I've visited Shadow Glen Stables several times, and the owner has always been extremely kind and welcoming. My past experiences were consistently great. However, during my most recent visit, I encountered two staff members I had never seen before, and they were noticeably rude and pushy. The tall, large‑built woman at the front seemed upset or irritated, and her attitude made the interaction uncomfortable. Their behavior genuinely made me reconsider returning, which is disappointing because the stables have always been a lovely place before this. read more

Shadow Glen Riding Stables was hands down the best field trip we have been on in years! As 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. read more

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This place was nice, I signed up for riding lessons which was a one on one lesson with a trainer. I forget my instructors name but she was a young girl, really patient and knowledgeable. My lesson got cut a little short because a horse (not mine) got stuck in his reigns wrong and freaked out. They said I could ride more on my second lesson but when I tried to book my next lesson it was sold out until next year.. I'm not kidding. More than 8 months until I could book my next lesson. Very nice staff and horses but I wish their lesson bookings were more straight forward. read more

we cannot wait to come back here. they do a good job of making every leveled rider feel trusted and capable. very kind and professional, they know what they are doing here. our wrangler solaye was awesome. 10/10 read more

I highly recommend this stable to all level riders. They take great care in knowing your ability and cater to you. You always feel safe and know that there are two staff on each ride. I rode last week and I was the only one which was amazing. With two staff. You will not be disappointed. Can't wait to go back again. read more

Shadow Glen Family Stables - My happy place! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Fair Oaks, California

I must admit so was a bit anxious about riding, since I hadn't really been on a horse except briefly as an adult and also as a child. However, the horses were very well behaved and easy to handle. Big shout out to Cheryl, our wrangler, who made it fun with her cheerfulness and experience. My husband and I both enjoyed our rides and wouldn't mind going again. It's so relaxing being out in nature on a horse. Recommend whether it's your first time riding a horse or you are a seasoned rider! read more

My son and I went for a morning ride at Shadow Glen for the first time. Donny and Taylor were great. They were patient and informative. I would definitely recommend this place for an introduction to riding. read more

Shadow Glen Family Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Fair Oaks, California

Such a fun relaxing trail ride with my daughter today for her Bday. We loved our friendly horses Chowder and Lefty. They are very organized at Shadow Glen. We met our "wrangler" Grace who gave us a refresher on the do's and don'ts while riding before starting. She gave very clear instructions and tips along the way as we rode. Anyone new to riding would have a great experience if they follow the instructions. Not our first time riding, but if you don't ride regularly it's still good to have a refresher talk. Grace also had some interesting historical notes about the landscape. Lots of beautiful wild flowers and butterflies made for a fun picturesque ride. We only did the hour ride today, and on a weekday the group ride was just the two of us which was nice. Beautiful scenery, nice staff and friendly horses. read more

Shadow Glen Family Stables - Chowder and Lefty - Horseback Riding Near Me - Fair Oaks, California

There was a group of 5 who registered for a two hour ride early in the morning. We received a friendly greeting and checked in. We're matched with great horses to meet our skill level and height. Taylor and Layla were fantastic guides. Had fantastic time, highly recommend. Will be returning for future rides. read more

I have come here many times since I was a little girl, so I was very excited to share a trail ride experience here with my daughter on Mother's Day! She is 11 years old, and this was her very first time ever being on a horse. The entire staff is SO lovely, and they were incredibly attentive and caring when my daughter expressed feeling nervous in the beginning. They made her feel so comfortable that she was fully able to relax and truly enjoy the ride. We had such a beautiful Mother's Day at Shadow Glen. In fact, my daughter loved it so much that she's already ready to do the 2-hour trail ride next, and I'll definitely be signing her up for lessons here! Shadow Glen truly is a wonderful place filled with great people and beautiful horses. Thank you for allowing me to share my deep love for horses with my daughter and helping create such a special memory for us both! read more

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We have 2 preteens wanting to try horse back riding and this place was beyond perfect for beginners. We appreciate everyone that explained everything before the ride, they were patient and understanding. We will definitely return and recommend with friends and family. Waiting area had the cutest animals to pet and interact with. Thank you! read more

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This was my first time horseback riding and me and my boyfriend had such a fun great experience. We did the one hour long trail ride and it was perfect. They took pictures of us at the end and one of my now favorite memories. read more

Shadow Glen Family Stables - Horseback riding one hour long trail ride. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Fair Oaks, California

We had an amazing trail ride along Lake Natoma and the surrounding trails. It's a great pace for riders of all skill levels with beautiful views. Travis was our wrangler and made sure we were safe the entire time. read more

Jewels and Taylor were amazing wranglers, sorry if i'm saying that wrong! What an amazing experience and definitely be back!

My friend and I went on an hour long horseback ride today and we had so much fun! Everyone there was 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. read more

Shadow Glen Family Stables - Horseback riding - Horseback Riding Near Me - Fair Oaks, California

10/10 recommend coming here if you're planning too. We made reservations for our anniversary online and had a wonderful time. We scheduled a ride during the morning, there was about 6 of us and 2 employees with us the entire ride which lasted an hour. The horses are very well trained. I had Lefty and my boyfriend had Ace. There are so many other animals there and they offer classes too if you like to train with horses and learn how to ride them properly. Very nice service, we will def be coming back. read more

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The Shadow Glen ride was worth the drive from Vacaville. The trail lead was competent and safety conscious, and the trail guides were interactive and friendly. We had someone in the group go down with heat exhaustion (stay hydrated!). It was a warm day and the trail guides had intentionally brought extra water and gatorade, but the girl wasn't acclimated to the heat. They reacted decisively and competently. Definitely family friendly and a beautiful little ranch. read more

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Trainer Recommendation: Tommie As someone who IMMEDIATELY sticks out like a sore thumb in any space I initially occupy (being a tall & decorative Black, Queer-Equestrian) I honestly can't say enough great things about my horse trainer, Tommie, at Shadow Glen Stables in Sacramento! Tommie is incredibly attentive, knowledgeable, and truly makes every lesson feel personalized. She takes the time to understand both rider and horse, creating a supportive and encouraging environment. Her passion for what she does shines through, and it's made my riding experience not only educational but genuinely enjoyable. Highly recommend her if you're looking for someone who truly cares and brings out the best in you and your horse. I returned to riding after a long hiatus and have been back consistently for lessons ever since my first Trail-Ride experience last summer/fall (2024) read more

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Two weeks ago, I went to Shadow Glen Family Stables during the Nature class. I saw different kinds of domesticated animals especially for horses. Me, Nick, and his class see they're taking care of the horses in the stables because horses are really domesticated. Shadow Glen is a horseback riding place in Fair Oaks. read more

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My friend and I booked for the first time and we had a great time. Shout out to Donny and Taylor for being our wonderful guides. They were such good vibes and super helpful. We'll definitely be back. Thank you! read more

After an 8 year break due to competing commitments, I finally made it back to my favorite stable in the Sacramento area... Shadow Glen. What a joy! The owner and riding management are still in place doing a wonderful job. I booked a full 2-hour ride on a beautiful late Winter Friday moving. The wild grass was brilliant green, the trees were in bloom and the birds, squirmed, and other wildlife were out in numbers. The land adjacent to the American River/ Lake Natoma is so picturesque! My saddle was on a charming chestnut-red and well mannered horse that rode so smooth and sure footed it was almost gliding. My Wrangler was knowledgeable, safety oriented, sweet, and informative. She also was considerate and allowed for the quiet enjoyment of the ride. I can't say enough good things about Shadow Glen Stables. I'll be booking a riding lesson or two just to refresh my skills and build confidence and then be back for more riding a Spring and Summer arrive. read more

Shadow Glen Family Stables - After 8 years, I'm back in the saddle! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Fair Oaks, California

Many thanks to Shadow Glen Family Stables and the fun and helpful staff for providing a fun experience for our grandkids. We decided to take the grandkids out for one last hurrah before school starts up. The staff were helpful and patient, providing riding guidance when needed. We stayed on a trail (looks like there are several trails) and enjoyed the surroundings. Overall, a great first-time experience for the kids. Later, they asked when we could return. I highly recommend Shadow Glen Family Stables. read more

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My daughter had a trail ride with her Girl Scout troop here over the weekend and at the end of the ride, one of their horses kicked her. This stable gave her a horse that we were later told "fights with the other horses". All thirteen of the kids are 10 and 11 years old, and this was a first horseback riding experience for some of them. She was kicked when the kids were told to dismount and walk their horses to the stables. Luckily she was on the side of the horse, and wasn't kicked in the abdomen, or worse, her head. No supervision meant that no one was there to help the horses stay apart. Instead they clumped together, and because of this, the horses started fighting and my daughter was injured. Extremely disappointed in the lack of oversight and carelessness. Not coming back. read more

Came here to say this place is wonderful and the staff is amazing and blew my mind beyond expectation, I'm glad we got to come to this amazing place to make such beautiful memories with my family! VISIT IF YOU ARE IN SACRAMENTO!!! You will not regret it at all!!! read more

Had the best lesson with Tommie and just scheduled another. Tommie is patient, positive and fun. She is classically trained and wants to share her knowledge, which is just what I need - I am studying dressage fundamentals. iI just cracked up when she came up with this great analogy for using the inside and outside reins. That is something I will remember! She is totally non-judging. She says Don't try to be perfect, you were perfect when you showed up. I love that!! With Tommie, she will help you learn new skills, feel the connection with the horse, and most of all, enjoy the ride. read more

We've been here twice now over the years, once for my birthday and again today for our anniversary! Everyone's so friendly here and the trail guides are amazing. It's so great to be able to take our time and enjoy the sights and sounds we're able to experience. We've never been rushed either! The horses are amazing and with all the horses having their own personality, it's so fun to see how they all interact with each other and their environment. It's been such a great experience and we can't wait for another adventure with them! read more

Shadow Glen Family Stables - Us with our amazing horses, Lefty and Coyote! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Fair Oaks, California

My daughter has enjoyed her lessons with Tommie and the skills she learned in the Junior Wrangler program. The location of the stables right at the base of Lake Natoma gives it access to miles of scenic trails. read more

We enjoyed the summer camp last year and marked our calendar to sign up today when registration opened. This year they changed sign up to in-person only. When I returned to the website to see what I missed the language was vague "we request you bring the application in person." In person at 8 am on a Tuesday??? The woman I spoke with was incredibly rude. This is a popular camp and this feels a little suspect to be so restrictive. 15 minutes later I signed up my daughter with Saddle Up Sacramento. They were so nice, documents and payment were easy and not antiquated. read more

Went on the one hour trail with my sister and mom the lady that took us on the trail with blonde hair was super sweet and she seemed like she cared a lot about the horses and was very knowledgeable. Loved seeing that! read more

Five stars for Shadow Glen Stables. Staff was great, excellent customer service and the horses looked well fed, happy, and taken care of. We attended a birthday party of 20 or so, picnic tables available for eats and socializing. Petting area for bunnies, goats, and a donkey. A terrific place to ride (I did not ride), but the riders got good instructions on riding the horses for a hour or so...it was truly a great time and terrific place for a birthday party, or any family gathering. We will be back. read more

Pros- Affordable, plenty of time options for trail rides, website was easy to follow, location is beautiful, plenty of seating around for picnics, they have a bathroom, hand sanitizer everywhere, easy to find, staff seemed to really know the horses and their temperaments, staff were kind Others- (because it isn't really a con, but could be preferential) It was not very coordinated for checking in, some of our group had done online waivers and they still them fill out the paper forms onsite. Getting assigned a horse, it would be nice if maybe a name tag of our horse was given to us, we had several special needs kids and had to try to remember their horses names and ours- and we were asked by several staff who our horse was, it was a bit disorganized. Some of our group met the horse before climbing up, others were just asked to get up. For our first ever riders this was a bit overwhelming. And while staff tries their best to help, it was not always successful. It was a beautiful and easy trail ride. I would Really make sure you emphasize you or your kids needs of support before coming here. I would do this again. read more

Tommie is the BEST! My Granddaughter had her first lesson today with her (she's had two trail rides) and is looking forward to many more. What a great experience. read more

Shadow Glen Family Stables - Horseback Riding Near Me - Fair Oaks, California

Very nice stables. Beautiful area. The kids love it and it's a great place to go and get out into nature with the horses.

What a way to create family Christmas memories!!! The staff is friendly and inviting, the animals are approachable and well trained and the trail makes you forget how close you are to home. I highly recommend sharing this experience with friends or family that you want to create memories with. We will definitely be returning for more adventures. I think we were there for over two hours just exploring what the Shadow Glenn team has the privilege of doing every day. My hubs will be coming back for a team event and my youngest wants to volunteer and take care of the animals. If you are looking for a memorable day then look no further and book your ride today!!! read more

Shadow Glen Family Stables - Exploring the grounds and hanging with the bunnies. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Fair Oaks, California

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I've been here once before this 4 years ago & went through 3 horses before riding "Trinity", all the employees were amazing. My mom comes here often because she loves horses & we took here for valentines day. I'm a very nervous person especially when it comes to animals and Justin was amazing, calm and helpful. All the workers understood I was nervous and was Patient. I rode "Elmo" and he knew what he was doing lol. If you're new to riding ask for Elmo (even though they know perfectly how to pick the right horse for you). Every worker there is is knowledgable and knows how to talk to people. The worker with the horse "nana" is amazing too, I just forgot her name ! Thank you Shadow Glen for an amazing time. read more

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I took my 11 and 8 year old here yesterday, and they had a blast! It was my son's first time riding, and the trail guides and staff were so helpful. He wasn't scared or nervous at all. His favorite part was actually after the ride when the owner Terry let him hold some chickens (his favorite animal) and take some eggs home. My oldest and I have been here many times, and we always have an amazing experience. Can't wait to come back! read more

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The best place for your first horseback riding experience! I went horseback riding for the first time in my life and I'm pretty risk adverse and scared of heights so going in I was pretty nervous. But the moment I actually had to climb onto the horse I froze and almost couldn't do it. But the guide Liz was soooo kind and patient and kept encouraging me. She eliminated all of my concerns by telling me how professional they are, finding people to hold my horse during the beginning, staying with me, telling me stories, helping me adjust things to increase the comfort level, and just being the most encouraging person I've ever met. After some time I finally mustered up the courage and began the 1 hour trail. The trail was really nice and we just slowly rode the horses in a straight line across some fields and paths. Two horses were a bit harder to control but the guides were able to help people control their horses very quickly. Though I was super nervous at first, I quickly found myself enjoying the experience very much and I'd love to go back again. The horse I rode was called Pesos and the stable is super good at pairing each individual with different horses. As a more petite person and a nervous, first time rider, they paired me with a shorter but super veteran horse who was calm and well trained. I felt very safe riding her. Generally, this is a place that I felt was safe and very professional. The guides and other riders were all super kind and encouraging and I couldn't have asked for a better first experience. read more

It was our first time riding a horse and the experience was amazing. We were given Benny and Ginger and both horses were well trained and gentle. Staff were all super nice and welcoming - shoutout to our wranglers Hailey and Maya who both did a great job! They teach you safety protocols and how to ride a horse before you even meet your horse, and then it's an hour on horseback. Absolutely would recommend this gem of an experience. read more

Over the last year my child has participated in camp, group lessons, and private lessons. He has been enthused about every opportunity to ride at Shadow Glen . I appreciate the trust they put on him to figure things out independently while still giving him a foundation of skill and safety. He's currently doing private lessons with Tommie. Her focus on technical training, mixed with humor, has been exactly what he's needed at this point in his riding journey. We have definitely found a community that embraces our son and allows him to grow his passion. read more

Really kind and fun, knowledgeable guide who made sure my mom felt safe so we could enjoy ourselves. Trail had lots of flowers for spring.