Long review but well-deserved. Dede/Urban Horseman owner/operator/trainer deserves 10 stars. My adult daughter and I had our first lesson with her today and I cannot say enough great things about her. She has the experience, knowledge, and ability to teach you, your kids, or anyone how to ride correctly so that you are confident in the saddle. She also shows you how to groom and tack up (saddle) your horse which increases your confidence around horses. She is definitely safety first, has incredible patience, no judgment, and is a lovely and friendly person. Everything you could possibly want in a riding instructor. I have ridden a fair amount over the years but haven't been on a horse in several years. I wanted to improve my form and technique while getting back into riding. Dede was the perfect choice to get started again. My daughter and I took a lesson together (great bonding experience, parents!) Very helpful to eavesdrop on the tips she was giving each of us while we were in the arena. There is also the option of doing trail rides while we learn which we'll definitely take advantage of as we progress. Who knew there were gorgeous trails right off the 605/60 freeways?!?!? Dede has a number of beautiful, well-trained horses to suit every rider and their ability. The Whittier Narrows Equestrian Center is a large and lovely facility, well maintained, with easy access off the 605, and immediate access to riding trails. With summer vacation on the horizon, Urban Horseman is the ideal source for riding lessons, horsemanship camps for kids, individual (or perhaps small group/friends lessons), or parent/kid time together. Reasonable rates for quality instruction. You will absolutely get your money's worth at Urban Horseman and have a fantastic time learning or improving your riding skills. Take that 5-star rating I gave Urban Horseman and double it. Can't wait to go back for more! read more

Dede is an amazing instructor! She is incredibly patient, kind, and encouraging. We came in knowing very little about horseback riding, but she made us feel comfortable right away and helped us learn so much in just one lesson. She tailors her teaching to your experience and comfort level, making the whole experience fun and stress-free. Highly recommend! read more

Dede is wonderful in many ways! Come see for yourself! Thank you for being you! Riding lessons, trail rides, all sorts of fun stuff going on here! Come check in! read more

Amazing trainer! To start off with the place, it is so organized! As with Dede, she has so much patience and she is just an amazing person! For the training part of her, she is so understanding if you are struggling and she will do her best to help find a technique that helps you do it best! A thing I found amazing is that when I was struggling, she gave me exercises that helped me so much! Unlike my old trainer, if you finish your lesson early, she will let you help feed, bathe, etc. Right when I met Dede, I could tell that she isn't doing this for the money. She loves her job and she is doing it because she wants to help all of her students find what they love! I totally recommend this place and I am so grateful I am taking lessons with her! read more

Urban Horseman - me riding during my lesson - Horseback Riding Near Me - Whittier, California

Finally a place that's close by my house 13 minutes away, took my lil one for a riding lesson and we had an amazing time. I got in contact with Dede and she's GREAT! Easy to talk to and very courteous. Janelle was my lil one trainer and she did an amazing job with my daughter. Thank you! I will be coming back for more lessons and I will definitely bring my older kiddos to ride. I highly recommend this place! read more

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dont come here holly is against special needs children since it will cost more money on insurance. i was just calling to see if he could observe the horses and see how my child interaction would be but before i could even get to that holly was going off about how it costs more for people with special needs!! like i wasnt even asking for him to ride or anything just see them!!!! read more

I had a great experience my boyfriend and I had a horse riding lesson with Diana she is such a sweet heart and explained everything with a lot of patience we had fun and also she made us feel comfortable around the horses. I really recommend coming here if you want to learn and ride horses. read more

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Learning to ride with Dede has been such a wonderful experience! As a beginner interested in western riding, I was pretty nervous at first, but she has been so patient and encouraging every step of the way. She explains things in a way that's easy to understand and never makes me feel rushed. Thanks to her, I've not only gained confidence in the saddle, but I've also fallen in love with riding even more than I imagined. She truly cares about both her students and the horses, and it shows in everything she does. I feel so lucky to have found her as a trainer! read more

Dede was an absolute gem. We had prepaid for horseback riding and accidentally went to the wrong place, but Dede took my husband and I in with no problem. She was very understanding for the last minute trip coming in from out of town, along with us having no experience in horseback riding. She let us pick out our horse, give them love and maintenance, and then we rode the horses around the station a few times. Our appointment went over an hour and we were super appreciative of her. We didn't feel rushed, and we also got the hang of it not too long after with her great teaching skills. Thank you for the experience and the photos you captured of our time! read more

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I've known Dede for over 20 years. She is a truly talented and experienced trainer and care taker, of not only the horses, but as well, the clients. She adds a bright and comfortable atmosphere. read more

First off, I'm so happy to find a place to be able to ride a horse that is local to the San Gabriel Valley. No need to drive to Norco or Malibu. Dede is a delight as is her assistant Janelle! Both so knowledgeable about everything "horse". All of her horses are so well trained and well taken care of. I hadn't ridden in a long time and she made me feel very at ease. I've watched her work with some of the kids that she gives lessons to she was very good with them also. Well worth the money. Happy riding! read more

* Disorganized, unprofessional, & very impatient * Long review ... but it's definitely one to read when you have time!! "Trainer" DeDe said bad reviews never get read, but hopefully someone reads this and takes this review into consideration before deciding to waste your time, energy & money. My 9 yr. old daughter has been attending classes since the 1st week of September. After the 3rd lesson I found Dede getting frustrated with my daughter. My child is extremely shy, super polite and very soft spoken. My daughter has a tinier physique so she wasn't so stern with the large rescue horses she was put on. I had pulled DeDe aside and asked her to have a little more patience with my daughter. I asked DeDe if she was too much to deal with because of her bashful personality. She said no & she would get a smaller horse for my daughter to train on. Dede brought a smaller horse out only for the next session and proceeded to place my daughter on one of her rescue horses for each following session there after. Payment: When initially booked I let her know my schedule and she agreed to Tuesday night lessons, which got switched to Sundays at 4pm and she switched again to 12 as her previous client came back from vacation "and wanted her time back". She priced me at $500 for 10 lessons or $60 pay as you go ( which was NO problem ). I paid 120 via cash for the 1st two lessons and SHE offered to "discount" me the proceeding sessions. So I sent her 150 for lessons 3(which thankfully I kept receipts & tracking via text). Being that I share joint custody my daughter's father agreed to pay lessons 6-10. He paid lesson 6 cash (again got proof of payment) & lesson 7 Dede canceled then an hour later asked if we could go at a later time (btw this would have been the 3rd class she would have cancelled) I agreed, we showed up and the class was cut short as ALL her others have been!!! My daughter's father didn't show that day but I offered to Zelle her and she declined due to the class being cut short. I confirmed the following week lesson Sunday at 12 and she agreed! I show up to this last lesson to be approached by DeDe while having one of her clients (little girl about 11 years old) on a horse to be advised that she gave my daughters training time away. Confused, I asked why she would do that when it was confirmed the weekend before. She got super defensive and said she didn't have time. I advised that was very unprofessional of her to act that way in front of the little girl and her response was "damn right I'm unprofessional". At that time I wished to not continue with the conversation & advised her I was going to write a review on how she conducts business and my experience. As soon as I left she started sending me text messages which I asked her to stop and she continued! My daughters feelings were the least of her concern as she was more worried about the review I was going to leave. Dede tried to profile my family as a disrespectful "crew" lol (she may not be used to blended families or cordial co-parenting, which she commended us on as well) and was under the assumption we didn't have money which is very much the complete opposite. She tried to say we owed her money which in fact we didn't! We never have been disrespectful, rude & even offered to help around the stable as she's a little older & seemed to be by herself a lot. If your looking for someone who's genuinely patient and willing to take their time to teach your child this place is not it!!! After all these lessons all my daughter learned how to do was brush the horse, not even a full groom.. which btw grooming took up 20 minutes of the 45 minute class (which should actually be 60 minutes) If you decide to go with this trainer make sure you KEEP RECEIPTS OF EVERYTHING ~ from payments to schedules!! Also.. if you're thinking about booking for Quince pictures know that these rescue horses are not accustomed to big dresses. Dede had a lot to say about one of her clients after several attempts of them taking photos and were unsuccessful because the horses were scared! I definitely will not be taking my daughter back here and will make sure she gets the training she deserves!!! To DeDe: I know you have been waiting for this review to comment. Whatever you have to say to me is irrelevant at this point and I wish you nothing but the best!!! read more

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I'm not Irene, but would you want any business to respond to you like this? Especially one that deals in children and beginners?? Yikes Aside from that I did ride with this woman and her deniability is shocking. Please go literally anywhere else. They have some very nice trainers in Santiago canyon, Irvine, and San Juan Capistrano. Well worth the drive. I've already learned shoulder in haunches in and out, lengthened trot sitting and posting, leg yeilds and working on side pass. My trainers work with children 4 and up. Good luck everyone read more

Urban Horseman - I'm not Irene. But would you want any business to respond to you like this?? Yikes!!! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Whittier, California

My family has been getting lessons from Dede for almost a year now. We treasure our time with her. Not only is she an excellent horse trainer but she is also a very kind and humble person. I could not ask for a better person to guide my family on what it takes to love on and care for horses. She has a great sense of humor. Dede does a fabulous job of catering each lesson to her students and meets them where they are but encourages them to do their best everyday. read more

Urban Horseman - Horseback Riding Near Me - Whittier, California

I went into this thinking I was just going to ride a horse. This course is much much more than that. Understanding, caring and reading the state of mind of a horse is much more important than riding. These animals are amazing and I through De De's teachings gained a complete respect and understanding of this. Every week was a learning experience. Highly recommend giving this a shot. One of the better things I've decided to do. I now am seriously thinking of horse ownership. read more

Urban Horseman - Sights on a trail ride - Horseback Riding Near Me - Whittier, California

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I love this place she is such a great person she is very good with kids and i learned a lot from her I recommend her read more

Urban Horseman - My bff ride if faith - Horseback Riding Near Me - Whittier, California

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This is the worst experience I have ever had. Horrible place, de de is a horrible person. Shouldn't even be classified as instructor. Isn't organized and is very bossy and criticizes on every little thing I did. Barking orders left and right, very impatient didn't even let me do the task and yanked the equitment away from me when I made a small mistake. Also treats me diffrent than others, for example, rudeness and unfairness, which is unacceptable. DO NOT RECOMMEND HER FOR ANY OF MY LATINOS OUT THERE. read more

Dede is an amazing instructor to teach Horseriding. My daughter is 6 years old and loves horses. So we found Urban Horseman on Yelp and I'm so glad we did. She has been going weekly and you can see an improvement each week. I'm so amazed when I see my little girl riding, she is doing really good, with a lot to learn. Dede has the patience and experience to teach, and I love that about her. She has been so patient with my shy daughter teaching her so much. If your looking for someone to teach horse back riding you found her. Another thing I have loved about attending Dede's classes is the relationship with the horse. My daughter has grown to be comfortable around them, they are so good, loving and beautiful. read more

Urban Horseman - This is Cooper. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Whittier, California

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NOT the best trainer for adults. Dede was my trainer for a few lessons until I made the decision to Fire her. She was VERY impatient, disorganized, unprofessional, rude and unwilling. BEWARE: think twice before giving her money in advance because you will not get it back...even after she tells you that she will. read more

Review for Ms. Dede Ms. Dede is an amazing trainer. I found the right trainer for my son who loves horses and wants to learn all he can about riding. I wish I could add more stars to this review as she is the best. Why is she the best? Because she is patient and works with the learner's skill set and level of confidence. She is also extremely knowledgeable and walks you through everything and scaffolds the learning to the point where you can do things independently. She teaches you to read the horses and pay attention to how they behave as they are always communicating with you. I have also been very impressed with how clean and happy all of her horses are which for me is an indication of the love and passion Ms. Dede has for her horses and this profession. She is a wonderful teacher and human being all around. read more

Dee Dee is very responsive and a great trainer! My granddaughter learned a lot in one day!

My daughter started training with Dede in June 2023, she was ambivalent and has a really hard time following directions and staying on task. This has honestly been the best therapy (that's what I call it) for her. Dede is so patient and has learned what works to get through to my daughter. In this short period of time she has become a more confident rider and I can honestly say she has learned to focus, pay attention to the horse, attention to herself in what she is doing. I've enjoyed watching her progress so much I started taking lessons myself last month. :) read more

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PLEASE READ: I was so excited to start my horse riding classes but I don't want anyone to feel how she made me feel. At first she seemed really nice but as soon as my classes started, she was completely different. Deanna DOES NOT know how to communicate or efficiently teach. I signed up for the 4 classes package, totaling up to $240. I went to my first two classes but within those two, she was very condescending, barking orders at me, passive aggressive, and frequently criticized my physical ability. I didn't know there was a specific way your feet had to be positioned when seated on a horse because obviously I'm a beginner. As soon as she saw that my left foot was positioned differently than others peoples feet are, she said she never had someone with this "defect" before. I explained to her that i didn't know and tried correcting it, but I couldn't because it's how my feet naturally are and I was literally born like that. She tried moving my foot to how people would "normally" have it but as soon as she moved it, it hurt and felt uncomfortable. I told her to never move it without my consent and that she can't go twisting my foot without telling me. Second class came around, and again criticizing my physical ability and after my first two classes, I was over her and her poor ways of teaching. I tried cancelling my third and fourth class and requested a refund for the last two classes that I will not be attending. She said she doesn't accept refunds and she has a policy and that I signed paperwork agreeing to that. She never once gave me any release forms or waiver for me to sign. After she agreed to give me a refund, she kept constantly switching dates on when I would get my money back. I visited her barn with my friend to ask her in person since she said she had the money ready and when we got there, she started being super aggressive and said she didn't have it ready. How come you tell us to get the money and you actually don't have it??? We started recording her soon after she grabbed us by the arms. She made racist comments after the video ended and tried to just give me $60 out of the $120 she owed. I wasn't going to accept that since she was still going to owe me and by the way she kept changing her mind too. Whoever wants to conduct business with her, keep in mind that she doesn't have a "no refund policy" and she will gladly take your money. I checked on her yelp page, her website, Facebook, Instagram and she doesn't have that policy stated. I don't have any contract, waiver or release forms from her that says otherwise. At the end of all of this, she wanted to give me the refund only if I removed a review that my mother posted and that I would sign a non disclosure before getting my refund. After consulting with my legal advisor, I was told she was trying to extort me which is illegal. it is also against yelps policy stating that a business owner cannot force you to remove a review in exchange for a refund. Think twice before conducting business with her. read more

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My daughter has been going for a couple years now and really likes it. Reasonable prices too.

I'd leave a 0 star review if I could. The instructor was very rude. Every question asked felt like a burden to answer. Was late almost every time to class, without an apology for being late. 10 out of 10 to recommend literally anyone else to be the instructor. Not to mention a feeling of discrimination during the classes. Very unhappy with this business. read more

I love Urban Horseman! Dede has helped me in so many ways. She is a true expert and horseman. You will learn everything from how to groom, saddle and properly ride and care for your horse. This is not the place where you are going to jump on and RUN off into the sunset. Like with anything in life, you must learn to walk before you run. Dede has the highest standards for safety for you and her horses. If you love this beautiful animal and have a passion to learn what it really take to be an excellent horseman, this place is for you. Also, a side note...she offers a fun horse camp in the summer and most holidays breaks for the kids. Contact Urban Horseman or follow on Facebook or Instagram. read more

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My daughter has been riding with Dede for the past year and loves it . She not only cares about the safety and comfort of her riders but of her horses too . The compassion shown by her makes me respect her not only has a horse trainer , but as a a horse owner . My daughter is very shy and doesn't talk to many people , after two lessons she started opening up and giving complete trust to Dede . The confidence she has built in her is incredible . We recommend urban horseman to all riders . read more

My instructor De de was horrible and inconsiderate of my personal well being. She was very rude and I felt discriminated against. Handled my refund poorly, very inconsiderate of my time, and lacked proper communication that a instructor should indeed pose. Please stay away if you are latino or POC. read more

De de is a horrible trainer, I was a first timer and all she did was bark out orders. As a newbie I was scared, I've done horse riding prior and all the other places they've had me sign a waiver so it was very concerning that she never gave me a waiver to sign. She would also make out of pocket comments that seem racist to me. LATINOS STAY AWAY FROM THIS LADY! read more

After always admiring that my mom grew up riding I decided at 35 I wanted to take up a new hobby. It was written in the stars that I would find Dede! I've been training with Dede for about 3 months now and it is my favorite day of the week. Riding a horse can seem scary and overwhelming especially as an adult. I've always trusted Dede's instructions and corrections, and I'm happy to say all my nervousness is gone. I truly enjoy our time riding in the trails and recommend to anyone curious about starting something like this, do it! Clean bathrooms, the whole area is gated so leaving car is secure. Front row parking. There is an arena where you start out in, then gradually work your way to going out in the trails. Thank you Dede!! read more

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Deanna was about the sweetest person Ive encountered here. We had issues with our reservation for horse back riding and she was so fast to accommodate. Amazing experience. read more

Deanna is an awesome, friendly, and intelligent teacher! She makes you feel comfortable and safe. She not only cares about the horse but the person she is giving lessons too. You'll learn and have a great time overall definitely recommend her no matter the age ! read more

Hi all, First time reaching out to DeDe for my daughter whose been bugging me to get her horseback riding lessons and finally had a second to go on Yelp and found this location. Sent a text to DeDe and she was fast and easy to communicate with right away offering us lessons for my baby girl. Love the customer service she provided right away and easy manage for my baby's lesson. Thank you very bless!!! read more

Dee Dee is a really sweet lady who is great with horses and with kids. She knew how to deal with my rambunctious son who likely has ADD and is not always a good listener. I felt relaxed watching my son on her horse, I knew that he was in good hands. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her services to anyone I know. Please just be sure to text her the night before as well as when you're on your way to the stable. As in our case she was running a bit late, but I'm sure I should've communicated better when we arrived and there probably wouldn't have been an issue. read more

Today was my son's 6th Birthday! I wanted to give him a special gift and more of an experience. So I researched places to learn to ride a horse. I was pleasantly surprised to find Urban Horseman just 15 mins away from our house. I saw the raving reviews about DeDe and so I booked a time for a 1 hour lesson for the day of his birthday. I'm so glad I did. It was so great to see how good she was taking my son who was too scared to pet any of the horses or stand near the horses.... and eventually was able to brush them, ride with no hands and having them eat treats from his hand. He had a great first time riding a horse and so thankful to DeDe for making his birthday so special. Thanks for an awesome time DeDe and we hope to be back soon! read more

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the trainer Dede was very welcoming and friendly. my sister was scared as it was her first time riding the horse but was very carefully trained and helped her ride the horse for the first time. will 100%come back for more! "we also got to feed and pet the horses, read more

Enjoyed lesson and horse training. Very top notch trainer. DeDe you r the best. Highly recommend your services!

No call back. Way too busy. They seem to be too busy to help customers. Owner left email, staring to call but never did.

My daughter has loved her experience learning to ride. Dede is extremely patient and kind. She makes us all comfortable very comfortable. I trust that she is safe with the horses as they are very even tempered and very sweet. We look forward to seeing continued growth and progress. I'm so proud of what my daughter has done already. It has been an awesome experience for our family working with Urban Horseman. read more

Urban Horseman - Dede doing what she does best - Horseback Riding Near Me - Whittier, California

If I can give more than 5 stars, I would. Dee Dee is an amazing human being and her patience is over the top. I knew when I called to book a horse riding session for my daughter's birthday that it was the right place. Dee Dee said to me, "I can book you 2 hours, I can move things around to make it happen." She was very patient and is very passionate. She had no assistant the day we visited and that didn't change a bit of the plan she had for my daughter's to ride. Amazing location, person and establishment. My daughter's will forever cherish that day and for that I am thankful! Definitely recommend! read more