Mike and crew were great guides. Horses healthy and well taken care of. Beach ride is a trail…read moreride, nose to tail, but was still enjoyable.

Ten years ago exactly, I met Steve and his horses while on my travels (from England). It was a…read morelife-changer. I'll never forget his kindness, respect and map drawing in the sand while I rode Bailey - forwards and backwards; a far cry from the suburban nose-to-tails in Richmond Park, Surrey. Such fond memories and much missed, all of it. Highly recommended.

Wonderful park to explore and hike if you are ever in the Carmel Valley area. Plenty of parking…read moreboth on the street as well as in a designated parking lot. Much of the area in the lower section is flat and easy to walk around, however, there are also some trails with steeper elevation climbs for those who want to get more of a scenic view of the area. Cool historic barn is easy to get to and on hotter days you will definitely want to take some water as some of the trails are exposed to the sun. There is a public bathroom area by the visitor center.

Garland Ranch Regional Park -- Where Nature Went to College and Got a Degree in Enchantment"…read moreOh, you think you've been on a hike before? No. You've merely walked on ground. Garland Ranch Regional Park is where the Earth decided to get fancy -- rolling hills, whispering trees, and trails that seem designed by a benevolent chaos god who wanted you to get lost just enough to find yourself. The Vibe: This place doesn't just have nature -- it radiates personality. The air smells like enlightenment and expensive essential oils. Every oak tree looks like it has witnessed ancient wisdom and is judging you for not bringing reusable water bottles. The wind flirts. The grass gossips. The clouds... perform interpretive dance. The Trails: Sky Trail: Don't let the name fool you -- it's 80% up, 20% existential crisis. But at the top? A view so stunning, I briefly ascended into my third chakra and forgot my email password. Waterfall Trail: There's water. There's falling. There's also a high chance of spotting a woodland creature that may or may not be a druid in disguise. Saddle Trail: Not for the faint of calf. You'll meet at least one hiker who swears they saw Bigfoot running a mindfulness retreat. Wildlife Report: The deer here are too confident. They'll make eye contact like they know you left your stove on. Lizards do push-ups just to assert dominance. A hawk once circled above me for 20 minutes; I think I passed its vibe check. Local myth says the coyotes form an a cappella group at dusk. Their debut album, Howl to the Moonlight, drops every full moon. Random Fun Facts (Questionable Accuracy Edition): The park's elevation shifts based on how hydrated you are. 47% of the trees are rumored to be undercover dryads doing field research. If you say "Garland Ranch" three times at the visitor center, a ranger appears and hands you a perfectly ripe trail mix. Final Thoughts: Garland Ranch isn't just a park. It's an experience. It's Narnia with better signage. It's where fitness apps go to prove themselves. I came here seeking a light jog; I left spiritually rearranged, emotionally hydrated, and slightly sunburned.

Steve was friendly & talkative, his horses are cared for & they were well trained. We asked to do…read morea beach trail but instead we met at Manzanita County Park. It was a hard trail with no shade & lots of ups & downs & steep hills. It was hot & instead of a 2hr tour it lasted almost 3hrs. There wasn't enough padding under the saddle so our butts were hurting, especially the last hour. We've been on 10+ horseback riding tours. This was the first time we didn't have to sign waivers or wear helmets & Steve was encouraging first time riders to stand on top of the horse. The horses liked to gallop & trot, I had to keep slowly down my horse. If you're on a schedule & prefer a more structured tour & don't want to trot or gallop, this is NOT the tour for you. He doesn't take pictures unless you ask him to & he said he'd send us pictures but never did. So make sure you stay & have him send the pictures before you leave.

Steve is top notch in all ways imaginable. I can't tell you how many trail/beach rides I've been on…read more(too many to count) and In all honestly, NONE of them compare to what Steve offers. Real talk, he goes above and beyond to make sure you're really enjoying your time with these amazing horses and creating unforgettable memories which are honestly priceless. He has so many stories, jokes and wisdom to share. His passion for horses and ability to make people feel as ease is a true gift. Thank you, we'll for sure be back again! ;)

Charlie was such a down to earth tour guide. He was calm, relaxed and made our entire experience…read morethe best. I found this place thru Chat GPT when looking for horse back riding on the beach. This place is a hidden gem. $175 to ride for 1 hour and 15 minutes was totally worth it. Ocean front. Will def book again!

DANGEROUS! STAY AWAY. They put my wife on a horse with behavioral issues. The horse was very…read moreerratic and my wife (luckily) insisted on asking for a helmet. After an erratic ride, they had her dismount on the CONCRETE of the parking lot. The owner did not have control of the horse and my wife fell onto the concrete after the horse took off during dismount. My wife has ridden horses for 30 years so it wasn't inexperience that caused the accident. She spent 5 hours in the ER and was told by the Hospital she was "very lucky". However we are waiting for a MRI to determine why her shoulder still hurts almost a month later. When I called this organization the day after the accident I told them the LEAST they could do was refund the rides ($350 - my wife and son) and pay our $550.00 deductible from ER. After being told they would take care of it, they aren't answering my calls or returning my messages. Shameful. Stay away or risk what happened to my wife happening to one of your loved ones.

I went to the Ferrari Challenge dinner at Stonepine a few weeks ago. The famous house and…read moreequestrian property is now a "Private Function" retreat only. No more hotel though rooms are available if part of the function. Think Weddings, Corp Events. If you ever read the Great Gatsby or saw the movie you'd feel like you were back in time. An elegance that felt more European than US.

Wow! Our wedding was at Stonepine Estate and it was an incredible weekend. The venue is so unique…read morefor California and it truly feels like you are transported to Italy. Each space is so well thought out, detailed, and beautiful. We loved the charming Italian feel of the Chateau and the Western contrast of the Double H Ranch. We incorporated both into our wedding day and our guests were continuously wow-d as they moved through the spaces. The venue also needs very minimal decorations for a wedding since it is so grand. We stayed on-site in the Chateau which was so amazing. The grounds are beautiful and it was fun to use the pool and enjoy the many available spaces over our three days there (and the incredible breakfasts!). Stonepine has an amazing team. Oceanne and Ari helped us navigate every detail and gave so much care into the planning of our day. Nathan and Julie were excellent hosts in the Chateau and went above and beyond to make our stay wonderful. The wedding truly could not have been a more beautiful or special day.

An amazing resource for natural horsemanship, retreats, community connections and healing with…read morehorses. Lori and Ella are amazing teachers, women leaders and grounded community change makers who help all who visit and attend events lessons and retreats there meaningful and full of growth and wisdom.

My daughter first attended this camp in the summer of 2010. It was amazing! The property sits on a…read morehill over looking all of Monterey bay. The price was very reasonable plus they have scholarships available. My daughter learned to take care of and ride horses. She had fun dancing and learning aerial. she made beautiful art and got to perform in a play at the end of camp for all the parents. Horse and Heart is terrific! I highly recommend it.

They seem like nice people but...they offered to reschedule me after my flights were cancelled to a…read morelater date. Then they weren't able to reschedule because they didn't have the right permits yet. So, I asked for a refund. It's been a month and I still haven't been refunded.

We took our young daughter here for a pony ride, she had the best time. Doug and crew are very…read morewelcoming, professional and friendly. We enjoyed our time and can't wait to return!

FHS and trainer Stephanie Walker are the best. She has created an exceptional environment where the…read morehorses' comfort and happiness are always the priority. She helps all levels of riders realize their full potential in a very unintimidating way. I would highly recommend this barn for boarding, leasing, training, and lessons.

Stephanie Walker at Free Heart Stables is a true horseman. She understands the equine holistically…read moreand teaches her clients from where the horse is at physically and mentally, and always for the good of the horse. My daughter entered into the horse world via typical horseback lesson experience. She received excellent instruction in rider form at a top riding school but she became bored with just jumping on a horse for the purpose of getting through the transitions and jumps while looking good. She craved a deeper bond with her equine partners. So, being a brand new horse person myself, and only to support my daughter from afar, I found Stephanie in a Google search. I figured some horseback lessons that simulated actual horse ownership would cure the bug. I also decided that since this experience would be more than just tacking up the horse and riding, I decided to take lessons too so I could supervise my daughter from the ground. When my daughter first started riding, I wouldn't even pet the horses, and I was the least likely candidate to be a horse owner, that's how resistant I was to this whole horse fever she caught. I thought for sure these true "horsemanship" lessons would end this nonsense. Well, Stephanie didn't cure the horse bug. She made it worse, it was contagious, and I caught it. She stirred a new passion in my daughter and I that opened up a whole new world where horses are now more than a hobby, we have a new lifestyle. Fast forward to today, we are the humble owners of a beautiful, dramatic, and sensitive thoroughbred gelding and Stephanie is our trainer. Forget thinking that this is your typical trainer situation where the expert does the hard work of training your horse and you come out only to ride and experience the fruit of that labor. Stephanie is teaching US how to train our horse. Her lessons involve us in every part of the equine from the how the horse thinks to how the horse moves - on good days and bad days. Some of our best lessons, even when we first started, have been in (and continue to be in) imperfect conditions where we were making mistakes and Stephanie patiently taught us what was going on with the horse mentally, how we created the situation, and how to correct it. She will not do it for you, and she will make you take it slow to do things right. You can do things fast, or you can do them right. Thankfully, she has the patience and calm demeanor of a saint with kids and nervous, newbie, somewhat resistant, older adults. Stephanie just has something special to offer people that is vitally lacking in our fast paced, over tech'd, and over-achieving culture. The character qualities that are being instilled in my daughter (and myself) through this journey is not something the fanciest training barn or most expensive private school could ever teach. It is hard work that teaches you how to slow down, be present, and be teachable. Though the word has lost its meaning, Stephanie is a true natural horseman and she will teach you how to understand and communicate with the horse from the moment you make contact. If you want a truly fulfilling equine partnership that is unlike anything offered at training and lesson barns, contact Stephanie. Your horse will thank you.

My daughter loves coming here! She loves to ride Lizzie and Sophia. Anne and her staff are so…read morewonderful! We adore all the volunteers who help out. Neville the dog is really friendly.

I use to go to Monterey Bay Horsemanship I miss it and want to go back and visit sometime it was a…read moregreat place I am trying to find some friends to meet in the Aptos area and I know people that worked at Monterey Bay Horsemanship I loved the owner Anne she was sweet and kind I loved seeing her when I use to go there the years go really fast I don't know the people there now cause it was a long time ago when I went there hoping someday I can go and see every body that I use to know there I use to ride the horses there and I was scared sometimes but I had someone that helped me not be scared they did an amazing job I know they are busy keeping the place look nice and clean I hope it is still there cause I never forget how much fun it use to be Anne was so nice to me when I went there in the mornings she made me feel safe and I felt so good after I was done some times I had some problems but I worked them out as the time went on I was sad when I left them but I know that I can go and say hi and its great being an Adult hoping they remember who I am because I am a woman now and it's exciting to show them what I can do now I work at Seascape market and I love helping people there I clean the store for the owners and they really like my help I am hoping they can find something harder for me to do now that I am so good at what I do for them at the market I love you Monterey Bay Horsemanship have a happy Thanksgiving and holidays I will stop and say hello sometime

The most magical place in the valley...Such a peaceful atmosphere where both you and your horse can…read moreregenerate and thrive. This barn really is a gem, and so is the community it has created. Paddocks, stalls, multiple wash racks, large turnout, trails, arena, and a round pen offer a fun and safe environment for both people and their horses. The barn manager and staff are both passionate and knowledgeable with what they do; always keeping the horses and their needs as top priorities.

From the owner: Our 50-acre horse ranch in mid-Carmel Valley features a full-size arena and roundpen, as well as…read morevarious boarding accommodations to meet your horse's needs. And we boast perhaps the most recognizable barn in the entire in the entire valley. it's the big silver one across the street from Folktale Winery.