We rode here for a birthday in 2024. I would not say these horses are for beginners - this was not a safe or enjoyable ride. The horse I rode jumped from my leg brushing his belly, so I had to float my legs off his body the entire time. I'm not sure he was well enough to ride that day if his belly was that tender. The other horses did not get along and fought while on the trail. This led to one horse spooking/attacking another and caused my friend to fall. She had difficulty walking, but was asked to get back on the horse despite laying on the floor in pain. After she couldn't get on, we thought the guide would call for help. But we found out later that the guide simply called her coworker and told them she'd be late for her next ride. Are you kidding me? Someone gets hurt and your first thought is your next paycheck? Our friend had to continue on foot since the guide told us we could not get off to help her. I don't think she would've made it all the way. We were lucky to run into fire authorities that gave her a ride. The authorities clarified they were NOT contacted by the guide and they were there for a separate event. We took our friend to the ER ourselves to get a spinal scan which thankfully turned out with bruising only. Afterwards, we were not offered a refund. We get it, horses have bad days and are unpredictable. But there is no excuse for having a guide that is so severely untrained and unempathetic. In a real emergency, you do not want to be caught in the middle of a nowhere with no signal and a "guide" that doesn't even know how to call for help or care about you. She just sounded like she wanted it over with. Really horrified and disappointed by the negligence here. read more

Best place, amazing staff! Beautiful horses and trail ride was perfect went for mother's day. Great experience

Trail Guides and well cared for horses make this ride a safe and memorable experiences. Ages 7 and older. No experience necessary. Beginners are welcomed. read more

Monteverde Ranch Equestrian Center - Trail riding in Hansen Dam is beautiful! Groups of 10 welcomed!! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Sylmar, California

I was really dreading writing this review, but the more i think about it, it needs to be written for the safety of others. The booking process was fine, it's more so the training of the horses and the lack of judgement from the guide. They had asked us upon booking to share your experience level, im experienced and my friend was a beginner. We signed the waivers and even though helmets are required, our guide told me that since i was experienced, when i get out on trail i could take it off she didn't care. It sounded cool of her at first , but thinking back it shouldn't have been an option considering what happened on trail. I personally think even though someone may say they're experienced, that doesn't mean give them a difficult horse. God forbid someone was lying about their experience level, it could've ended up way worse. At the end of the day I'm still paying for a great experience and i want to enjoy my ride. They had put me on a "guide horse" named Caesar and he was all over the place to say the least. Before we even got on the trail he spooked at the commotion going on (my friends beginner horse didn't want to go down the hill) so he started to move forward and buck. We finally got down the hill from the head of the trail and while we're walking down a rock path where he proceeded to spook another 2-3 times (at nothing ex: rocks, other horses) the guide would look back but since i stayed on she didn't think anything of it. After spooking at the horses approaching us, he was jigging until we went down a steep hill and that's when he decided to buck me off. Luckily i never took my helmet off because something in my gut old me not to and i was able to land on my feet and grab ahold of the reins so he didn't take off. After the fall, i was thinking about getting back on Caesar but i remembered that this is supposed to be a relaxing ride and im paying for this experience. I then asked the guide if we can switch horses because her horse did not spook once on trail. She was hesitant because she just saw me get thrown off so i could tell she didn't want to, but she had to. I feel like this was a poor choice and could have been avoided from the beginning. I'm sure that's not Caesar first time doing this out of his 16 years. Caesar didn't want to lead the trail with the guide so i ended up guiding the rest of the trail. All to say, this horse should've never been part of the rental string. He is not bombproof, he spooks and bucks. Definitely not worth the full $125. So disappointing, I was so excited to try a new place. read more

We initially thought we wouldn't be able to ride because someone on the phone let us know we could walk in on the weekends. When we came, there was a private event before us but they were able to squeeze us in for an hour trail ride! I'm an experienced equestrian and the facilities here are beautiful and their horses are well loved and taken care of. Our horses were sure footed and steady and easy for my novice boyfriend to ride. The trail itself was amazing in the spring after the rains - there were plenty of water crossings and Hansen Dam was in full bloom! I was so impressed by their horses and their sure footedness with how rocky the ground was at first. We got to trot a little and where there was room, my horse was happy to ride side by side with my boyfriend. These horses are more responsive than your complete dead head average trail horse and I appreciated the ability to get out there on a weekend and see Hansen Dam. I rode at the Hunter/Jumper facility nearby for years and had always wondered what the trails around the area looked like. It was $60 (cash only) which I thought was more than reasonable! I would highly recommend coming in the spring when it's this nice out. read more

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Steve was amazing! He was a great guide who communicated well and was super friendly and very knowledgeable. It was great having this experience for my birthday. We went along a nice path and were able to enjoy the scenery of the mountains, and crossed a couple of small rivers . The horses were so gentle and very well trained. We love our experience and will be returning for another horse ride! read more

Monteverde Ranch Equestrian Center - Great experience horse riding! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Sylmar, California

Had a great time riding this morning with some friends. Perfect weather! Steve was a great guide and I so enjoyed riding Butters! read more

Monteverde Ranch Equestrian Center - Horseback Riding Near Me - Sylmar, California

There are so many great things to say about Monteverde that it's hard to know where to begin. My horse loves it here, and we've been here about four years. The atmosphere is quiet and low-key, and there is zero drama from the boarders and trainers. If you've spent any time in barns, you know there are occasionally toxic people that sometimes make the whole barn experience unpleasant. Monteverde doesn't have any of those, and it's been a peaceful sanctuary for me and my horse since the day we moved in. The owners and management truly love horses, and it shows. This is the seventh place I've boarded my horse at in almost 20 years of having him, and I never want to leave. The owners have made horse welfare their highest priority, which is so rare. Where other barns try to cut costs by feeding cubes twice a day, Monteverde feeds hay three times every day. Most places feeding hay at all are charging way more than the board here, and most of those places are only feeding twice daily at most. Their integrity is so high that Monteverde also stops their trail ride business when the temperature gets too hot, to protect their horses from heat exhaustion. This reduces the hours that they can offer trail rides to the public in summertime, yet they do it anyway, because they prioritize the health of the horses. I trust this ranch like I've never trusted a boarding facility before. I have peace of mind knowing that my boy's water buckets will always be full, because he doesn't like drinking out of the auto waterers. I also feel confident that his stall is always clean, because it always is. Everywhere else we've ever boarded, I've always found the stall cleanliness inconsistent or regularly substandard. But here, it's aways cleaned well, and shavings are included in the board price. Lisa, the manager, also doesn't charge extra for doing supplements or basic wound care. This is unheard of! Most barns nickel and dime you to death by offering a la carte services, and it all adds up quick. But Monteverde includes it all in an affordable package, and the tackrooms, as an added bonus, are massive! You can get into the trails directly out of the property, and ride all over Hansen Dam. Turnout is nearly always available, in actual arenas, not tiny sun pens. This is also something I've found to be hard to access at other barns. Several of the places I moved to were so crowded with trainers you could never get arena turnout, and it was very frustrating. Here, aside from a few regularly scheduled programs, turnout is easy, and the arenas are regularly maintained. Also, parking is always easy and plentiful. I feel so lucky to have moved to this barn. And did I mention they do regular brush clearance for fire safety, and even have an evacuation plan in the event of wildfires? They have truly thought of everything. I am completely confident that my horse is in the best of hands here. read more

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This was my second time visiting for horseback riding and they never disappoint. Our guide Steve was very kind and accommodating of our group, he made our ride really enjoyable. Definitely 'memorable and not post traumatic' :) read more

Monteverde Ranch Equestrian Center - Horseback Riding Near Me - Sylmar, California

First time here. My friend recommended this place for a sunset trail ride. What a treat! Afternoon weather was perfect and the trail guides were supportive and knowledgeable. I don't know a lot about horses but I can tell the horses were well cared for and super friendly. The guides insured we were comfortable with handling our horses since all of us are beginners. The guides were patient and helped us get in and out of the saddles. Helmets were mandatory and I appreciate that. There's plenty of parking out front and a convenient bathroom...nothing fancy but it gets the job done. Of course I can't recall all the "hoomans" who helped out but I want to thank Luke, Clover, Tony the Pony, Tacoma, Palito and "the couch" for a memorable ride w old and new friends ! read more

Monteverde Ranch Equestrian Center - Quiet night at the barn - Horseback Riding Near Me - Sylmar, California

This is place takes you on a great trail. It's very rocky, but it's a nice scenery. I must warn you if you're a beginner or a child do not ride the horse " Tino" that dude is fussy, and difficult, he constantly wants to run. It's not a relaxing ride with him. You definitely ain't going to enjoy relaxing ride with him while listening to " Katie Perry. Have fun and make sure you wear jeans. read more

Very nice and clean ranch, very friendly and helpful staff . Provided with what we needed.

Visited today to celebrate my birthday with a private trail ride. Booking was easy. I got a call back within a few hours of reaching out. Currently it's cash payment prior to your ride. The horses were well trained and we were well matched. My husband who is a bit less comfortable riding got a super mellow horse which made his experience much more fun. Our guide was very friendly and helpful. He was especially proactive when dealing with another group of riders who were not so conscientious of others on the trail. The whole experience was very peaceful and it was fun to see the nature in the Hansen Dam area. Monteverde Ranch is a wonderful option if you want a less touristy experience and/or don't want to trek out to the beach. We thoroughly enjoyed the ride and checking out the ranch! read more

Right off of the 210 this place is an amazing gem. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and fun loving. Come get some lessons and or take a group trail ride. You won't regret it. read more

So my wife thought it would be fun to go riding as a family so we bid on and won the gift certificate at the Alemany fundraiser. What a wonderful family memory. We were blessed with perfect weather. There were a couple young girls in our group (not with us) (you have to make reservations) and they did fine with these horses and on this trail. we had 2 guides and they did fine. This was only the 2nd time for me and my 13 yo daughter and first time for my 15 yo son (he had the most chill horse) going horseback riding. So we are definitely beginners. There was plenty of water in the streams because of the rainy winter we had, but crossing was not a problem though I think we all got a little wet. read more

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I deleted my review in error. So I'm re-writing it. Monteverde has given not only my horses, but me too- a home with wonderful friends, great care, at the most beautiful place at the base of the Foothill mountains to enjoy. It's spacious, the arenas are huge, never crowded. There's always time to turn out, and the horses are all very relaxed because they have space to move. My horse's stall is huge, gets a breeze and is clean. It's quiet here, and pleasant, and riding in any direction directly off the property is beautiful. We are right across from the Tujunga Wash, and within minutes our horses can be trotting through a stream. The horses are fed hay 3 x day, and they feed them well. The management is on top of everything, and the owners are lovely caring people. The community is very positive and friendly.The ranch is a gem- a truly magical place to be to enjoy my horse, to ride with friends, and to know my horse is in great hands makes me very comfortable. read more

I used to come here a ton, ride the horses. But since the pandemic, you need to make reservations 24 hours in advance. I called and called and left voicemails with no call backs. I'm quite disappointed. I wish they would at least pick up the phone, or call back. read more

I took my Boy Scouts here to work on the Horsemanship Merit badge. GREAT EXPERIENCE. Everyone was knowledgeable and helpful, helping the boys with everything they needed. Great trail ride. Recommend this to any Scout Troop as an activity or the Merit badge. In the metro LA area, but a nice ranch feeling. Staff understands what the Scouts needed for the Merit badge. read more

Monteverde Ranch Equestrian Center - Horseback Riding Near Me - Sylmar, California

Our first experience coming here was amazing! Not only were the horses well taken care of but our instructor was super cool! We love Steve! Made us very comfortable, was talkative with us, and reassured us when riding the horses! The trail was pretty cool to be on. We definitely recommend coming here! read more

I would give ZERO stars but its not possible... Lisa has single handedly TERRORIZED the horse community at this barn, INJURED my horse due to her lack of barn management, and general sense of chaos (didnt offer to pay for vet bills NOR DID SHE APOLOGIZE by the way). To board your horse here is THE WORST decision you could possibly make for the HEALTH AND WELL BEING, potentially even the LIFE of your horse. DO NOT BOARD YOUR HORSE HERE. read more

Went on a ride with Lisa today. Got a great tour of the beautiful scenery with a couple of beautiful horses. Will absolutely be back soon.

I was trying to make a reservation and the owner Lisa was extremely rude. I will never waste another $60-$80 on her business ever again, and I advise all to stay away from her business! read more

Wow my friend and I had a blast. Melissa was such a great guide, she handled all situations with ease and knowledge since were both novice level. Highly recommend in comparison to other horseback riding locations. This had a more rocky terrain but the trail was wide and scenic. read more

A big Thank you to the owners and staff of this place. We took the family for a 2hr trail ride today and had a blast. Alexis, Yesenia, Nicole, Reina, Bella, Blaze, Nino all were absolutely wonderful. Cesar was a little mischievous but he calmed down after a quick swap. We will be back for sure. Thanks again! read more

Monteverde Ranch Equestrian Center - Horseback Riding Near Me - Sylmar, California

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Monte Verde is a great little ranch! My group and I had an excellent experience on our trail ride. We came on a Sunday morning with a group of 4, some experienced and some beginners. Trail rides are $20 per hour per person, cash only. We opted for a 2-hour ride, and I'm glad we did because those two hours flew by. Our two guides lead us way up into the canyon, which provided some spectacular views of the valley below. When we came down we crossed Osbourne and ended up on a shady trail that winded alongside the river. Most trail rides I've been on, the guides just have you walk single file on the trail the whole time, but our guides let us have some fun. About half of the time, we were trotting and cantering. The horses we rode were well broke and sure-footed. They didn't try to eat or wander off the trail at all. They started flagging by the end, but it was a hot day and a pretty strenuous trail. The one scary moment came when my horse had a misstep that caused him to fall sideways and land on my lower leg. I was able to quickly get my feet out of the stirrups and push him off of me, avoiding any injury other than scrapes and bruises. The guides were quick to come to my aid and were sure that the horse and I were both OK before continuing. I was freaked out for a minute or two after the fall, but it ended up being not a big deal at all. Just a reminder that there's risk involved in horseback riding, but well-trained horses and guides minimize that risk considerably! Make sure to wear jeans and boots, and bring your camera, sunscreen, water, a hat and a small pack. Depending on the route you take, there might be very little shade on the trail. And don't forget to bring extra cash to tip your guides!! read more

Monteverde Ranch Equestrian Center - Our group of 4 - Horseback Riding Near Me - Sylmar, California

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Friendly staff. paid $40 for horseback riding and let me tell you that basically you get what you pay for. it was cool getting to go horse back riding but the scenery was trash. basically looked at a bunch of dead bushes and graffiti the whole ride. the horses don't seem all that trained either read more

the owners of this ranch truly love horses. each night someone checks on each horse. some of the favorites even get a treat. the owners are kind. their saying "our clients are the horses". read more

Took my toddler to see some horses as he's absolutely obsessed with them and the staff and one of the horse owners we met was so kind. Walked us around. Very clean place and the horses were just beautiful. read more

We had a killer time! Called the night before to make a reservation for 4 (2 adults, and 2 kids); Nicole was so accommodating. She was able to get us in, exactly when we wanted. I recommend arriving a few minutes prior to your trail time, to fill out some quick paperwork. Geneviève was our tour guide; she gave us an option of a dessert or water scenic route. We picked the water route; I'm so grateful that we did. It was beautiful! We road through crisp water creeks and trees for an hour. Geneviève was so patient with my kids, as it was their first time riding. She was also very knowledgable about the horses. We can't wait to go back! Yee haw cowboy! read more

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I was super excited to come here because it was my first time horseback riding but it truly ended up being such a terrible experience. I understand that riding a horse can be dangerous because they're wild animals and we even signed waivers but I feel like this could have been prevented. The mix of horses they had for my group of 5 seemed off, I heard one of the instructors tell my horse to move away from another because they began getting riled up as they were near each other. Another one of the horses my friend was on kept walking and bumping the horse my mom was on and when she asked for help they didn't do anything about it. I understand that the staff can't always control a horses actions but they should make sure that these horses are okay to be ridden and not mix certain horses together. It was also noted that it was my first time horseback riding, I assumed my horse would be very calm and gentle but my horse was triggered by something before we even began the trail and started running and bucked me off the side. I fell very hard on the ground and almost hit my face on a pole. My lip and eye were swollen and bruised and I I couldn't walk for 2 weeks, I am still suffering from back pain since the accident. I'm grateful they gave us our money back but just be aware when you come here because something is off with these horses, they're very fussy and not beginner friendly. read more

I'm so happy I found this! Super affordable on the weekends with $30 cash for an hour ride. They have a variety of horses to pick from. All the staff are super sweet and informative. I just wish the trails were better but then again the trail is right by the 210 freeway. The beginning of the trail was super rocky. I actually felt bad for my horse. But woody was such a good horse overall even if he had tendacy to wanna lead all the time Lol. Overall, This is a great buck for your money if you just wanna ride just to ride. read more

Monteverde Ranch Equestrian Center - Horseback Riding Near Me - Sylmar, California

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Had such an amazing time! Thank you.. thank you.. thank you! Everyone was amazing.. Jesus was especially kind and patient with my children and I. Definitely recommend these trails for beginners and children. Had a wonderful ride with beautiful scenery this weekend... we will definitely return. read more

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Great value, lots of fun. I's never ridden before but in short order I was guiding my trusty steed on a 90-minute trail ride no problem. My horse Zeus was a bit of a character and liked to eat the shrubbery. I let him have a little fun, even though it meant we'd have to catch up -- which sometimes he's do at gallop, which was wild! Highly recommended. read more

I have been riding horses here for about 6-8 years and I always have a wonderful experience with them. The guides like Kaylee will make sure you have an enjoyable time. They will Accommodate your riding experience and will make sure you are safe and protected as well as have a relaxing therapy session on the horse -- Kaylee especially. The managers overseeing this business like Aaron will also make sure you have an enjoyable experience, and I am grateful to him for making sure I did too. I am a loyal customer and want to make sure that people who work hard to please customers like Monte Verde get the credit they deserve. The trail is long and handsome, and without ruining your surprise I can tell you to prepare to get wet! read more

I had a great time riding Zues! Beautiful horses and staff are very professional I will be coming back and inviting my friends to join. read more

Monteverde Ranch Equestrian Center - Beautiful kind horses. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Sylmar, California

Great price! Beautiful area! The staff were all extremely nice. My boyfriend and I loved both of our horses. Our guide took pictures during our ride and texted them to us after. That was a great little extra. Everyone loves pictures. Will be back again!! read more

Monteverde Ranch Equestrian Center - Riding through the river - Horseback Riding Near Me - Sylmar, California

Great place-the fact it is affordable means you can go more regularly on the trails.

First time visiting this beautiful ranch, it's clean and the staff are awesome. The ride was so relaxing and just a lot to see. My teen loved it and we will be visiting again. A memorable experience you have to do with family. Thank you Lisa read more

I tried to change my reservation today at the last minute since we had some extra time, and Chasin was great and told us to come on by! Went with my parents, and had a blast - they were both first time riders. We got horses Buck, Charlie, and Billy, and it was really peaceful going through the area. Chasin made sure we got some good photos as well! read more

Monteverde Ranch Equestrian Center - Horseback Riding Near Me - Sylmar, California

If you are looking for trail rides for a few people or a group then you have found the right place. Call Carlos for a group reservation or just come in with a few people and he will set you up. You do not need experience to ride here. They have modest trail horses that will be mostly walking the entire time or you can request a horse with some giddy up and have some cowboy fun. My daughter has been riding at this ranch with the Blue Shadows for many years. Your child my want to ride weekly with this team or the California Rangers. Both organizations cater to under 18 year olds. The Polo Club here is rated number one in the nation for footing. There is a huge stable here, wood sidewalk in front as well as a stream with a wood bridge straight through the property. Plenty of nice people willing to make your visit special. read more