I'm so grateful for Sandi and the rest of the barn family! My daughter has bloomed here with…read moreSandi's guidance. Sandi goes step by step so my daughter understood exactly what it took to gain confidence on her horse (Sandi and her niece Casey, helped us find). You don't need your own horse though, she has a stable of the sweetest temperaments I've ever seen and we have been to a lot of different barns. This is the most friendliest supportive barn you can belong to, I'm so grateful for everything! We love Sandi so much, she is the reason we felt good buying our horse...we knew we are in good hands!

I'm reluctant to write this review because I would like to take more lessons a week and Sandi is…read morevery busy already, and for good reason. I can't say enough good things about Sandi. Instead of telling you what you're doing wrong, she tells you what you're doing right and suggests improvements when you need them. Riding with her builds my confidence, and is so so fun. I wish I could ride with her every day!

I've been taking lessons at CRA for about a year now as an adult beginner and I look forward to my…read morelessons every week. I love arriving at the barn and seeing all the beautiful horses. The owner and staff are all lovely as well. My favorite thing about CRA is the amount of progress I feel I've made after each lesson. The instructors are all very knowledgable and always provide helpful feedback that has helped me with my equestrian journey. Definitely give this place a visit! Plus, they've got the cutest pony, Merlin! (see attached photo)

I am so happy to have found California Riding Academy in Pacifica. The barn is super convenient…read morefor me to get to from San Francisco - I can easily take a weekday morning lesson before my PM shift at the hospital. The horses are incredibly well cared for. The barn and arena are very nice. My instructor Sierra is very helpful and patient. I was finally getting strong enough to really properly post the trot when the Covid19 lock down hit. I cannot wait to get back to the barn and to the horses. I highly recommend California Riding Academy.

Brooke is an amazing person, I had an awesome time with her and a lovely giant gentle horse…read more"bossy". I am starting my horse riding classes and I really enjoy visiting Brooke and her equestrian center. She's really good and so patient, she's got more than 12 horses at her equestrian center, I would love to come here every 2 weeks to learn more from her!!!

A little over a year ago, I was looking for a place to take lessons. I tried many different barns…read morein the area, but after I rode with Sarah, I stopped looking. I look forward to my riding lesson every week because I really like being sore for 3 days after. No, really. Sarah is an amazing instructor. She cares about all her students/clients, those with or without their own horses , whether you are jumping 1.2m or 6 inches, as long as you are willing to learn. Sarah will challenge you in many ways during her lessons, but remaining positive at the same time. She has high expectations of all her students, but you will learn so much. Highly recommended!!

For over three years now Sarah has educated my daughter in all aspects of riding and horsemanship…read more Sarah have been attentive, knowledgeable and very engaged to help my daughter continue to grow as a rider.. Working with Sarah has been an amazingly positive experience for both myself and my daughter.

What more can be said about Garrod Farms that hasn't already been felt by so many? For countless…read moreriders, this is the place where we first sat on a horse, felt the excitement of riding, and created memories that will last a lifetime. Garrod Farms is more than a barn--it is a place filled with joy, friendship, and an unmistakable sense of community. From the moment you arrive, you can feel the positive energy that surrounds the property. It truly feels like a place from a dream. One of my greatest fears is the thought of this special place ever disappearing, because it has become home to so many families, riders, and horse lovers. The Garrod family deserves tremendous recognition for everything they do. This is a true family-owned and operated business, built through hard work, dedication, and genuine passion. There is always someone on the property working on improvements, maintaining the grounds, or finding ways to make the experience even better for everyone. The amount of effort required to care for such a large facility is extraordinary, and their commitment never goes unnoticed. The farm offers some of the best arena footing in the area, beautiful indoor and outdoor arenas, and direct access to miles of scenic trails where riders can relax and enjoy time with their horses. It is a safe and welcoming environment that has been serving children, families, and equestrians for generations. Their horseback riding lessons, whether private or group, are exceptional and suitable for riders of all experience levels. They also offer some of the best vaulting lessons in the area, giving students a unique opportunity to develop balance, confidence, athleticism, and horsemanship in a fun and supportive environment. The horse camps are among the best around, and the only complaint anyone seems to have is that they fill up too quickly. The local horse shows provide riders with valuable opportunities and motivation, while the boarding program offers quality care at a reasonable price. Special events for boarders create an even stronger sense of community and make being part of Garrod Farms feel truly special. Beyond the horses, the winery adds another layer of charm. Great music, beautiful scenery, and wonderful people make it a place where memories are created and shared. There is always a sense of warmth and happiness in the air. Garrod Farms is more than a facility--it is home. It is a place where friendships are formed, confidence is built, and dreams begin. God bless Jan, Vicky, Cory, and the entire Garrod family for everything they do. Their dedication has touched the lives of so many people, and their contributions to the community deserve recognition and support every single day.

My friend from Germany wanted to ride a horse while visiting the states, so I very last minute…read morecalled Garrod to see if they had any availability. I was easily able to book a private guided ride with just the two of us and an expert rider. Our guide was so nice and equipped us with everything we needed to have a safe, but fun trip. You can tell the horses are very well taken care of and loved by the staff at the stables. The tour itself had beautiful views overseeing Los Gatos. It was a reasonably priced experience and absolutely worth it!

I think spring down is a very good place to go and all the horses are so sweet and it's a good…read moreplace. I really rated a good five stars. and I started going here because I really love horses and I hope you guys like it too.

The most terrible experience in the world!!!! Sooooo angry , rude , insulting new staff including…read morenew manager Camden. They were yelling and screaming on people and little kids... Not professional!!! Never go there again !!!! And never recommend this place!!!! Sadly, this place has been completely changed in terms of how they treat people now after new staff came. it used to be very friendly, kind, warm and welcoming place in the past ( just couple years ago).

I reached out to inquire about riding lessons for first time students, the response was 1 sentence…read moreand kinda rude. The lack of professionalism definitely helped me dodge a bullet with this school.

If you are a serious rider or want to be in the future, Do Not Do This To Yourself or Your Horse!…read moreThis is not a good trainer. While Chrissy sincerely believes she knows what she is doing, she is a terrible dressage rider and a terrible trainer. She claims extensive European training, but do a little research... look at her dressage test scores or those of her students. This is not personal, she just has no skills and has somehow just passed herself off as a trainer. Don't believe it. Anything she teaches you will just mess up your riding and your horse.

I am soooo disappointed in this place!!…read more After reviewing different places for my 10 yr old daughter's horseback riding lessons (including TGIF Farms, Garrods, Chapparal...) I decided to go w/ Cevalo even though they are far off in the hills. We came to visit on a Thurs and met Diane, the trainer. She had a cask on her arm from some injury (non-horseback related, she said). That was fine with us. We enrolled for her beginners class that very evening. We came back at 4:30PM. She sends my daughter off with one of her students to have her watch how to tack and saddle the horses. I love the thought of that, so that my daughter can learn the responsibility of caring for them as well as riding them. When we came back on the training ground, I see my daughter was led around by first, some other girl's mom, and then later...one of the student's dad as Diane just shouts out instructions. Who is supposed to help train my daughter around here??? I guess that was fine but it just so happens the horse my daughter trains on, Wyatt, does not like to be rushed by other horses. Some time during the training, as Diane trains the other more advanced students to jump...one girl and her horse ran straight at my daughter. That scared Wyatt and knocked my daughter right onto the ground. That freaked me out!!! I knew my lil girl was pretty shaken but she played it off well cause she knew if she showed hurt, I would've probably stopped her lessons. Anyways, we came again the following Thur. Diane was already out in the training field. I walked out there to see what we needed to do. She told me to have my daughter watch how to tack the horses again. So we did. It wasn't really any formal instructions. We felt kind of neglected in a way. Afterwards, we went back to the fields. It was already 15mins in. Some other girl from previous lesson was still riding Wyatt. I told my daughter to go stand by Diane until given instructions on what to do. I watched my daughter being totally neglected by Diane until she walks back to the fence. I wasn't too happy so got out of my car and walked up to the fence myself. Then Diane saw me and called out to my daughter to mount on the horse.....The previous girl on the horse was being led by her own mother. So when my daughter got on, she looked totally confused as to who will lead her. Diane was going to have her on the horse by herself!!! So of course I volunteered to do it. It's my own child for god's sake. I can't have her fall again like last week. And like I predicted, another girl drove her horse straight at Wyatt again!! This time when he buckled, I pulled down on his lead rope to keep him from knocking off my daughter. Fortunately my daughter didn't fall (she was really scared though) but the other girl fell hard off her horse. I felt bad for her. But I've had enough. This was only our 2nd lesson and I'm not even impressed. So unless you don't mind your child falling off horses and learning by themselves, go ahead. But with the $ I'm paying, I expected better quality of training. Money is not the issue when talking about my child's safety. I've paid 1 month of training and am still skipping the last 2 training. We've enrolled at Garrods...let's see how they do.

Excellent school. Diana helps her students with riding lessons and also wrapped within each lesson…read moreseems to be lessons in life too. She works the students hard, but is also compassionate and encouraging. The students learn a good work ethic, as they must participate in the cleaning of stalls, feeding and care of the horses. The stables is a little way out, near Uvas Canyon, but it's a beautiful spot to sit and watch the riders, and nature all around you. Not much there by way of comforts, barn, Porta-Potty, and a few old plastic chairs, but for the students riding, who cares.