Kaylyn is a 6-star instructor. She was patient, kind and friendly. Her students and horses benefit from her peaceful presence, and her enthusiastic spirit. We had a group of 5 (2 absolute beginners) and she was able to wrangle us in an orderly manner and brought a sense of security and calm to our ride. I highly recommend this riding school amongst the 6+ we have supported over the years and my kids absolutely loved their experience. The terrain is flat and safe so no surprises there. We will always hold this experience close to our hearts, thank you Kaylyn! read more

Went to watch my Granddaughter take riding lessons they actually are learning not only to ride but to take care of the horses I was very impressed with this Horse camp! read more

Such a great time! I went with my 2 boys age 5 & 7 and they loved it. This was their 2nd experience riding horses and the gentleness of the horses really made them feel good. Our instructor Paris was awesome! Would definitely go again! read more

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Our go-to spot whenever we are near the neighborhood. They make the activities manageable for all skill levels and readily accommodate family activities. read more

Went on a trail ride as a family of five (two parents and three kids 5-9 yrs old) and had a GREAT experience. Hannah led our group - she was kind, informative, friendly, helped the kids and was an all around great leader. We are all beginners but Hannah helped us feel confident and comfortable. Overall a very fun and enjoyable ride. I fully recommend the Little Big Riding School! read more

For several years now we've camped at a local campground for our kids spring break. We were lucky enough to have found Little Big Riding School three years ago and have reached out to Cindy each year to schedule a fun outing for the kids. Our group has continued to grow and their most recent ride was 12 kids, ranging in age from 6 to 16. These kids all have a blast and have not only brought up their prior memories from these rides randomly throughout the year but also start talking about next years ride the minute they get off their horse. Cindy has been excellent to communicate with. Her staff has been so accommodating and patient with the kids and probably most important these animals are well cared for and respected. We 100% have felt confident in our kids trotting away from us, knowing they are in good hands with well trained and experienced riders. Cindy and staff- thank you for another wonderful spring break, we can't wait for next year. read more

Little Big Riding School - On the trail again... - Horseback Riding Near Me - Santa Ynez, California

I was looking for something unusual and fun to do for my children this Thanksgiving while in Solvang, and I come across Little Big Riding school. Since I found it on the day, I contacted Cindy in the morning and she was very kind and friendly to help check with the trainer if there is a drop off spot available for the day. Lucky, there were. The road to the place was really serene and pretty, especially during the sunset (class is approximately from 3:30 pm to 5 pm). Our trainer, Hannah, is really good. Our kids warm up to her in no time and they were all raving about how fun the entire experience was. So, keep in mind if you come across this review that you can definitely try your luck. With Cindy's help, you might have your lucky day and get a spot As for us, we'll definitely be a bit more prepared in the future and try to book the experience earlier... just in case, can't push our luck too much. :) read more

Cindy is the owner of "Little Big Riding School". She is amazing on a horse and this translates to her teaching. My daughter has been riding with Cindy for 1 year and has learned the real art of horsemanship. We have since acquired a horse of our own and Cindy has been extremely instrumental in the success of this huge commitment. You don't need to own a horse to take lessons with Cindy though. Her lesson horses are all terrific and know exactly what is expected of them. I highly recommend equestrian lessons with Cindy and her "Little Big Riding School". read more

My 7 year old daughter just finished a full horse camp week with Cindy and her awesome team. My daughter had a wonderful time and learned so much. Everyone was welcoming and friendly and the camp was well structured. She enjoyed grooming and riding each day and she even enjoyed the hard work of mucking the corrals. We first learned about the camps when we went on a family trail ride for my birthday back in June. Cindy was easy to schedule with and Hannah led us on the trail ride. She was very friendly and helpful since we had very little experience. Thank you, Little Big Riding School! read more

Cindy is an amazing teacher - patient, kind and informative. My daughter has taken lessons from Cindy, and her amazing daughter Kaylin, for over 2 years. As a result, she has become a very confident, capable rider with a love of riding. I run a guest ranch in the area and refer all of my guests to this school for lessons and also for trail rides. I always get glowing reports of the trail riding adventures. I feel so fortunate to have this riding school for my family and guests alike! read more

Our family had an amazing experience this weekend at this stable. My 4 year old Grandson had his introduction to riding with a very kind trail guide (Hannah) who took the time to explain to him everything he needed to know to feel confident and have fun. My 7 yr old Grand daughter had the time of her life with an easy relaxed pace. Beautiful location and a great time. read more

Went for a 1 on 1 trail ride with Cindy while on vacation with my husband. The experience was wonderful and she made it even better by providing knowledge about the neighboring vineyards and the area in general. The horses were beautiful and well-broken and if I lived in the area, I'd definitely return!! The ride also included a wine tasting at a beautiful vineyard across the street as well as an olive oil tasting! All around, great experience!! read more

I called to make a reservation for a trail ride but Cindy was headed off to ride the big wavees and recommended a lesson from her daughter for our visitors. The two young girls ecstatic when we came back for them and their mother. Kaylin had taught them a lot in the lesson, pushing them harder than they were accustomed. Overall it was a great experience and a trail ride is on the agenda for their next visit. As a side note for the dads who might not be into riding, the great tasting rooms of Los Olivos are only minutes away. We suffered through their absence at Tensley, my favorite Los Olivos stop. I highly recommend this for both beginner and more advanced riders. They are terrific. read more

We had a wonderful experience with Cindy at Little Big Riding School. Cindy was very responsive when I first reached out to her about our vacation plans in the the Santa Ynez Valley and our intentions on doing a trail ride. She set it up beautifully and had five horses ready to go when we arrived. The ride was gorgeous. The horses are very well trained and excellent with small children (age 6 and 7). She was a great instructor for my children! I look forward to going back. read more

Little Big Riding School - Cindy is so good with little children (and her horses too). - Horseback Riding Near Me - Santa Ynez, California

Our family lives in Los Angeles but a few years ago we decided to head up to Santa Ynez on vacation to get out of the city. My daughters love animals and begged us to get them horseback riding lessons that week. Not knowing much about the topic we did a quick search on Google and found Little Big Ridding School. Looking back I can now appreciate how truly lucky we were to find Ms. Cindy. Cindy is an incredible teacher. She is knowledgeable, patient, and conscientious. With her help the girls quickly took to their horse. They had never been on a horse before their first lesson but by the end of that lesson the girls were completely hooked. They enjoyed every aspect of the experience from riding the horse to grooming it afterwards. With Cindy you are not just learning about the mechanics of riding the horse but about the animal itself. What started as a few lessons turned into a summer camp and now we head up from Los Angeles several times a year. Over that time I have watched my girls blossom as they have gained in ability and in confidence both on the horse and in life. It is an incredible experience for my wife and I to see our girls maneuver the horses through the ring and confidently lead them around. They eventually inspired my wife and I to take a lesson and if Cindy can teach two city dwellers like us she can teach anyone! My girls have done horseback riding lessons and camps closer to home but none have even come close to providing the experience they get at Little Big Ridding School. The entire family looks forward to coming up every time. read more

"This was THE best part of our family vacation. Cindy is absolutely wonderful in taking us for such a beautiful ride up scenic trails and up to the top of the hill where you get a breathtaking view of the entire valley! Her horses are gentle and well trained to ride with our family of beginner riders. From my 7 year old to my 65 yr.old mom, we had a relaxing and wonderful ride. Cindy talked with us the whole way, answering all of our questions. If you want a quiet and enjoyable ride, don't hesitate to book her. You will not be disappointed. I hope to do this again someday. Well worth every penny." read more

Little Big Riding School - At the top of the hill, overlooking the valley. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Santa Ynez, California

Awesome experience for my girls, 9 and 12. They have always wanted to ride horses so we decided to surprise them. Cindy was very friendly and a fantastic teacher. She was very thorough and put me at ease. My kids were obviously excited so they had no hesitations, I think I was the one with all the reservations regarding safety and value. After watching Cindy's interactions with my girls and her giving them instructions, I felt completely at ease. If we lived closer to Solvang and not in LA, I think I would sign my girls up regularly. It was a fantastic family experience. read more

We love Cindy and LBRS! My 10 year old daughter has been taking lessons for about 4 years and has become a great rider who loves horses. My 8 year old absolutely loves the horses too and loves to groom them. My 7 year old son enjoys riding too! Its a beautiful ranch and wonderful place to learn to ride. Cindy and her helpers are wonderful teachers for children! Her summer camps are fun too, and a great way to introduce children to horsemanship and riding! read more