I'm a lifelong horse-lover. I grew up riding and showing Saddlebred horses in Oklahoma. After…read morecollege and moving to California I found myself 8 years out of the saddle. I never really thought I could find a trainer or facility that compared to where I grew up riding. Then I found Brigitte Scholl and Monarch on the American Saddle Horse Association website in January of 2010. Monarch Stables is the best barn I could ever have imagined. The facility is beautiful, well-equipped, and serene. Most importantly, Brigitte Scholl, the owner and trainer is a true horse whisperer and a gifted riding instructor. She operates every aspect of Monarch Stables with passion and integrity. Every horse is cared for immaculately and in a manner uniquely suited to his/her personality. Every rider has Brigitte's undivided attention. If you're a veteran rider or a novice who's always wanted to give Saddleseat riding a shot, you will be equally welcomed. If your child has been bugging you for horseback riding lessons, go for it! In my opinion there's no better outlet: through horseback riding they can learn the subtleties of communication with both horses and people, the responsibility of caring for an animal, the self-confidence that comes from competing with true sportsmanship.

I've been so impressed with Monarch Stables. My 7 year old granddaughter started her initiation…read moreinto this wonderful world of horses last September. She had had the best experience one could have with the expertise, and extraordinary patience! of her trainer Cheyenne Cairns. The facilities are in a beautiful setting, and there are many options for riding - even in inclement weather! I am a complete novice to this sport, and everyone I've met have been very helpful and supportive. From my first visit in 2018, Brigitte Scholl has always been warm and patient with my questions and concerns. I highly recommend this facility for anyone, and especially for folks new to the sport. Thanks to all at Monarch Stables!

We loved our session at triple H riding center. Our guide was great and the view was amazing!!! We…read morewill be back next year!

From the owner: Lesson and training for the English rider. Coaching for shows and competitions. Training of the…read moreyoung or new horse. Special events on the ranch like camps, birthdays, clinics and group training sessions. Suzanne is a therapeutic educator trained in to guide, strengthen and support those with special needs using horseback riding as the classroom! *Certified Equine Appraisal available

Anne and her team at Karuna are great. I've had my horse with her for four months now for…read morerehab/training and he is doing better than ever despite getting older. Unlike other barns, the team has a deep knowledge of equine nutrition, correct movement and correct hoof trimming and their effects on the health and performance of a horse. Everything is based on being as close to nature as possible, they feed timothy and orchard hay and they have it tested regularly. My horse is coming back from a tendon injury and Anne has been riding my boy in the correct frame to allow strengthening and in accordance with the doctor's plans. Her style is the French line of classical dressage and she has a lesson program too (which I have not partaken in yet as I live farther away and only come once a week to school my boy by myself). They have an outdoor arena with great footing and generous size individual turnouts for the horses. And the atmosphere at the barn is very relaxed and peaceful. Horse people will know that's not easy to find :)

Another stable that did not call me back! Why are you listed for people to call and not answering…read moreyour phone or messages?

I've been taking lessons here for about 6 months and absolutely love it! Carol is incredibly…read morepatient and has lovely horses that can suit any skill level. I love being able to go ride every week- and the group lessons help you to meet other riders as well. Highly recommend!

Apple Creek is a great place take horse lessons for all ages. Carol has infinite patience and is…read morealways supportive and positive. All levels of riders can find a lesson horse that suits them from beginners to advanced riders. It is also a great place to board a horse, the horses get great care and fed 3x per day and live in a very clean environment.

Silver Oak, under Leah's leadership and vision, has been transformed into a horse oasis and a…read moresanctuary for their owners. She puts her heart and soul into making sure horses and humans are safe and loved. My mare recently suffered a bout of laminitis and Leah was there night and day, going above and beyond to keep Flame comfortable. Knowing that Leah was treating Flame as her own was more support than I could have ever hoped for and demonstrated that she is the consummate horse person in it for all the right reasons. The standard of care she provides is excellent: high-quality feed, deep bedding, attention to detail for grain, supplements, meds, blanketing, etc. Large outdoor arena with varied jump standards, covered indoor arena w/ lights and dressage mirrors, and trails through the forest and surrounding hills, provide year-round riding for a variety of disciplines and interests. Stalls with attached runs, large daily turnouts, and pastures where horses can be horses create a stress and drama-free environment for both horse and owner. The property is fenced and requires a gate/security code, owners live on the property, and Leah and her staff truly know horses so that horses, clients, equipment, etc. are always safe and secure.

Silver Oak is a wonderful place to board. The facilities are always clean and safe, the boarders…read morehave authentically friendly relations and the owner and trainer, Leah, cares deeply about horses in general, and specifically, those under her care. The work that she has done with my new, young mare has been amazing. My horse, who less than three months ago spooked at everything, paced and couldn't calm down is now a happy girl who is a joy to take on the trails. Silver Oak offers a large indoor arena, outdoor arena, trails, well-organized tack and feed storage, a nice variety of paddock options, many options for turnout, numerous grooming and bathing stations, and more. It's really a great facility!

Well, we booked a wine tour while in Napa at the suggestion of our hotel. After checking their…read moreratings here (4.8 stars with 1.1k reviews), we felt comfortable with that. Actually, impressed. If Platypus keeps up the experience we had, that 4.8 will go even higher. Our driver, Gary, was personable and accommodating. He gave us some info along the drive to three boutique wineries, but did not drone on and on as some tour drivers can do. This allowed the 12 of us to chat, get to know each other a bit more and build some rapport. We stopped at three wineries: Rutherford Ranch, Ghost Block and Backstage. Each gave us 4 to 5 tastings. At Ghost Block, we also had a very nice box lunch. By the end of the tour (it was all day), we had all had some wonderful conversations and experienced some great boutique wineries. If you are in Napa, I highly recommend Platypus!

We went on a Platypus wine tour in 2019 and it was wonderful. We visited Lassiter winery, wine…read morecaves, and two other very nice wineries. We returned to Sonoma in 2026 with a small group and booked another tour. Booking and communication was a breeze. Very good. Ends up the property I rented offered a wine passport and we were to receive a discount. I called to confirm and they let me know the driver would apply the discount when we paid him the day of the tour. All sounded wonderful and was very clearly communicated. The tour in 2026 only went to 3 wineries. Two were just ok and one was not good. I don't think anyone on our tour purchased anything here. The time at each winery was like a typical tasting with some information on their winery. But no real information on Sonoma and Napa and the history of the area. At the end our driver had no clue on our discount and kept telling me he would get in trouble for charging me less. He insinuated I was making it all up. In the end he did honor the discount but seemed he did it as a favor not that it was a program that Platypus participates in. All in all I was disappointed in this wine tour and would no go on a platypus tour again and would not recommend them. Maybe we just caught them on a bad day. Luckily all the people on our tour were delightful so that made for a nice day.