I attend their firewalks every chance I get. The ladies that run the place are both amazing…read moreladies. I can't wait for the next time I can firewalk with them.

Sometimes in life exactly the right situation shows up when it is needed. That is how I feel about…read moreThe Cowgirl Up Ranch and the kind teaching of Marybeth and Esther. I found them on google traveled from Santa Barbara and attended a weekend retreat where I met a variety of women all ready to learn and have fun! I surprised myself with some of my feats! I only wish they were closer but I would love to attend another retreat soon!

Such a great horseback riding experience! First off,…read moredefinitely use Google Maps to get here--Apple Maps took us to the wrong spot. The entrance is a bit tucked away off a driveway and dirt road, and depending on the signage, it might not be super obvious. But if you follow Google Maps, you should be fine! We did the 1.5-hour ride and it was totally worth it. You cover a lot of ground, and the property is massive--it really feels like you're out in nature. Even though everything was pretty dry and golden this time of year, it was still beautiful. We saw cows, open fields, and got to take in the peaceful surroundings. Laura was an amazing guide and host--so patient, kind, and knowledgeable. She matched us with the right horses for our level and even took pictures for us during the ride, which was such a nice bonus. Also, shoutout to them for providing water--it was super hot and I was not prepared for that sun! Definitely wear sunscreen if you're going during the summer months. All in all, a really memorable experience and I'd absolutely recommend it. Great for beginners or anyone just looking to unplug and do something special outdoors.

I went on a trail ride with Laura along with my cousin and two friends on March 27, 2026. We range…read morein age from mid 50s to mid 70s. I had not been on a horse in 45 years. It was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life. It was also a miraculous gift to my 73-year-old friend Lisa. She has been completely blind since an auto accident on the way to a horse show in 1969. She was only 16 years old and in training for the 1972 Olympics in dressage. This ride was her first since that day. Laura is incredibly compassionate and an absolute expert with horses. She is exceptionally safety conscious. She set Lisa up with a gentle horse named Mama, and at Lisa's request, Laura led mama from a few horse lengths away. The experience was amazing and Laura made it possible. I cannot recommend her and Trails of 49 highly enough. Laura is also a great historian. My mother's family has been in Calaveras County since the 1850s. While I live 300 miles away now, it's good to know that the history, horses, and land is so well cared for by such an exceptional person. I was born in Calaveras County and will be buried there, and I'm glad Laura is taking care of it in the meantime!

I've been riding my whole life and decided to go on a trail ride as a treat for myself. All my…read morehorses are now gone so I was excited to get back in the saddle. Marina was the guide and she did a great job. Bomba was the horse I had the pleasure to ride. He was a very fun horse and I just adored him. There were other people on the trail ride who did not have much experience but Marina was great helping them out while also making sure we didn't slow down. I recommend this place to everyone it's truly great.

We had came from far away to do another horse riding lesson with two kids that have already done…read morelessons. When we first got on the horse the instructor was already screaming and staring at the kids with such a rude attitude.We started the trail and she was not patient with us at all, with even more screaming and made our experience so stressful.One of the kids was having a hard time and started to cry and instead of helping she kept screaming and telling him to go. There was also another person with us on the trail and I heard the instructor make comments! This was not a good experience and especially for the kids that were so excited. They are not patient at all and really need to work on their attitude and way of speaking to kids! Thank you for responding, I already knew this was a trail ride and the kids had more than 5 rides already.There is still no need to be shouting and being extra mean since the beginning even before the ride, it does not make it enjoyable and It does not qualify someone for this job. I will not recommend this place to anyone.

Shadow Glen Riding Stables was hands down the best field trip we have been on in years!…read moreAs a 3rd-grade teacher, I cannot say enough good things about Terry and the wranglers. They were welcoming, patient, knowledgeable, and made every student feel included. Our students had an incredible opportunity to learn about ranch and farm life, tractors, horses, foals, farm animals, hay, and the daily responsibilities of caring for a ranch. The hands-on experiences were the highlight of the day. Students were able to groom horses, interact with animals, ask questions, and gain a real appreciation for agriculture and animal care. Terry and his team kept the students engaged from beginning to end. What made this experience even more special was Terry Howard's generosity. Shadow Glen donated approximately three hours of their time at no charge to educate three classes of Center Joint Unified School District students. That level of community support is truly appreciated. Our students are still talking about the trip, and the adults had just as much fun as the kids. It was an outstanding experience from start to finish.

My friend and I went on an hour long horseback ride today and we had so much fun! Everyone there…read morewas friendly, professional and very helpful. The horses looked like they were well taken care of and you can tell the staff love each and every animal. I highly recommend this place to anyone who's a beginner or an expert. The ride was just long enough and easy but fun. One of our guides, named Donnie, was talking with everyone, cracking jokes and made me feel very comfortable. He was great!! Please check this place out if/when you get a chance.

I started with Jill back in 2011 at age 26 as a complete novice with no experience on horses aside…read morefrom pony rides at the fair. I trained for over 2 years with her and learned things such as horse's upkeep, correct feed, horse kinetics/movement, riding (at a walk, trot, and a canter), the importance of the riders position and seat, and so much more. She is really patient with new riders and always instills the importance of safety on and around horses, even down to the proper attire and boots. She also has 3 really amazing gentle horses with their own personalities so a person can really see that all horses are not the same.

From the owner: Knoll's Basic Horsemanship helps teach people learn what they should know before they ride or buy…read more a horse. Four classes are offered for adults and children 12 and up which include horse psychology, basic care and handling. Also ground school, round pen, and riding demonstrations. The goal is to have a safe and happy relationship with horses using natural methods which teach horses with respect and communication versus force and fear. Also offer horse and rider problem solving and new horse owner support and guidance.

This was a great gem we found on a family day trip to Columbia. The people at the ticket counter…read morewere helpful with all the questions my husband had. My son loved seeing outside in all the trees and rocks. Even saw a cat. He was happy. My 2 year old loved the horses. She could see them from the window. We were allowed to take as many pictures as we wanted and they even let my kids pet the horses. All around a great experience.

As we walked in to Columbia State Historic Park we saw a couple climbing out of a stage coach; but,…read morewe were not interested in a stage coach ride just then. After spending nearly two hours exploring the Park, we saw the stage coach coming back into town and decided that it was time to take a ride. A young lady took our money, gave us our tickets, helped us board the stage coach. Boarding requires agility that we old people no longer have; but, we managed to get inside. Riding inside this over 100 years old stage coach gives you a small taste of what travel was like late in the 19th Century. My wife commented that she doubted that the original seats were not as padded as the ones we were sitting on. The seats were probably just bare wood. About half way through the ride the driver stopped and explained that Columbia was "dry diggings" meaning that water needed to be imported. Miners paid $6-$9 a day for water. With the price of gold being as low as $12 an ounce, miners needed half to three quarters of an ounce of gold just to pay for water. Guess who was really making money. The rocks around us are limestone exposed by miners digging around them looking for gold and smoothed by the weather once they were exposed. As the driver was explaining the history of the stage coach, I was admiring the craftsmanship that went into its construction. Once back at the stage stop the driver helped us down and talked to us a bit about the team pulling the stage coach. If you are every in Columbia State Historic Park, get a taste of what it was like to travel in 1850 by riding Quartz Mountain Stage Lines.

I've been taking lessons here since December and absolutely love it. My trainer Kristina is…read moreknowledgeable, attentive, and truly cares about helping her students improve. I've grown so much as a rider already and always leave feeling like I learned something valuable. The horses are beautifully cared for and it's obvious how much love and respect they receive. Finding a place that values both good horsemanship and the wellbeing of the horses means everything to me. I'm incredibly grateful for this experience and highly recommend this barn to anyone wanting to learn and grow as a rider.

If you want life lessons for your kids, this is where you send them to learn about horses and life…read more My daughter started here in 2016 as a timid, apprehensive girl. She would cry if the smallest thing went wrong. She had no confidence in herself or her abilities to do big things. After 5 years with Kristina, my daughter not only has her own horse, but recently participated in her first gymkhana in front of a ton of people. Her confidence level has risen, her confidence in herself has risen, and she knows more about the anatomy, working parts, temperament and personality of a horse than I could ever. I am SO grateful for the crew and Kristina at All Star training for giving my daughter some life lessons. Also, the pony parties are adorable. Did one 5 years ago and it was a HUGE hit.

I can't rave about this place and Cheryl enough! I am from out of town, and instantly felt at home…read more Cheryl was an incredible instructor and her horses were wonderful! I haven't been able to ride for the past year, but Cheryl made it possible for me to get back in the saddle! If you're looking for a comforting, friendly, professional environment, this is the place to go!

My daughter loved her experience at this day camp. We did the "horse and more" two day camp. She…read morecame home so excited and filled with new information and joyful experiences from the day! She told me how very kind and fun Mrs. Brown (owner and lead teacher) was! It was obvious that the camp was well organized and executed (and as an elementary teacher, I can spot a well run children's event from a mile away)! We will definitely be returning. Thank you for opening your home, Cheryl!