Looking for a horse training barn in south SF bay, any ideas?

Question

I just moved to Mountain View and I'm looking for a trainer/barn to ride with. I've been riding for 15 years, so I'm looking for an advanced trainer. I don't have a horse now but could lease and will probably get another one in the future. I'm mostly interested in a hunter/jumper trainer but I ride western also. Does anyone know of good barns in the area where I could take lessons?

Answer 1

Oh you're sooooo lucky!  I grew up on the pennisula...  You've got a lot there to choose from, starting with Stanford Stables, Palo Alto.  Willow Tree in Woodside.  AND my friend boards her little pinto in Woodside and I can't remember the stable's name...Grrrrrrrr  

E-mail me and I'll give you my friend's e-mail and you two can talk (She lives in Redwood City).  I spent 2 mos at her mom's last year after her dad died.  Left my own horses in the care of somebody else (Boy did I miss them!) and within 2 days of me getting up there she plops me up on her pinto (He's really cute.)!  Talk about a busman's holiday!  ROFLOL

If I remember right one of the gal's at the barn leases out horses there.  They have a beautiful settng, a nice arena and a small turnout area with stalls and runs.

Hope that this helps you out.

Later:

My friend logged on and I asked her for help.  This is what she suggested:

" Have her go to Bay Equestrian and look for the barns and also pull up classified for boarding.  Most barns are small, private barns.  If she wants fancy arenas and facilities she will be paying a lot more and can go to one of the big barns.  Don't think Stanford takes outside boarders anymore.  If so the rates are way up there, $1,000 a month or so hard to get space here, so I'd start looking asap.

Here's Bay Equestrian link.  http://www.bayequest.com/

This is the best place to look for barns.  Like I say, the best ones have waiting lists but if she wants training they will usually get her in."

Answer 2

Get on Highway 85 and go down the Pennisula a ways to Garrod Farms in Saratoga ( the ranch or farm is in the mountains overlooking the town- call their office for directions before you leave) and ask about signing up for lessons there. They employ several advanced level trainers in both hunter/jumpers and dressage, and that property is also the home of the Mt. Eden vaulters. There is a vineyard and winery on the property, and if you look it up in the phone book, you will see it listed as the Cooper-Garrod Vineyards and riding stables. Don't let that deter you- the winery is main source of income for the Garrod family which owns the property, and the stables provide them with an endless source of free fertilizer ( they also provide horse boarding to the general public, a summer camp, and clinics with various professionals) which they use on the grape vines.

Garrod Farms also has a rental stable, a working student type program, and various options for horse leasing. I used to live in San Jose, and for a time, I took care of one horse and leased another from someone who worked at Garrod, which is why I know about the place. Physically, Garrod is spread out over about a hundred acres or so- most of which is vineyards, though the property does back up to the Santa Clara County open space and park ( most of the trail riding which the rental stable does is done on the trails in the park- there is an access trail which winds through the Garrod Farms' lands) and there are multiple barns for boarding horses on it, as well as a covered, lighted arena for riding. Addtional outdoor riding areas can be found near the other barns.

The views from the Farm are fantastic- on a clear day, you can see the whole Santa Clara Valley, and if you look eastward, you can see Mt. Hamilton, with its famous observatory at the summit.  There are some other farms in that area, but Garrod's is by far the best one for what you are looking for- and it's the closest one to where you now live, which helps a lot.  Give them a call- you'll be glad you did.

Hope this helps you out.