I had the opportunity to take my daughter and her friends to Pereira Ranch for a bday lesson with trainers Sara and Rachel. They were AWESOME!!! So friendly, talkative, provided so much information regarding the behaviors of horses and overall provided a GREAT experience! The facility was well maintained and the horses were all well behaved. I would highly recommend this ranch read more

One of the better boarding ranches I've been to. Friendly, helpful staff that goes out of their way to be helpful. Trails into the Mt Diablo foothills are scenic and take you to great views of the surrounding area. The arenas and round pens are well maintained and free of hazards. Storage for Tack and stuff is available. A large animal vet lives nearby and is available plus a clinic for shots and deworming is scheduled about every six months. read more

This is probably a classic case of getting what you paid for. You'll see both good and bad reviews so I urge you to read this whole review if you are considering boarding your horse here so that you can truly understand the good and the bad, and make the right decision to keep yourself and your horse(s) safe. They obviously have very great prices and with a multitude of stabling options and basic amenities it can be a great place to keep your horses. There are quite a few very sweet and kind boarders that have kept their horses here without any issue. If you are considering keeping your horse at Pereira Ranch or Big Oak Stables you can also have an okay/good experience if you do the following: Be prepared to check on your horse daily. Even if you aren't doing the self-care option, you will want to be keeping a watchful eye on your horse(s) because not only will you not be notified if anything happens - from sickness, injury, negligence, or other concerns, they may not even notice any of it happening. This is not a place for people that are unable to visit and check their horse(s) multiple times a week. Document everything. You will quickly notice that everything happens by word of mouth only, including price changes or other things that happen (moving your horses, bringing in any personal items like stall mats, etc). Be sure to confirm it in a text or written document because you do not want to have a misunderstanding. This goes especially for giving notice of leaving, do not leave that to a mixed topic phone conversation or you run a significant risk of an explosive and scary encounter with the owner if they don't recall the conversation. There is nothing too small to document with a photo or a text. In this review I feel it is important to be fair and informative. I believe that you can have a good experience here, but you do need to be fully aware of the potential and rather significant risks. Pros: -Reasonable prices for the area -Amenities like arenas, trails, trailer parking, plenty of tack room space -Generally laid back atmosphere Cons: -Gross negligence occurs (I will detail further later in this review) -Very little accountability/acknowledgement/apology when things go wrong -There's a rough crew there at times and language can get very inappropriate at high volume, so people with smaller children beware -General lack of communication, a lot of avoidance happens especially when something 'bad' has happened The first year of being there went fairly smoothly. There was only minimal interaction once we moved in and the only real issue was a horse that got a major facial abscess while we were out of town and no one ever notified us or even noticed, which was mildly concerning. This year has been a year full of freak accidents and gross negligence, as well as violent confrontation that would have driven us away had we not already been moving hours away. The first issue was a vicious barn cat attack that required an emergency room visit. It was a by all accounts a freak accident but small red flags bubbled when it was clear that the owner was only concerned in ensuring there wouldn't be liability or a lawsuit, going so far as to push responsibility on another boarder who fed the cat. The second incident was again a freak accident, our foal contracted 2 very rare strains of bacterial infections that nearly killed it. The incident resolved positively but there was a lot of waffling from the owners from willingness to help do whatever cleaning was required (which never happened), to nearly barring us from returning there from the NICU. The final straw was during the first major heatwave of the year when my horse became visibly ill, upon arrival it was clear the horse was in a very severe shape. The cause was quickly identified though as an empty water tank. There had been a small leak in the tank and instead of fixing it, or notifying me, they simply turned off the water and never came back. The horse was severely dehydrated, clearly having been without any water for many hours and possibly on minimal water for days and required emergency veterinary care. This was bad enough but not only did the owner not acknowledge this had happened or willingly speak to me, this actually occurred two more times! On leaving we also encountered a verbally violent altercation with the barn owner who claimed that they didn't know we were leaving, and thus owed more money. A one sided shouting and cursing match ensued and had there not been a level of physical distance it quite possibly could have been a more than simply verbally violent encounter. I struggle to recommend this place but if you do choose to board here, I entreaty you to take heed of the advice I listed for your and your horse's safety and sanity. There are certainly some great people there such as many of the boarders, the gentleman who generally does the feeding, and the owner's daughter who gives lessons. Just be prepared and be safe. read more

Love this place! The people are friendly, it feels like a community and I've only boarded here for 3 months. The pasture is huge with rolling hills and a great herd. They also have a barn and corrals. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to do arena work, trailer out to nearby trails, ride in the pasture, or toddle around the surrounding area. The owner and trainers are big Ropers so definitely you can grow if roping is an interest! read more

Very down to earth people. Went horseback riding for the first time with my son. Absolutely wonder experience. They took the time to answer all of his questions. No frills or fancy things. It's all about horses and respect for the animals. read more

Big Oaks Stables is great location with relaxing atmosphere. Riding on and off property is nice and location is in close proximity to endless riding in nearby parks. The staff are accommodating and professional and my fellow boarders are the best for a wonderful horse community experience. read more

Pereira Ranch - Big Oak Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Danville, California

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Big Oak Ranch was a wonderful place to keep my horse for nearly three years. I loved the facility and the people. However, the current trainer, Lisa, drove me away. She is nasty, foul-mouthed and loud. She makes appointments for lessons and then doesn't show. Her horses are not well-cared for and she SMOKES in the barn! I was very sad to move but it had become a very toxic environment. read more

My horse was seriously injured in pasture and no one noticed all day!!! Pasture horses are not fed enough unless they are really easy keepers, Tack rooms are disgusting, not somewhere you would feel safe leaving your horse without checking on them everyday. read more

I wish there was a 2.5 star review. If there was, I would give them that. I'll split this review in half, the bad and the good. I moved my horses to one of the pastures a few years ago. , I was not able to ride frequently at the time so I just wanted my horses to be in a pasture where I thought someone would have eyes on them every day. I put them in the pasture that is right next to the owner's home. Honestly, for the first couple of years things were fine. The fencing in the pasture is really unsafe, and that was my biggest hesitation in moving my horses there, but I thought it would be ok. Well about a year ago, a horse in the pasture tore his fetlock open and nobody saw the injury until it was too late to save the horse surgically, and he passed away. I thought about moving my horses when that occurred because the owner of the deceased horse was pretty adamant about it being negligence, but I couldn't find anywhere comparable in price. Well, in July one of my horses sustained a nearly identical injury to her fetlock. The barn owner did call me, but it was not even her who saw it. Another boarder saw the injury. The surgeon and I determined my mare had been injured for 48 hours or so. Both my horse's injury and the deceased horse suffered open joint injuries to their fetlocks, clearly caused by unmaintained barbed wire fencing. When my horse came home I of course did not want to put either of my horses back into that pasture since they didn't do any fencing repairs, but the owners would not let me keep them in the pipe pens already set up within the pasture. The barn owners became very difficult to work withthe incident. You would think that after one horse dies in your pasture and another nearly dies, you would fix the fencing, but they did not. I do not think the pasture I had my horses in is safe at all, and I would not recommend that anyone put there horses out there. The facilities are bare minimum. The tack room is infested with mice, so I kept my equipment in my horse trailer. There is no electricity out there which is challenging for a farrier and for dental and veterinary procedures. There are no crossracks or anything, just a piece of concrete and a very low set tie bar and a hose. The GOOD: The facilities are the most inexpensive I could find in the area. They also have access to trails. The barn owner was nice to me when I first moved my horses there a few years ago. When my horse got hurt I was unable to drive, and he did take her to the hospital and bring her home a month later for me, that was a very kind thing to do. I think that overall, if you are not looking for anything fancy, are tight on money, and you can check on your horse 6-7 days per week with your own eyes, it is an ok facility. If you have the money to spend elsewhere and/or can't come every day, don't trust the people here to have an eye on your horse for you. It's just not that kind of place which I learned the hard way. read more

I boarded my horse here for several years before moving north. Excellent location and multiple arenas and the most incredible trails! Great group of people and it was refreshing to be around a ranch that didn't feel micro-managed. You can save money and clean your own stall and paddock which really helps keep the cost down. My horse was fed high quality hay twice a day. They let me choose the type of hay and amount which was great. I could wash my horse if I needed to as they have well water even in our drought. Of course I was mindful of how much water I used but sometimes you have to use water and it's nice to have the freedom to use it if necessary. I read two negative reviews that came from the same person.....interesting.... Apparently she did not check on her own horse often enough and feels compelled to blame the Ranch? As all of us experienced horse owners know.....you cannot bubble pack our horses, and sometimes they do injure themselves and it's our job to care for them. (In my opinion of course) My suggestion is to take a beautiful drive out there and look at it for yourself. Compare locations, costs, facilities, how the horses actually look and perhaps even ask the boarders yourself if they like the ranch. I am very great full for the care my horse received and I would move him back there if I moved back to the Bay Area in a Heartbeat! read more

The Pereira Ranch boarding facility is one of a kind! The riding arenas and trails are specifically designed for horse enthusiasts and professionals alike. There seems to always be someone there to ensure horses are properly cared for. The location is ideal and it is simply a beautiful place to ride. True horse professionals! read more

Love this ranch. Great facilities and easy access to trails.

This place is amazing I cannot say enough good things about it. It has multiple arenas excellent trails on the doorstep. The people are a great group.The owner is great he does not micro manage but he is there if you need him. He checks in to see how you and your horse are doing and if you need anything. This is a hidden gem it's my peaceful place where I enjoy many hours with my horse and family. read more

This review is for Molly who teaches riding lessons on the property. I don't know anything about the ranch or its operations but Molly is a phenomenal trainer and instructor. My 8 year old has been going for lessons for about a month now. She makes everything a teachable moment. She is very attentive and practices safety first above all. I would highly recommend horseback riding lessons with Molly to anyone. read more

Great family owned boarding facility/ranch. Lots of trails available on the property and the trail access to the Diablo Hills is just down the road. Plenty of arenas, three large ones (one covered) and one round pen. read more

Very run down. Almost like a slum for horses. I would not recommend this place to anybody. The grounds are dangerous and the stalls and tackroom look like a shanty. Overpriced. Dump. read more

I'm REALLY PARTICULAR about where I board my horses!! Having had horses over 50 years, Nic (my Quarter gelding) HAS to be in good condition and condition begins at home -- in the barn where he lives. At Pereira Ranch, they make sure the stalls are clean. The hay and feed is of top quality and not only does management keep an 'eye on the horses' everyday but boarders are a 'family'. Pereira has miles of trails where a horse can get 'on-the-trail' experience meeting cattle up close and personal, crossing ditches, climbing hills, having squirrels dart along the trails in front of you and even spotting deer standing in the oaks down by the stream or having a flock of turkeys strut down the trail with you!! We all know a horse learns from experience and the more exposure received to various situation, the safer the horse becomes! Although there is no such critter as a 'bomb proof' horse the less 'bombs' a horse encounters -- the safer a horse and rider become. But if you just like to arena ride, hang around the barn, retire a horse or just 'own' a horse the atmosphere of friendliness is found in any of the barns! So be sure to check out Pereria Ranch....... Bonnie Davis/"Horsecamping" clinician Free Lance Writer/Consultant read more

If you love to trail ride, you will love Pereira Ranch as it has access to over 50 miles of East Bay Regional Park and Mt Diablo State Park trails. They have a ranch hand that lives on the property so the horses are checked on twice a day when they feed and clean the stalls. I have had my horses boarded at Pereira Ranch for over 16 years and never worry about the care and safety of any of them. All of the boarders look out for each other as well; we all pitch in when anyone needs help or goes on vacation. It's a great ranch to ride and have fun! read more

We have boarded at the Pereira Ranch for 7 years and feel that it is the best facility in the area. It is close to trails and also has three arenas so we can always find an open arena to exercise our horse. The owner has always treated us fairly. We recommend the Pereira Ranch. read more