This was such a cool experience today! The owner invited me to take a tour of the place and see the horses and talked to me about what they do. It was so cool! I will take all my friends and family there for horseback riding. Look at this silly one taking out his tongue for the selfie as if he knows what to do already. All the horses there were friendly and they wanted to be petted. I definitely recommend it! read more

Trillium Farm - Look at this one taking out his tongue for the selfie lol - Horseback Riding Near Me - Woodside, California

As an adult returning to riding after almost a 15 year hiatus, I've been thrilled to find such a welcoming community at Trillium. Etsuko, Yulia and Alexis are incredible trainers - each with their distinctive style & a deep passion for equitation. They go above & beyond to make themselves available to their students and are invested in seeing them improve and reach their goals - all while having fun along the way. I've progressed more in my riding in the past two months than I ever did learning to ride in my early teen years. The schooling horses are absolute gems, the barn is wonderful & well maintained, and the Trillium community is vibrant! I've loved getting to know my fellow classmates and encouraging one another to learn and grow. Being part of Trillium has been a pure joy. I've loved my experience so far and would recommend to anyone - no matter your age or level of experience! read more

Trillium Farm - Horseback Riding Near Me - Woodside, California

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I wanted to add to my previous review, as I've now been at Trillium for a few years, and Yulia is no longer teaching there. Etsuko and Yulia helped me to locate and buy my own horse and after a brief stint at another barn, which my horse really hated, we were very happy to return to Trillium, where the trainers and grooms keep him healthy and cooperative. I am continually impressed each week by the superb teaching of Etsuko, particularly her ability to immediately recognize what I need to do to make my horse go better and to efficiently communicate precisely what to do. I have a very smart horse who figures out how to be lazy when he wants to, and she has really helped me to counteract that and to work around his personality foibles. As an older adult, I am not interested in jumping, so we do mostly flat work and poles on or just above the ground. Etsuko always has a plan and sets up a course that requires thinking and precision, and then helps us to be successful as we navigate the challenges. With just a few "minor" instructions, she can help us to correct an unbalanced horse into one that flows smoothly, and it is really gratifying to see such immediate improvements. This barn provides more services with their training than most barns in the area. Others typically provide 4 services a week, including lessons and training rides. Here, that number goes up to 8, with 4 or 5 training rides and 3 lessons a week. And the group lessons are an hour, privates are 45 minutes. This really helps keep the horse happy and in good shape, as the trainers become very familiar with the horse and give him what he needs on the training rides so that he will behave well for his "student/owner" rider. Horses are also lunged once a week by the staff. The grooms are terrific and assistants are excellent as well. And the covered arenas are among the best in the area and allow for riding in all weather. read more

I was at Trillium for almost 2 years. My experience started positive and ended very poorly. Like many people, I left Trillium very sad and frustrated. Other professionals have described Trillium best in saying "the intent is good but execution is poor." I agree with this and I believe the staff and team want to do right by horses but ultimately the horses in their care are seriously over worked (even horses owned/in training). There are young horses (4-5 year old) used for school lessons resulting in a myriad of issues in almost every lesson. This was a massive shift from when I started and the horses were older, sound and experienced. I often felt unsafe in lessons and went as far as feigning an injury to avoid poorly structured lessons. My horse's "training" led to massive gaps and gaffs resulting in imbalances in his body and diet; he was also treated in ways I found deeply unsettling - aggressive spurring (to the point of drawing blood). Working students often handle the pro rides for horses in training and the main assistant, Elodie, that handles the "schooling" rides for school horses and lunges for client horses is not a professional, nowhere close. Again: problematic as this leads to issues and gaps in the horse's "training." TLDR: no price sheets, inconsistent billing practices, erratic lessons, poor communication, and all of the above mentioned issues were what resulted in my departure. There have been a lot people that have left under the same terms and said nothing, but I feel that it's time to be honest about this unsafe and unethical barn. read more

After a 10-year break from riding and competing, I decided to get back in the saddle again. I am so thrilled to join Trillium Farm! The trainers, Etsuko and Yulia truly care about proper horsemanship no matter what level rider you are. Their hard-working team, Elodie, Maynor and Luis are always around to answer any questions and keep the barn running smoothly and in a perfectly organized manner. The horses' well-being and the safety of the students is always a priority. As an added bonus, they are based at the beautiful facilities of Portola Farms. read more

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Trillium was wonderful at meeting me as a complete adult beginner. I really struggled to find a barn that took adults who didn't even know had to trot or weren't reriders. It's blessed with an incredibly supportive community who answered questions or cheered me on my milestones Trainer Etsuko was able to help me progress through lesson horses as my skills increased and also able to have a tune as to who would match me for the specific lesson. Every lesson (whether it was Sara or Etsuko) was precise, thought out and focused in developing a new skill. They are especially talented in meeting me on where I was that day (willing to push my boundaries and try something new or hone another skill) and explaining what we were doing in a thoughtful & precise manner. Something that stood out to me was that the lesson horses were exceptionally taken care. read more

Truly superb! My wife and I tried several riding schools before choosing Trillium and it stands a head and shoulders above the rest. The horses are well cared for, responsive and fresh. The instructors are excellent with precise careful guidance, and are qualified to provide instruction from beginners to Olympic level. And I mean that quite literally, our instructor spent years training at an Olympic stables and has won multiple events. read more

Being away from the horse community for 25+ years and with a background in Western; finding the right fit was challenging. In fact, it was intimidating and daunting until I met Etsuko and Dana. They quickly assessed my background and put a plan in place that helped me build my confidence back while teaching me ALL the new fundamentals of english and jumping. They coached me through the differences of Western to English. Through this process, they have built my trust to know if they say I'm ready for the next level; I can lean in with confidence. I believe they are a great team for any level of rider. They have a keen sense of the building blocks to move a rider up to any level. The treatment of their horses is spectacular. Their staff are helpful and loving to the horses. The horses are happy, unstressed and pampered. The other students, advanced and beginner, are really down to earth and supportive. I've felt welcome from the first day I stepped foot in the Trillium Barn. read more

Trillium Farm - Biggest sweetheart - Horseback Riding Near Me - Woodside, California

My daughter started taking lessons from Etsuko this year. Prior to deciding on to go with Trillium, we tried 4-5 different local riding places which were pretty well known around here. They were all pretty good, but Etsuko really stood out. She teaches kids to ride safe and work well with both the horse and the child. She will teach your child to tune-into your horse, rather than just to ride and have them listen to you. All of their horses are in great shape and they are all beautiful! She is very patient with kids and teaches them how to communicate with the horses. We are very happy with her training and looking forward to many more years to come. read more

Etsuko cares for her students and horses. She makes sure you understand the groundwork and fundamentals of taking care of the horse in order to ensure you have the best possible experience. I came back to riding after a long hiatus and was nervous, but she helped me feel confident and secure about getting back into the saddle. Portola Valley is also an amazing facility. read more

Trillium is the ideal choice whether you are new to riding, trying to locate top notch training and boarding for you and your horse and everything in between! This is the place for all things equestrian. I rode extensively in my childhood and returned to it as an adult a few years ago. Now, with Etsuko's help, I have realized my dream of having my own horse and we started showing last month! Trillium is a professional but friendly and supportive environment for all equestrian pursuits. read more

Trillium Farm - Horse show fun with Dragon and Etsuko at Trillium Farms - Horseback Riding Near Me - Woodside, California

This is a wonderful barn, and I can't recommend it highly enough. I am an adult amateur who has ridden at a number of barns over the years, and Etsuko and Yulia are two of the best. They keep lessons fun, but I always come away having learned something new. I already feel like my riding is improving after just a few months in their program. In addition to the lesson program, there are ample opportunities to show or participate in clinics (but no pressure to do so if that's not your thing). Most importantly, Etsuko, Yulia, and the whole Trillium team put the welfare of the horses above all else, and they are kind and responsive to their clients. I also enjoy spending time with the other riders at Trillium. People were immediately welcoming, and there is a nice mix of kids and adults, so you'll find your people no matter your age. Trillium feels like a community in the best sense. After a few short months with Trillium, I knew I had found my new barn home, and Etsuko and Yulia helped me purchase my first horse as an adult. They spent time learning about me, what I was looking for in a horse, and also working within my budget. When I moved at the start of the year, I spent a weekend looking at most of the barns in the area, and couldn't find a place with the right balance between fun and friendly people, but a serious lesson program and excellent trainers who would help me grow as a rider...until I landed on Trillium. And I couldn't be happier with my experience. If you are looking for a barn, this is the place! read more

I am a very happy Trillium Farm client. Like a lot of adult amateur riders, I had to take a hiatus from riding after high school. 24 years later, I finally had the means to start riding again. My first lesson with Etsuko was so positive that I knew I'd found the place to (re)grow my skills. They value the fun of riding as well as the challenge. Under Etsuko and Dana's coaching, before I knew it I was jumping again! I am really pleased to say, however, that their attention to flatwork and fundamentals is equal to the attention to jumping. Fast forward 8 months, and they were guiding me through the process of buying my first horse. I deeply appreciated Etsuko's attention to finding a horse that was appropriate to my current skills as well as my future goals. I never -- not once -- felt like Etsuko and her team were putting candidates in front of me that were going to be too much for me to handle. I never felt like they cared more about adding a fancy horse to the stable than what would be a good match for me. They were reasonable about what I should expect to spend. And we hit the jackpot with an amazing gelding. This weekend, 15 months after I got back in the saddle, I entered my first horse show since high school. I couldn't be more proud of my horse and I couldn't be more grateful to Etsuko, Dana, and Maynor for helping me rediscover the joy of riding. If you're an adult who has dreamed of learning to ride horses and fall in love with a horse of your own, do yourself (and your future horse!) a favor and check out Trillium Farm. read more

I've been riding at Trillium for about a year and a half and love it. I've ridden at a number of barns around the bay area and around the country and am really happy to be at Trillium now. I appreciate Etsuko's empathetic, patient, and precise training style. She's helped me regain confidence over fences after a few bad falls jumping some years ago. Etsuko is organized and knowledgeable. She has both excellent horse skills AND people skills. I strongly recommend this training program. read more

Trillium Farm - Horseback Riding Near Me - Woodside, California

Etsuko is the best teacher I have ever had. I've had quite a few teachers in the Bay Area, and this is the best in terms of instruction, community, etc. Riding is a very detailed sport, where any imbalance or small little thing can have a large impact. Etsuko is very detail-oriented and has a great eye for figuring out what is wrong. She's also an awesome rider, and rides, regularly. Although she's been riding all her life, she isn't one of those instructors who understands riding so intuitively that they have no idea how to answer questions because they just "get it". She's also not a casual rider teaching lessons on the side. This is her whole focus. She also has high standards for how her barn is kept, and the horses are well taken care of. Students are expected to understand horse care and health, as well as riding. The barn community is also great, with genuine and friendly people who care about horses. She is located at Clermont Equestrian, which makes it the best of both worlds. read more

As far as I'm concerned, Trillium Farm represents the gold standard for quality training, facilities, and lesson horses. I've been taking lessons with Etsuko Sakimura and Dana Phinney for the past four years and would recommend them to anyone, beginner to advanced. Etsuko and Dana have different but very complementary teaching styles that offer riders a holistic approach to hunter/jumper, equitation, and horsemanship. They're patient, measured and encouraging with a sincere interest in their student's progress. Whether you're motivated by winning ribbons or your own personal growth, they provide the same level of education to all their students. They focus on instilling riders with a strong foundation and the confidence to build and refine their skills. I feel lucky to have learned from such accomplished women. Additionally, Etsuko gives the utmost care to her horses. They're healthy and happy. Living the good life on the beautiful Ciara West grounds in Woodside. How many horses spend their days grazing in a pasture with an ocean view?!! The Ciara West facilities are top notch. Well groomed and clean with two arenas, one covered, and several boarding options. A real treat to spend your days there. The only bad thing about Trillium is that I can't bring them with me when I move to Boulder :( I am going to miss them dearly, but I'm so grateful to have been a part of this barn and hope many others have the opportunity too. read more

Trillium Farm - Little Neena the mustang (my personal favorite) - Horseback Riding Near Me - Woodside, California

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Trillium is so wonderful for every level of riding. Etsuko helped my daughter find the perfect first lease horse. Her lessons combine all aspects of riding and she is able to meet the riders where they are and push them to challenge themselves each time they ride! The community here is very special and supportive. read more

My friend told me about Etsuko and Trillium Farm. I was looking for a new situation and couldn't be happier with what I've found. My riding has really improved . Etsuko is an amazing teacher. She always gives me helpful pointers She challenges me but I also feel safe The lesson horses are amazing and she is helpful with finding a lease or a horse to own. The barn is a welcoming place . I look forward to my lesson days! read more

My daughter has been riding at Trillium Farm since July 2020. We had just moved from out of state, so finding a new barn with a great atmosphere was a must. Etsuko took the time to talk with us about her experience, personality, and goals before her first lesson. Yulia and Etsuko work to make sure that each rider has a quality program to support and push them to grow and learn. The staff are all friendly and hard-working, making each day at the barn enjoyable for riders and their families. The lesson horses are not only beautiful, but well trained-great for any ability level of rider. read more

My daughter Edie started riding with Etsuko and Dana this year and she absolutely loves every aspect of the experience. The school horses are sweet and fun, and the location at Portola Valley Farms is peaceful and pretty. But most of all, Etsuko and Dana are fabulous instructors who really take the time to teach the kids and help them improve in all aspects of their riding and horse care. The are kind, considerate, thoughtful and make the kids think about how they ride and how they can improve. My daughter has had the most wonderful experience at Trillium Farm. read more

This is an excellent barn. Their trainers, Etsuko and Dana, are friendly and experts at what they do. Very knowledgeable about jumping/hunter/dressage and encouraging of students at all abilities. They treat their school horses with care and respect. It shows, because their horses are happy, healthy, well mannered around people, and easy to handle. They also provide thorough and attentive care to client horses. My horse was getting bitten by ticks on her tail and Maynor the groom took quick action to clean her tail and manage her itchy skin. Now her tail looks healthy again. For people who like to show or want to take their riding to the next level, they have a show team that travels to different horse shows, which is an amazing experience and fun to do with a group. There is a dressage court and large covered arena. You could easily ride 365 days of the year, if you wanted to. This is a low key place filled with friendly horse lovers, surrounded by ocean and scenic views, removed from the daily hustle and bustle. It's simply a great place to be for horse and rider. read more

I cannot say enough about Etsuko and her training program, she literally brought my horse from being dead lame and out of shape to being sound and fit. When no one could figure out what was causing my mares lameness and vets were advising me to retire her at age 15, Etsuko saw hope in her. She developed a specialized program that worked! After 4 months of extensive ground work, she was sound and ready to be ridden. Since then things have just become better and better. With Etsukos training, my girl is doing it all, dressage, jumping, and trails. She is happier than ever, she was not ready to retire. As long as I am riding, My horse and I will be training at Trillium with Etsuko. I would recommend her to anyone needing rehab for their horse. Her lessons are excellent as well, she and her staff challenge me in a way that keeps me learning ,but safe! read more

I have been training with Etsuko for the past month now and have found her instruction extremely helpful in getting my horse ready for the show season. She has been able to connect with my horse really well while at the same time instituting a sense of discipline which I could not provide. Her knowledge of horses as well as how she reacts with her students has been remarkable. I continue to look forward to taking many more lessons with her and would recommend her guidance for beginners as well as for advanced riders. read more