Bay Area Riding Lessons

[katmarcra]

Hi! I’m about to move back to the SF Bay Area and I’m hoping to get back into riding. I took lessons all throughout growing up but had to stop while I was at college. I think I progressed as far as I could in the stables I grew up at and I want to try somewhere new. I don’t know if I want to compete a lot though I’m definitely open to it–I mostly just want to brush up on skills and find a trainer I trust. Does anybody have any recommendations?

I also did a bit of googling and I’m thinking about Vintage Lane, so if anyone has ridden there, I’d love your thoughts!!!

[Theotherrider]

Vintage Lane is a nice, winning, yet fair to the horses program. The SF Bay Area is so large, is that area you will be in?
There is also Blackhound with Kate Jutagir. They go to enough shows, but also have a lovely lesson base at home, with no pressure to show.

[katmarcra]

I’ll be in the Peninsula! If it’s not too far/a really great program I’d be willing to go to the south bay and I’m avoiding east bay and north bay because the commute will be really bad. Theotherrider, thanks for your thoughts on Vintage Lane and I looked into Blackhound–it looks great but a bit far from where I’ll be.

[MustangTwist]

It will depend on your budget, goals, and the distance you’re willing to drive

Are you more inclined towards hunters or jumpers (or something else altogether)? Looking to eventually lease? Is your budget in the low, mid, or high end range? How far are you willing to commute? Do you want an A circuit show barn, or something more casual?

[katmarcra]

Hey MustangTwist! I’m hoping for lessons that are $100 per or less and for drives no longer than 45 minutes from Palo Alto. In the past I’ve done hunter/jumper but I’ve never showed before. I think I’d be interested in showing but I want to ease into it! I also might eventually want to lease but not before I’ve found a trainer I really like. The stables I grew up in were sort of lesson-mill-y and I’m looking for something with a bit of a stronger training program that are still more about having fun and learning than getting ribbons.

[LJD]

I do not recommend Vintage Lane. Feel free to PM me about my experience. Start with the Red Barn at Stanford to get your legs back and give yourself some time to learn about the private barns there as well as who’s at Woodside.

[MustangTwist]

@katmarcra

Hey MustangTwist! I’m hoping for lessons that are $100 per or less and for drives no longer than 45 minutes from Palo Alto. In the past I’ve done hunter/jumper but I’ve never showed before. I think I’d be interested in showing but I want to ease into it! I also might eventually want to lease but not before I’ve found a trainer I really like. The stables I grew up in were sort of lesson-mill-y and I’m looking for something with a bit of a stronger training program that are still more about having fun and learning than getting ribbons.

You should definitely be able to find something with that criteria! There are lots of options, so some of it will be visiting different barns to find the right fit and feel. I’ve heard that McIntosh Stables has a good lesson program, though it might be on the higher end budget-wise and could be a bit more show oriented than you’re looking for at the moment. I have a friend who takes lessons at Isola and likes it there. Not sure what the cost is, but I’d bet it’s within your target range. On the more casual/budget-friendly end would be Torie Dye at Westwind in Los Altos Hills. If you’re looking to steer clear of a lesson mill type place, I would say avoid Springdown. Once you’re ready to do a lease there will likely be a lot of other barns that open up to you as well (some places, like event barns, don’t have dedicated lesson horses, but do a lot of half lease arrangements).

Best of luck!

[vali]

It’s been a long time but I used to take lessons and then part leased a horse at Spring Down in Portola Valley. Nice range of lesson horses at the time, some fairly high quality if you were an experienced rider. But things may have changed since then.

[sp56]

Torie Dye’s program at Westwind is good for the casual rider. She does sometimes have some lease options. I also have some lease options on occasion but no longer just do lessons. There aren’t many lesson programs, per say, in Woodside due to the expense of operating them. JP Training is a typical h/j lesson program. Vintage Lane is a good place to start too. There are a few lesson programs I wouldn’t recommend. If they’re attached to a show program, they’re probably a fine place to start.

[Puffergrrl]

Can I tag along and ask if anyone has any advice on lessons or catch rides, potentially working up to a lease, more towards the East Bay area? I had to sell my horse when I moved out in October. Work in Financial District. Live in downtown Oakland.

32 years riding H/J. Placed 25th nationally 1.20-1.25m AO Jumpers 2017 and 2017 USHJA Emerging Gold Star Rider (indiv. silver Zone 5 & 6 combined Jr/AO 1.20-1.25m jumper finals). Part of Luciana Diniz’s GROW Ride program in Aachen, Germany 2018. Competed up to 1.35m and schooled higher. Good dressage foundation for young/quirky/rehabbing horses needing some quality time on the flat.

Thanks!

[MustangTwist]

@Puffergrrl

Can I tag along and ask if anyone has any advice on lessons or catch rides, potentially working up to a lease, more towards the East Bay area? I had to sell my horse when I moved out in October. Work in Financial District. Live in downtown Oakland.

32 years riding H/J. Placed 25th nationally 1.20-1.25m AO Jumpers 2017 and 2017 USHJA Emerging Gold Star Rider (indiv. silver Zone 5 & 6 combined Jr/AO 1.20-1.25m jumper finals). Part of Luciana Diniz’s GROW Ride program in Aachen, Germany 2018. Competed up to 1.35m and schooled higher. Good dressage foundation for young/quirky/rehabbing horses needing some quality time on the flat.

Thanks!

You can try Kenilworth Stables in the Oakland Hills or Landmark Equestrian in Pleasanton. Kenilworth has a super active lesson and half lease program, but it’s very well run and the horses are quite nice. Landmark is more of a show barn, but they may have some good catch riding or leasing options.