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This reflects my personal experience and opinion. It is shared solely so others can make informed decisions when considering boarding, training, or riding lessons at this facility.
Background:
I am a multi-horse owner originally from the Bay Area. I purchased my first horse in 1992 and have been riding, training, and competing for over 30 years. I currently own 5 horses. I have competed successfully up to the 1.10m level in show jumping and have won multiple state titles across various disciplines. Over the years, I have boarded and trained at top facilities in Portola Valley and Woodside, and I kept horses on my own property for nearly a decade. Prior to the experiences described below, I had never had a complaint or dispute with any facility and remain in contact with many former barn owners, managers, and trainers.
Facility History:
I boarded multiple horses at Indian Springs Ranch (ISR) from 2015 to 2025, including after it became Connections Boarding Stables.
From 2015 - 2021 - ISR had 2 different barn managers. During that time, I experienced no issues. SPCA and HHK were excellent!
July 2021 - October 2025 (Connections Boarding Stables)
The following occurred while my horses were boarded at the facility:
September 2021
I was required to move two horses from pens they had lived in for five years to smaller pens. The move itself was not my concern. One pen was located directly next to the manure pile, and the other lacked proper base footing and consisted of dirt and manure dumped by staff. I expressed concerns about these conditions.
November 1, 2021
One horse housed in the unsanitary pen died following complications that professionals involved indicated were consistent with unsanitary conditions and improper stall cleaning.
January 2022
One horse experienced colic that veterinarians attributed to wet, sub-standard hay and being fed outdoors in the rain rather than inside his shelter. At that time, three of my horses had shelters (a stall, a shed, and a covered area). Only one was consistently fed under cover. The other two were fed in the rain, and staff drilled a hole in one of my water buckets and used it as a feeder because it would otherwise fill with water.
July 2022
One horse sustained a leg injury due to unsecured fencing in his pen. I had previously requested that this fencing be secured after the pen was reconfigured in 2021. It was not addressed, and I ultimately secured it myself.
2021-2025
My tack locker was damaged multiple times when staff rammed into it with a feed cart.
December 2023
One horse whose stall was adjacent to the manure pile contracted pigeon fever. Veterinarians indicated this was consistent with poor manure management and lack of fly control.
2021-2025 (Ongoing Horse Welfare Issues)
My horses lost significant weight. One horse lost approximately 200 pounds and four inches in girth. Veterinary evaluations documented that my horses were underweight. Staff refused to increase feed, dismissed both me and my veterinarians, stated my horses were "fat," and further rationed feed after I purchased my own hay to supplement.
One horse began chewing holes in his rubber stall mats--behavior he had never exhibited in the 13 years I owned him and has not exhibited since relocating.
The hay provided appeared to be low-quality "cow hay." My young horse's growth was visibly stunted from approximately four months to two-and-a-half years of age. Within two months of leaving the facility, he gained over 100 pounds, shed an abnormal matted coat, and grew approximately one hand.
March 2025
My 20-month-old horse sustained a fractured tuber coxae after a makeshift pen was attached to his enclosure, allowing another horse access to him.
February 2024 - October 2025 (Safety Concerns)
I witnessed numerous unsafe situations involving lesson horses, staff, and minor students, both on the property and at local horse shows. At one show, I observed a student fall from the same school horse 3 times over 2 days after the horse exhibited dangerous behavior. I reported this incident to management. After doing so, my relationship with management and staff deteriorated significantly.
October 2025
While away at a horse show, I received an eviction notice.
Following my eviction, the barn manager sent an email to other boarders containing statements about me that I believe were defamatory and derogatory. I requested a written apology and received no response.
I am not sharing this because I wish to return to this facility--I do not. I am sharing because horse welfare and rider safety matter, and in my experience under the facility's current management, both were repeatedly compromised.
I have 4 years of documentation supporting my experiences. I will not be sharing that documentation publicly at this time.
I encourage anyone considering boarding, training, or lessons to conduct thorough, independent research and to actively advocate for their horses and their own safety
