely and respectful way. What I like most about Jeanette is how she values every horse and it's personality. The kids learn to treat all animals respectfully. Highly recommend. read more

I was moving out of the country and needed to find just the right new home for my gelding. I was in a bit of a panic - overwhelmed by the logistics and details of my own move and wasn't having any luck. More than one equestrian friend suggested that I contact Jeanette and assured me that she was a gifted horsewoman who cared deeply about finding the perfect match between horse and rider. This was of course the most important thing to me. I felt so terrible about saying good-bye to my boy, I wanted to make sure he would go to a place where he would get lots of love, attention and work that he enjoyed. Well... my friends were right. I can't say enough good things about Jeanette. I really like that she takes a holistic approach - she assesses personality, talents, physical aspects and mental abilities of each horse. Not only did she correct some behavior issues that had cropped up since I had not been riding him, but she also made adjustments to his diet which were helpful for him. Jeanette kept me informed every step of the way and in the end found a great home for my very special guy. And... she continues to check in with the buyers to make sure everything is working out. I highly recommend Jeanette if you need to find a new home for your current horse OR if you are looking for help in finding your next horse. She is honest, knowledgeable and kind. What more can you ask for. read more

The best place to learn to ride. Jeanette is very knowledgeable and really puts the horse and riders safety first. Jeanette works at your level and challenges your mind as well as the body. She can also help you work through horse problems you may have with your own horse. Do yourself and your child a favor and start riding here first, you won't be disappointed! read more

My wife and I are your typical overprotective parents and had our share of concerns about letting our 8yr. old on a horse. After speaking with Jeanette, we could see that she shared our concerns and helped us understand better how she pairs the rider with the horse. And if you've got thin skin then brace yourself, Jeanette is not the kind of women who's going to sugar coat anything, she'll do everything she can to keep your child safe and will expect you and your kid to follow her instructions. This isn't a ride at Disney Land, there are real risks involved but that's basically the foundation of her lessons, learning how to ride with an emphasis on safety first. Our daughter has been taking lessons from Jeanette for a couple months now and was fortunate enough to attend her camp last week. We were thrilled with the program and all the additional help that was on hand during the week. School has been such a grind, and this has been just the outlet our daughter needed. She's beaming with confidence, ready to tackle life's next adventure, which she believes is a horse of her very own but will settle on continued lessons and another day camp if she gets the opportunity! Jeanette and her staff love what they do...and it comes through! We couldn't be happier with our decision to sign our daughter up to train with Jeanette and have no reservations about leaving our daughter in her care. read more

I so wish I'd consulted Yelp before buying a Groupon for lessons. I never even got to experience the rudeness detailed in some of the reviews, because over the course of more than 6 weeks, I could not get a single response from this business. I bought lessons via Groupon on March 8, 2013, and left a minimum of three voicemails between then and April 25, 2013. Groupon instructed me to reach out via email, and still no response. NOt sure if Groupon will provide a refund -- that may end up being a separate battle -- but in the meantime, I have a 10-year-old girl who was so very HAPPY to receive the riding lessons she's been begging for, for several years...... who is beside herself in tears, because I can't get anyone that this place to call me back to schedule her lessons. Utterly ridiculous way to run a business! Spend your money elsewhere! read more

Like the props they have for the lessons, but I will not be going back. I like the ranch, I just didn't have the chemistry with the trainer.

I have to agree with other reviewers...try to avoid this place at any cost!!! The owner was rude and unprofessional. We purchased one-hour lesson for three people but we had only spent 25 min on the horseback and that's it. Not worth the money. Go somewhere else! read more

If I could give 0 stars, then I would. This is a repeat of a review that I gave a couple years ago, but the review has disappeared. I feel this strongly about this business, that I am re-posting this review. PARENTS WHO ARE CONCERNED FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S SAFETY, DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILDREN TO THIS BUSINESS. We bought a living social deal for this and had a pretty tough time scheduling the lesson. I attributed it to it being a small business, so maybe she was under-staffed and over-worked. This was the least of my worries, it turned out. She put my two kids on two different horses. My younger one was on a smaller horse, while my older one was on a much bigger, full-size horse. As my younger child was nervous about getting on the horse, he asked whether it was safe. Jeanette immediately said in a very serious tone, "this horse is an animal, not a toy, and if you're not careful, it could kill you." Great way to start off the lesson - NOT... But wait, it gets worse, MUCH MUCH worse. The kids were slowly trotting on the horses, and everything seemed fine. My husband and I relaxed a bit as we saw the kids enjoying their lesson. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the bigger horse rolled onto the ground (as a dog would to scratch its own back) and my older child jumped off the horse and luckily landed on his feet. We were standing across the field and ran to the horse, shocked and worried. Jeanette was not even apologetic. She had my son get back on the horse (which we should have not allowed, but we were just in such shock). She then gripped the horse very tightly so he could not roll again. She proceeded to complain to us that this horse had a bad habit of such rolling behavior. We were grateful that my son was okay (fast reflexes helped him jump off and not get hurt, which was the most important thing), but we were incensed that she allowed my son to get on a horse that she knew had this bad habit of rolling. This story could have ended up very badly with a broken leg, or even worse, so we are extremely grateful that our son was not injured. However, this woman needs to take some serious lessons in safety and good business practices. Immediately after our lesson, I called living social to complain about this business to make sure that they would NOT ever promote her business. They barely took notice of my complaint (that's another story here). I was disgusted to see that they promoted her business again about a year later with another "deal." PARENTS, IF YOU ARE AT ALL CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN'S SAFETY, THEN DO NOT LET THEM TAKE LESSONS HERE. THIS WOMAN DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN. read more

My daughter had always wanted to go horseback riding, so I took advantage of it when I came across a groupon for Jeanette Arnaout Training. First off, she is hard to get a hold of to make an appointment. I've had to leave her several messages because I was not getting a return call back. It took a few days (almost a 2 weeks) before we were able to get in touch and make an appointment for the following month. For someone trying to get more traffic in her business, she was not friendly and somewhat rude. She didn't make it an exciting experience for her customers and was impatient. Although my daughter enjoyed her first horseback ride, we will not be returning to Jeanette Arnaout. read more

I am a mother of two. I bought Groupon for my two kids. I felt so upset after I read all the reviews and I was not sure if I wanted to send my kids there. But I talked to Jeanette over the phone and decided to take a chance, she was courteous and nice. Today was the last day of camp. My two kids are so happy about the overall experience they had at this camp (5 and 7 years old). They wanted to go back :) I had the opportunity to peek into two of the activities and all the kids were having so much fun. I have to write this review since my experience and the other 11 kids at the camp are complete opposite than the reviews wrote down before. The girls that worked with Jeanette are so sweet and nice. They are Great helping the kids on this camp! :) We just love it! read more

Mixed feelings. Initially i gave this ranch a 5-star rating for the summer camp my daughter attended last August, it was an awesome experience for her, she totally loved it (btw she said that Jeanette is kind and not rude at all, to answer some of the comments of other reviewers). After that we tried to schedule a private lesson to celebrate my kid's birthday there - a very disappointing experience - Jeanette never answered my two e-mails and 3 voice messages, and we had previously talked about setting it up. So that part of how the business is run is true. read more

After buying the groupon for the summer camp, my daughter absolutely loved riding with Jeanette. I have an incredibly sensitive daughter, who wouldn't thrive under harsh or rude circumstances. It took only one phone call for us to set up her time, however it is true that Jeanette doesn't always answer her phone. This is because she is the trainer and business contact. Running a ranch is busy busy work, and she does so exceptionally. She also gives students the opportunity to serve if they have experience with horses, which she offered my daughter. We've had previous riding lessons and our experience here was equal to or better than the experiences at other stables. She has rescued many horses, and as such has some who have been previously neglected or abandoned. Part of riding a horse is learning to care for them as well, which she also teaches and instills in her riders. If you're looking for riding lessons where you just jump on the horse and ride, this probably isn't the place for you. read more