Santiago Equestrian Center has genuinely been one of the biggest blessings in my life. From the moment we started boarding there, I felt an overwhelming sense of community and belonging. The management team is simply outstanding; they are always attentive and address any issues or concerns immediately, ensuring that both riders and horses are well taken care of. I've boarded at several different barns in Orange County and Santiago is by far the best. The facility itself is a true sliver of heaven, surrounded by breathtaking trails that make every ride feel like an adventure. It's a one of a kind place. I cannot recommend Santiago Equestrian Center enough. If you're looking for a welcoming barn family and an exceptional boarding facility, this is the place to be! read more

Yes, I am still here! Been at the Center for 16 years. A lot of upgrades have been happening at the Stables. Borders are very nice There are several Trainers for all ages if you are interested in riding lessons. Nice environment! read more

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Moved my horses in a few months ago and it's been an amazing shift! My horses are happy, hay quality is great, and the stall cleaner does a great job! Honestly I couldn't be happier, I moved my horses from a high volume show facility, they were pent up and stressed. Shifted them here despite the 45min daily drive I make and it was the best decision. They are always making improvements and management is very receptive to any concerns or questions borders may have. They are the best! read more

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I couldn't be happier that I made the decision to move my clients, 25+ horses, to Santiago Equestrian Center last July! David constantly improves the facility, values boarder/trainer input, and puts the horses safety and well-being before everything else. Francisco is the best maintenance man ever and his guys are knowledgeable and helpful. Our horses are SO happy, well fed, and well cared for! The arenas dry out really well after the rain and we're lucky enough to have a covered pen to ride in during the winter! The footing and grounds are very well maintained and David makes sure the hay provided is great quality! We love SEC!!! read more

Santiago Equestrian Center - Wash racks - Horse Boarding Near Me - Silverado, California

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Just moved in this past week and it already is feeling like home. My horse and I were so warmly welcomed by the boarders, horses and staff. My horse has settled in nicely and I love the options for feedings for the horses. The improvements and community are making SEC a much desired boarding facility! read more

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The new management is abysmal... Rude disrespectful and arrogant... There are rats everywhere and the place is a shambles... There are no proper facilities, cross ties, tack rooms or wash racks. The facilities are unsafe with rusty pipe stalls and leaky unstable roofs and uneven grounds- no proper drainage The current management is hiring amateurs who don't know anything about horses, turnouts, etc... The "Contractor" they have hired to perform work at the barn is unlicensed as he lost his licensxe this past year The managers stall is being reported to PETA for horse neglect The only restroom is a porta potty It's unsafe for horses and run by complete amateurs who have no horse sense or experience Do not recommend read more

Santiago Equestrian Center - Pipes - Horse Boarding Near Me - Silverado, California

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I would like to follow up on my past review. I was told to move my trailer out on Saturday June 25th. I was told they needed the space. (Tons of other space) there was not another trailer in my old space until July 1st The main manager never reached out or followed up me as i was told he would do I was also never refunded for the 6days as i was told by the co manager i would be. Once again they are terrible there read more

It's difficult for me to write this, because SEC was once my favorite place to be. While not perfect, the new management is why I left. The only reason I was staying was my trainer. Since he left, i pulled my 5 horses. While gone for the weekend, i returned to a very dirty water bowl my horse was drinking out of.... Not cool. I asked management if they could clean the bowl, which had been done with previous management, and in a very condescending response i was told they supply the bowl we need to clean it... okay. Then while cleaning my horses stalls, i noticed one of my horses literally had a carpet of uncleaned shavings mixed with Feed... creating an ecosystem of all sorts of creatures.... I had to use shovels to get this out and it was about 1/2 his stall.... Like Adobe brick... and think the most rancid smell ever of rotting hay and urine. While reporting to management, i was told "i use too many shavings". This was seriously disappointing considering that many horses at this barn are on mats only, no shavings at all. Management told me it takes too long to Clean my stalls. So after disagreeing, because i care about the health and well being of my horse, even offering to pay extra to have my horses water bowl cleaned, I was encouraged by management to leave. Gladly. Rodents had also become a problem and the amount of rat droppings in my blanket bags led me to just throw them away. The thing is, the barn is in disarray, wash racks that smell awful because they have lack of proper drainage, excessive run off from wash racks. The awful smell from stalls with boarders who don't use shavings... which is also neglectful. The rotting arena rails... uneven breezeway, all that wasn't as noticeable when management seemed to care. It's truly sad. I wish the people who still board there the best, and hopefully those things will be fixed for those coming in because it can be a great place. I'm thankful to find locations for my 5 horses that these issues don't exist. It's sad to me that because i asked for these things to be addressed, i was asked to leave, and especially for horses who don't have proper bedding as well as clean stalls. Photos attached. read more

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Michelle Hostetler had Dave Edgar's vision and kept to it. She fought for change and wasn't able to move forward. If it were not for Michelle SEC would have closed years This post was deleted. I have boarded there off and on since 2002 with Dave Edgar He hired Michelle's to run his barn with his vision. Since his passing, Michelle worked hard to keep it opened. She asked for change and was not allowed. Now the changes she asked for are coming forth. I'm happy for those who get to see the changes that she wanted. I loved Dave and his vision and SEC. Now not so much read more

My horse is so happy at Santiago Equestrian Center! All the horses are always well taken care of and very calm. The staff is super helpful and friendly to us boarders and our horses. Love this place! read more

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I brought my horse to Santiago in April 2022. Best decision I ever made! Two amazing new trainers moved in shortly after I arrived at the barn and many new facility improvements were made. David is alway around to answer questions, take suggestions, and help improve your stall or the barn. Francisco is amazing and pays so much attention to all of the horses. He noticed when my horse was colicing and notified me right away. He probably saved her life! It makes me feel at ease knowing people are always looking out for my girl! I've made many new great friends here (my horse has made a lot of friends too ) and my horse is so happy! When you move to this barn you really become apart of the community and your opinion matters! David even had a barn meeting to explain new improvements and get everyones feedback. All and all I've been very happy here and I think many of the new boarders would agree! read more

Santiago Equestrian Center is just around the corner from where I live, making it an excellent option when my wife said she wanted to start riding horses again. We were initially wary of some of the negative reviews floating around, but they couldn't be further from the truth. The trainers are awesome, management is constantly making improvements, and the boarders are all super friendly and helpful. We eventually bought our own horse, and are boarding it there now. David has been super responsive answering all our questions in a timely manner - something that's always hard to find with horse people. So far we're extremely happy with our experiences at Santiago. read more

I love being a part of Santiago Equestrian Center! The management is fantastic, very attentive, and so helpful. The people are great, and the horses are so happy. So glad that Napoleon and I have our home here! read more

Santiago Equestrian Center - Horse Boarding Near Me - Silverado, California

I used to stable my horse at Santiago Equestrian Center for several years twenty or so years ago and loved the place and community! Now I am back in the area and have of course returned to Santiago and feel the exact same way! The area is beautiful with several arenas to choose from, one covered with lights! The people are great- embracing the small town feel right in Orange County! Very supportive community. And they certainly have the best trainer in Madison! My boys have excelled with her! So happy to be back! read more

Ive been a boarder here for years. it was a family barn, the. a new barn manager took over, he's unprofessional, inhuman with our horses, no horse experience! there's horses that go days without being out or fed! its very unsafe for boarders and animals ! i am very disappointed in this place & what it's becoming! read more

Once our horses got used to the loud traffic and extremely loud motorcycles going to the biker bar, it was not to bad. But then there was a memo saying we needed to use shavings for the coastal commission, no problem because we love and cared for our horses and already added shavings to all of our horses stalls. What happened after new management is we noticed that our stalls were not cleaned as well as usual. When brought it up to the new manager we were told that we use to much shavings which prohibits a thorough cleaning. This is when we noticed one of the managers did not even use shavings and the poor horse had to lay and sleep in it's own waste...showed us that it was not about taking care of our horses, but more about saving a buck. The only thing keeping us there was our trainer at this point, once he decided to move on, we knew that was our time to go. The stalls are rusted and unsafe in my opinion, we paid out of pocket to improve them to keep our horses safe and comfortable. The new manager used a contractor to make changes, and his license was suspended, needless to say he had to do things twice, like trying to number stalls... simple tasks not even completed well. When we brought concerns to the new manager that would have maybe cost a little more (like ensuring our horse has clean water and clean stalls), we were told that we could move our horses. When we paid for 5 horses to be boarded there, it became apparent our business was not needed or appreciated. We also had several times that we found our horses had been skipped on feeding and ended up hanging bags to make sure they did not go hungry. We have since moved to a different location and have none of these issues so I know it's not us. The attached photo is one of the manager's stalls, so you can clearly see the standard they provide to you, the paying customer. read more

Santiago Equestrian Center - Horse Boarding Near Me - Silverado, California

I honestly can't say enough good things about my experience at SEC. My horse is a senior and retired so I may not have the same requirements as other horse owners who ride, but I imagine anyone who comes here would have no complaints. I have boarded here twice (I left due to no fault of the facility, then came back) and have ALWAYS felt taken care of here. Michelle and Francisco are wonderful and they truly care about my horse and his well-being which means the world to me. I can only speak to what I know personally and on a regular basis, so I will say that the barn area is well-kept and my boy's stall stays pretty dry during the rainy season (upper breezeway). He also enjoys running and rolling in the main arena, which is now lit with LED lighting. No barn drama either that I experienced - all very kind people who board here. Plus it's such a pretty place- it's serene and peaceful and a wonderful place to spend time. If you need a change or aren't sure where to board your horse in the area, I highly recommend you check out SEC! read more