I’m considering loving to Los Alto area but looking for Jumper/Dressage barn that has large group grass turnout for at least 10-12 hours per day. I have young horse that needs to burn off energy & older horse that needs to live around for her arthritis I’m looking fit full service barn that beds stall well & clean barn. Any suggestions?
Maybe Branscomb Farms which is about 30 miles on the coast. Half Moon Bay, CA.
So, I live in Los Altos now, but I’m moving in two weeks, and here’s my take. Honestly, you’re going to have a rough time if you’re looking really close (<30 minutes) to Los Altos. Most of the barns in the close-in part of the Peninsula (in Portola Valley and Woodside) have limited turnout, nearly all of it on dry lots. If you want grass turnout in groups, Branscomb Farm (as mentioned above) or Ciara West up on Skyline are probably your best bets (and I think @Training_Cupid still has her horse up at Ciara West, and may have some insight for you), unless you can find a private facility (Portola Farms, which has a number of trainers, does have private paddocks you can pay extra for, but you’re already paying Peninsula fees for board and training, which are a lot). You might also be able to get grass turnouts down near Gilroy near where Nicole DiCorti Bush is based, or in Saratoga, where John Charlebois has his second place, or at Dream Maker Farms, which just opened and is based at Garrod Farms (large turnouts, though I don’t think on grass). It depends on what you mean by full service, too – there’s likely a range of what you can get at each of those places. Stanford has some decent-sized turnouts and both dressage and jumper trainers, but, I don’t think they do group turnout and, again, board is a lot. On the dressage side, you could check with Hillary Martin, who is at Rancho Viejo – turnout is somewhat limited there, but it’s a little less expensive than some of the other places on the Peninsula, and she’s a great trainer, or try her assistant, Emily Smith, who is also down at Rancho Gavilan in Gilroy.
If you’re looking for a very quiet spot to park your horses for a bit where they’d get lots of turnout, my neighbor Karen has two stalls at her place maybe 0.2 miles from downtown Los Altos. She’s very keen to find someone to fill her open spots, as her horse is lonely! She’s got a small ring on the property that does double-duty as a large turnout, and you have access to trails, the LAH town ring, etc etc. If you’re interested, DM me and I’ll send you her info.
Definitely check out Westwind Barn in Los Altos: https://victoriadyeequestrian.com/boarding/
Victoria Dye and Sarah Schwartzer both train there, and do both jumping and dressage.
Other nearby barns with turnout, but very rustic, are Webb Ranch and Portola Pastures.
And yes, I’m at Ciara West which would be about half an hour away but has group turnout* (here’s my guy tearing it up, this is just the far end https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SP1iCJUKmwo/WtvWdn5f-GI/AAAAAAAACog/Q4bMj9bFcLkNbXb8OxLLFnSbcTNQqBn1wCLcBGAs/s1600/20180421_110519_3.gif), a covered arena, well maintained footing, and good quality hay and care. https://www.ciarawest.com/
*only allowed if no hind shoes
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Branscomb is nice, but I wouldn’t want to have to deal with the beach traffic! (or pumpkin farm traffic, or tree farm traffic depending on the season) It’s bad enough getting to Ciara West, which is only about 1/4 of the way down 92.
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agree with everything @skrosenthal mentioned
I was at Portola Farm before i moved, there is maybe a couple of larger turnout, but mostly just a slightly bigger paddock in dirt, board there is also SUPER $$$, super nice facility though!
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Thank you everyone for all the suggestions! I appreciate it! The lack of large pasture turnout has been a concern as I have always lived in areas in which it hasn’t been an issue. I like to have horses be horses and have as much time out with their friends on grass. One of one horses has COPD so dust and dry lots are definitely a concern…a good trainer is also important as well 
It’s super hard here, unfortunately. We have really great weather, and you can ride outside year round, but the turnout issue is a complicated one, especially if you want or need to be in a full service program. If you’re willing to drive and can be flexible about things like whether the trainer has someone at home all the time while they’re at shows, or whatever, it gets a little easier. Good luck!
Sent PM.
