FHS and trainer Stephanie Walker are the best. She has created an exceptional environment where the…read morehorses' comfort and happiness are always the priority. She helps all levels of riders realize their full potential in a very unintimidating way. I would highly recommend this barn for boarding, leasing, training, and lessons.

Stephanie Walker at Free Heart Stables is a true horseman. She understands the equine holistically…read moreand teaches her clients from where the horse is at physically and mentally, and always for the good of the horse. My daughter entered into the horse world via typical horseback lesson experience. She received excellent instruction in rider form at a top riding school but she became bored with just jumping on a horse for the purpose of getting through the transitions and jumps while looking good. She craved a deeper bond with her equine partners. So, being a brand new horse person myself, and only to support my daughter from afar, I found Stephanie in a Google search. I figured some horseback lessons that simulated actual horse ownership would cure the bug. I also decided that since this experience would be more than just tacking up the horse and riding, I decided to take lessons too so I could supervise my daughter from the ground. When my daughter first started riding, I wouldn't even pet the horses, and I was the least likely candidate to be a horse owner, that's how resistant I was to this whole horse fever she caught. I thought for sure these true "horsemanship" lessons would end this nonsense. Well, Stephanie didn't cure the horse bug. She made it worse, it was contagious, and I caught it. She stirred a new passion in my daughter and I that opened up a whole new world where horses are now more than a hobby, we have a new lifestyle. Fast forward to today, we are the humble owners of a beautiful, dramatic, and sensitive thoroughbred gelding and Stephanie is our trainer. Forget thinking that this is your typical trainer situation where the expert does the hard work of training your horse and you come out only to ride and experience the fruit of that labor. Stephanie is teaching US how to train our horse. Her lessons involve us in every part of the equine from the how the horse thinks to how the horse moves - on good days and bad days. Some of our best lessons, even when we first started, have been in (and continue to be in) imperfect conditions where we were making mistakes and Stephanie patiently taught us what was going on with the horse mentally, how we created the situation, and how to correct it. She will not do it for you, and she will make you take it slow to do things right. You can do things fast, or you can do them right. Thankfully, she has the patience and calm demeanor of a saint with kids and nervous, newbie, somewhat resistant, older adults. Stephanie just has something special to offer people that is vitally lacking in our fast paced, over tech'd, and over-achieving culture. The character qualities that are being instilled in my daughter (and myself) through this journey is not something the fanciest training barn or most expensive private school could ever teach. It is hard work that teaches you how to slow down, be present, and be teachable. Though the word has lost its meaning, Stephanie is a true natural horseman and she will teach you how to understand and communicate with the horse from the moment you make contact. If you want a truly fulfilling equine partnership that is unlike anything offered at training and lesson barns, contact Stephanie. Your horse will thank you.

Jeanette was amazing with my 5yr and 2yr. Wonderful experience, professional and so easy to work…read morewith. Everything we needed was provided and age appropriate.

I don't normally leave comments, but I will recommend Jeanette Arnaout Training. My eight-year old…read moredaughter attended her summer camp this year, and she came back with confidence and joy with horses. Thank you, Jeanette!

My kids and I love Bellamar! They have riding options that fit us all. I am the competitive type…read morethat needs goals and i am currently working towards my first eventing competition. My 13 year old daughter is enjoying her lessons as well as competing is schooling shows for Hunter/Jumper ,and my almost 8 1/2 year old son enjoys his occasional lessons and spending time at the barn "connecting" with the horses. Liz is an exceptional horse trainer as well as a motivating and effective teacher in the dressage and eventing arena. Edie and Bellamar training assistant Catie, have a solid background in Hunter/Jumper both as competitors and teachers. I love the positive educational enviroment that emphasizes teamwork and responsibilityfor all the young riders. I have greatly enjoyed the friendships I've made with other like-minded animal lovers as well.

I found Bellamar through a groupon deal. Now I wish I found them sooner. It had been ten long…read moreyears since I was last in a saddle, but before that I was an experienced hunter / jumper who rode nearly every day before heading off the college. I have ridden only with Liz, and she is great along with Rey, an accomplished horse in his own right. Bellamar is very low key and friendly. There is none of the snobbishness that can be too often prevalent in the horse world and show barns. Liz is very knowledgeable and is capable of getting you to get the most out of the horse you ride. If you are looking to get back in the saddle, or get started for the first time, please give them a call. Excellent new barn with loads of potential!

My girls absolutely love Sam and Socks Summer Camp! They had so much fun with the trail riding,…read morehiking, and arts and crafts. One of my favorite things is that Ms. Susan takes photos throughout the camp, giving us memories that we truly cherish. We are so grateful for all the care and effort she puts into making camp such a special experience. We can't thank her enough for offering such a fun, engaging, and memorable summer program. Highly recommend!

Amazing teachers, amazing horses! During Covid I decided I wanted to finally learn how to ride and…read morebasic horsemanship. Susan and Sam are so patient and really tailor the training to the student no matter the age or ability. Even better they rescue horses and rehab them to be lesson horses - a gigantic win win. Their love and passion for horses is incredible. I can't recommend them enough

What an amazing place! My son came home raving about the best camp experience of his life, begging…read moreto return. We are really thrilled by this, as it's the first time he's asked to go back to camp. Very much reccomended.

My daughter's friend from school told her about this place and recommended it. So far we love it!…read moreEveryone here is super friendly and nice! Great place to learn how to ride! Wonderful atmosphere! They take great care of all the animals.

Pam was amazing and so was Tucker (her palamino horse I worked with). Pam met me at my level, which…read moreis basic :) I learned so much about horses and riding. Thoroughly enjoyed myself with her and my daughter who brought me here this Mother's Day. Thank you Pam & Elizabeth! Would give her and Seven Oaks 10 stars if I could.

Pam and Carrie treat their horses, students and employees with kindness and respect. They have…read morecreated a wonderful place to enjoy horses and dressage! I grew up riding dressage and jumpers in Switzerland and France. As an adult working in San Juan Bautista in 2014, I didn't want to own horses again and I was a little weary of the idea of riding school horses. I was blown away with the quality of the Seven Oaks school horses, their methodical approach to teaching, as well their commitment to safety, all while having fun! I was instantly hooked! I started riding regularly with them, became a working student, but then had to move to Colorado for my job. During my two years out of state, I couldn't find a local barn that measured up to Seven Oaks, so I would fly back occasionally to get my fix. I was luckily able to relocate to California in 2020 and pick back up as a working student. At the beginning of 2022 I quit my "real" job to join the Seven Oaks staff full time- a dream come true!

I got to know Bright Ranch and the Bright family. They are all caring. I have known them from when…read moreI was 8 years to when I was 19. I did weekly lessons and learned a lot about the horse and riding. I learned how to ride all kinds of horses from green (not fully trained) horses to the competition horses. It was one of the reasons why I became so into horseback riding. I loved Dennis's deep knowledge on horses and how he worked and partnered with the amazing horses he has in the stable. I also learned to work with cows and learned to do advanced techniques over the years. Dennis teaches you that patience helps you a lot around horses. He teaches you to be safe on the ground and in the saddle. Yes, it takes years to learn to horseback ride. It is the same for all sports and even learning instruments. You gotta understand that things take time. I describe horseback riding is like a tree. You learn the basics or the standard skill. Each basic technique you learn branches off to more advanced skills. Also, repetitions are key! Anyway, I recommend Dennis Bright as a caring and acknowledgeable horseback riding mentor. He has the safest horses to ride compared to the other stables I visited. The biggest thing he makes sure is that you the student is safe. Not many horseback riding teachers do this! - Kathryn K.

My 8 year old daughter did a week long summer camp here and I cannot recommend it highly enough!…read moreShe got a horse riding lesson every day, got to brush the horses and help take care of the other animals on the farm, learned about the garden and helped harvest the vegetables... basically every 8 year old's dream! The camp counselors were all so friendly and the owners were so helpful and seemed to genuinely care about the kids learning and having a good summer camp experience. We will definitely be back next summer! I wish we lived close enough to do riding lessons here on a regular basis!

PVHC has a wonderful and welcoming staff. My daughter is part of their Saturday morning saddle club…read moreand loves it!! Would highly recommend Pleasant Valley Horse Club!!

My daughter was and is crazy about horses!!!! We found Pleasant Valley Horse Club online and signed…read moreup for lessons. We could not be happier!!! The lesson groups are kept small so each student gets maximum instruction. She loved lesson so much she begged to do summer camp which turned out to be not just 1 week but into repeat sessions because she was having so much!! trail rides, arena games, lunch in the haystacks, horse education, crafts, quad rides ,swimming, the list goes on. Everyday she has come home smiling ,and chatting about the fun things she did. thank you Pleasant Valley Horse Club!!!