This suburban farm offers horse boarding, riding lessons, kids camps and birthday parties…read more We have friends who's daughter attended their summer camp and loved it. Based on their experience we decided to have our daughter's 6th birthday party here and it was great fun for all. For Birthday parties you essentially have the exclusive use of a little park-like area in the center of the farm that has a play structure, picnic tables, a good number of shady trees and a small barn with petting-zoo type animals. The party rentals are two hours, with the first hour offering pony rides and during the second hour the petting zoo barn is open. We had two pony's at a time for the kids to ride, and with 10 kids that worked out to about two rides each. This was perfect timing so that we could do Pizza and cup cakes after the pony rides, then once the kids were done eating they excitedly ran over to pet the animals in the petting zoo. For the petting zoo portion there were chickens, pigs, bunnies, goats, sheep and a miniature horse the size of a large dog. The kids LOVED petting and brushing the animals. You don't need to add any additional activities or entertainment for the kids because the two hours are nicely full. The kids were constantly in motion and playing on the play structure when not riding a pony or in the petting zoo. All the kids seemed thrilled with the activities and were having tons of fun. All-in-all the process of having a party here, from reserving the day to clean up afterward, is pretty smooth. The only downside was a multi-page contract form that had to be signed by the parents of all the kids. The forms have to be returned to the hostess and the hostess then returns them to the farm with a guest list, as one packet, the Thursday before the party. It would be easier if the parents could just do the form on-site, but I'm guessing that the management wants to be sure the parents read it fully and agree to the terms in advance. But despite the paperwork I highly recommend Morning Star to anyone with grade school age kids.

Kid's Birthday party review…read more Discovered via local moms club and "background checked" on yelp, we decided to have our son's 4th birthday party at Morning Star and I prayed it would live up to its stars b/c we had friends driving from Concord, SF, and beyond to attend. The verdict is that we'd give it a 6th star if we could! The things we loved were that they have a covered option in case of rain, a sweet playground at the uncovered area, where the 2-5 yr olds had a total blast, and a little petting zoo. The trainer Rachel, who led the kids and ponies, two by two, was a pro and helped even the nervous kids feel confident. Each kid got about two rides, which was perfect. The owner helped us set up tables and put up a shade/rain structure since it had rained all morning and we weren't sure if we'd need it. Also, $200 for a 2-pony party for two hours is a great deal in my book, esp compared to $800-1,000 Discovery Museum party price tag (we love it there too, just, gulp). The only down side, as others noted, is the release forms. They are necessary of course, but the onus of getting each family to sign them and submit before the party is on the party-thrower. It is time consuming up front and I wasn't making any friends for a while there, but it makes it so guests don't have to mess with forms when they get there. One idea is to have people use CamScanner or another scanning app on their phones so it can all be done electronically, and to leave a few day's cushion for missing forms. Lastly, I appreciated that all of the animals looked very well-cared for and the whole property was clean and inviting.

I have just started boarding at PBR, but I am so thrilled to be here. My horse Beau arrived on…read moreSunday and everyone here has been so helpful. I'm a total noob and all the boarders and the owner Michelle do everything they can to show me the ropes. Michelle is one of the most friendly and accommodating people I've ever met. Her cheerful attitude makes my day. I'm still letting Beau settle in so I haven't ridden him yet, but everyone raves about the trails. PBR is backed up to Indian Valley and Ignacio Valley preserves and has direct entrances from the ranch. No trailering needed! Good for someone like me with a Hyundai. I'm happy with my portion of the tack room, and Michelle offered to put up another saddle rack for me. She also offered to fix the mats in Beau's stall, as they're wonky and make it difficult to clean. This is not a show barn, so the atmosphere is very relaxed. There are not trainers on site, so you would need to arrange for one to travel to PBR. I've been told there is a dressage trainer down the street, but I'm not sure if they travel for lessons. There is a large arena and large round pen for turn out. No pastures.

Pencil Belly, from Stall to open space in less than 4 minutes. Happy horses, happy people, not…read morecrowded. Way to be Pencil Belly!!

From the first moment I set foot at the barn, HoofBeats has revealed itself to be my dream place of…read morelove and safe self-development, where: - I can explore my language, love and flow with horses and become a better horse woman - all my self-development nots in turn come to the surface, where they meet Jenny's gentle and graceful coaching, thus getting channeled each time to a constructive learning outcome - my body started feeling good, in shape and useful - I found a family away from home - activities and interactions bring me to higher and greater clarity about my self, my life, my work and relationships. This is not a push-the-button riding school. It's a space of self-discovery through interaction with horses, from the ground and from the saddle, and its depth has brightened my life up like I didn't even know was possible. If you live in Sonoma County and you are looking for a safe place of exploration, this is THE place!

Jenny is amazing. She's overall a beauitful person inside and out. I received a equestrian guided…read moreeducation session as a gift, and it was amazing. Jenny's horses are all rescues and they all have a calm and easy going demeanor. I never worked with horses and got sppoked the first few times they initated contact with me. They are such gentle giants and by the end i am definitely now a fan of them! All the horses were great to work with and Jenny was awesome at giving guidance and feedback. Her passion in her work is immediate. I highly recommend attending one of jenny's sessions, she's one of the sweetest people I ever met. She's very generous and really created a personalized session to fit my needs. Overall I had a great time just being in her space and interacting with Jenny and the horses! She's a kind, compassionate and thoughtful teacher! There's something indescribable about being in the space, it's like for a second, nothing else matters besides being in that moment. Thank you Jenny!

My daughter and husband have been taking horsemanship lessons with Karin for 4 years. Karin is…read moreincredibly knowledgeable about horses, as well as dogs and also has great advice for humans as well! We couldn't be happier with the horsemanship lessons. She has been such a great mentor to my daughter as many of the leadership lessons with horses are so very applicable for a young girl's life lessons. For a young girl to have the confidence to lead these horses - it's just so amazing to witness. Recently we decided to take a staycation at her lovely home and rented out a couple of rooms for us for the weekend. Karin was such an amazing hostess from the very beginning when we got there, to the lavish exit from her property, as she had both her dogs positioned on either side of the gate at the end of her driveway as a send off. We stayed in a beautiful room with incredible views of the Nicasio reservoir. This is a must stay place for any photographer, bird lover, horse lover. It felt like we were completely in a different country, when we were only a 20 minute drive to our home. Karin made us an amazing breakfast each morning, while overlooking the reservoir, watching pelicans, falcons, and yes...bald eagles flying overhead! How incredible! Her house has several rooms to rent, and she also has a treehouse, which my daughter stayed in with her friend. They had a blast. A great skylight above the bed to stargaze. One night we enjoyed dinner at her outdoor 'cantina'. During the day, dipping our toes in the beautiful pool. The kids enjoyed chasing the little lizards that basked in the sun. We brought our dog who had probably the most fun of us all. Finally, a place where a dog can actually be a dog! Did I mention Karin is a fabulous dog trainer as well? Thank you so much for such a fabulous weekend that we will cherish always, Karin!

I stayed at Danehill Manor for a week with my boyfriend and it was absolutely magical. We took…read morenatural horsemanship lessons with Karin who was hosting us and it was incredible to learn from her wisdom. We walked away with new leadership skills, confidence and patience. I would HIGHLY recommend the experience of being with these majestic horses that roam the 35 acres freely eating grass. The property is stunning, it feels like you're in Europe amidst the green rolling hills and Karin is also a phenomenal chef. She makes the worlds fluffiest omelettes for breakfast and incredibly authentic Danish dinners as well. It was so much more than a vacation for us, we will remember the things we learned here for a lifetime.

beyond wonderful! well cared for, energized horses are super fun to ride. the vineyard trails are a…read moredream. we celebrated a fun ladies' birthday ride followed by lunch at Girl & the fig. doesn't get any better!

We had such a wonderful time horseback riding through Bartholomew Vineyards with Sonoma Valley…read moreTrail Rides! Skye was such a beautiful horse for our bride on our bachelorette trip, and we loved learning about the estate. The ladies took so many amazing photos and made the day so special. The wine at the end was a very fun treat! Would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a special activity while visiting Sonoma!

I am actually quite surprised that Kilham Farm does not have more reviews but maybe it is because…read morethey do not offer trail rides as a service. I purchased a package of 3 riding lessons as a Groupon deal and I have already had my first two lessons. My last lesson is this Saturday and I intend to continue my lessons here. The area that Kilham Farm is located is absolutely gorgeous and the facilities are just as beautiful, clean and very well maintained. In addition to this, their horses are happy, easygoing, and easy to work with - I can attest to this with Lizzie, the horse I have been training with. Making appointments is easy and I have never been bumped or not scheduled because I used a Groupon (a total plus in my book). Or if I need to reschedule, that isn't a problem either. I've left two messages and have gotten same day responses for both of them. When I arrived for my first lesson, I wasn't sure what to expect but the women of Kilham Farm are friendly and gracious. There was none of the pretentiousness that I have heard of at some equestrian locations. They even have spare boots for me to borrow! The outdoor covered training area is spacious and a great place to train. It's quite a drive for me to get there (1.5 hours each way) but it is worth it! I would very much recommend Kilham Farm if you are interested in horseback riding lessons.

Kilham farm is the best place I've ever been! The trainers name is Holly and she isn't one of those…read morestrict ones that make you sad. They have horse gear to borrow so you don't have to bye your own. From the second I walk up to my horses stall to the second I get in the car it feels like the most fantastic moment of my week! So I think Kilham farm is the best place to go!

Me and my gf had an amazing experience horseback riding with the help of Kiera and Katie, guiding…read moreus through and making sure we are comfortable and safe. I had a wonderful time with Dozer! I highly recommend trying this experience as a beginner like me :))

Katie and Kiera were awesome! Beautiful experience and lovely setting. Highly recommendread more