Hunter/Jumper Barns around Los Angeles UPDATE*

[Doctor_sOrders]

Hello,
Long time reader, first time poster here. I’ve read some threads here about HJ barns around the LA area, but I’m wondering if anyone has any new suggestions regarding the Lake View Terrace/Sun Valley area? I’m located in Burbank, work in Beverly Hills, so want to keep my commute time to a minimum. (Good joke right? ;))

I’ve looked at Hansen Dam, Middle Ranch and a few others and would love some personal experiences regarding these places too. Also interested in Paddock Riding Club, which would be very convenient to drive to.

I’m most interested in a barn that puts the horse first. Horsey came from lots of turnout, so I’m interested in a place that does at least an hour or two a day, feeds quality hay, and has a low drama environment. I’d also like a place with quality arenas and footing though. A good blend of horse and rider amenities if that is possible??

All information/opinions are much appreciated!

[SarahSC]

I have ten years of experience boarding in LA. Growing up on the east coast, it was definitely an adjustment to the turnout situation and ridiculous amount of time you will spend in your car stuck in traffic.
I spent a few years at LAEC in Burbank. Lots of sun pens for use for turnout. I had someone turnout during the day for me and then did some more turnout in the evenings too. Loved that I could walk over and watch the horse shows. The trainer that I used when I was there is no longer there. I didn’t appreciate the gossipy environment either.
When I lived in Beverly Hills, I boarded at the Paddock Riding Club. The drive is somewhat reasonable. They have nice footing and several rings you can use (LAEC had a lot of ring drama!). There’s a hand grazing area (yay!) and a round pen. Turnout is limited and in an isolated area of the property (my horse is a baby and I would have to sit with her if another horse wasn’t turned out nearby).
I boarded at Middle Ranch as well. It was lovely there, but I was challenged by the lack of turnout. If you end up at the North Ranch, definitely get an in-and-out stall. The main ranch is, of course, lovely, but I have no experience there as I was not actively showing when I boarded in the area.
I boarded at a few other places around LA, but not in the Lakeview Terrace/Sun Valley area.
I am happy to answer any questions you may have if you PM me. Good luck!

[Doctor_sOrders]

Thanks so much for the info!
I’ll send you a pm.

[poltroon]

All of the places you mention are run by management with individual trainers providing day care for the horses - things like turnout, grain feeding, etc. So care is going to be a hybrid of what the barn management provides plus your selected trainer.

The multiple trainer situation almost always creates some drama. If you are fortunate, your trainer will absorb most or all of it and it will not affect you much. All of these places have enough different rings to ride in that you shouldn’t have too much drama with that, but you should ask what restrictions there are on where you can ride and when.

I have been a boarder at Middle Ranch and Hansen Dam, and I’ve shown extensively at Paddock.

Paddock is more landlocked but I have a couple of friends who are there and seem content. If you can get there more easily and you find a trainer that fits, it could be a good option. Their turnout situation was the somewhat minimal last time I was there. Access to Griffith Park trails.

Hansen Dam is having shows and can be very convenient. It is very exposed (read hot) in summer but it’s a very well built facility and I was reasonably content there. Access to the Hansen Dam area trails. I understand they have redone the footing in the arenas since I was there, which was needed. (BTW, there’s a puff-piece article on them in the current free Riding magazine at tack shops.)

Lower Middle Ranch is very posh with grass and trees and a really gorgeous setting. It has a covered arena and engineered outdoor arenas. It’s expensive but when I boarded there it was competitive because there weren’t extra charges for feeding hay, tack stalls, etc that we’d paid elsewhere. There is a clubhouse that at the time was available to boarders … which was nice to be able to shower and then go to work. Trying to ride in the covered if the rains are really nasty with all the horses trying to use it is … a Thing. There is access to the Hansen Dam trails. There are strict hours to this facility and a locked gate at night.

Upper Middle Ranch is more workmanlike and I haven’t ridden there.

In general, if you want turnout for your horse, I’d strongly suggest considering the 12 x 24 covered pipe corrals at places that have them. They’re nice for the horses, airy, and give them more room to move. Half covered, the outer area will be muddy, which is a lot less nice. The downside is that you might be separate from your barnmates in such a setup.

So I think you could be happy at any of these places facility-wise. The bigger issue is to find a trainer you would like to work with and also budget. Board is high. After board you may also have to pay:

• fees for turnout
• fees for hay or tack storage
• fees for blanket/unblanket/fly mask
• training/lesson fees.

[Doctor_sOrders]

Thanks! That helps a lot.
I made a spreadsheet last night weighing pros and cons of a bunch of places. From what I understand, now at Middle Ranch, you have to ride with a trainer? I’d be fine with this other than I don’t have the time to commit to regular lessons right now.
As is, I’m now looking at:
Paddock Riding Club
LAEC
North Ranch
San Pascual Stables in South Pasadena
Hansen Dam

Also interested in Flintridge Riding Club and Equinox Equestrian Center. Both seem really nice, but I haven’t hear much about them.

Any opinions/information is greatly appreciated! Hoping to make the move in 3 weeks when I have some time off from work to get him adjusted

[Jarrn]

San Pascual is nice, and it’s cheaper than some of the other places you listed. Their “turnout” is just sun corrals, probably around 24x24. Not what I would consider turnout, but you might be happy with that. I know a few people boarding there and I used to take lessons there, and it is a nicer place. It’s been awhile since I’ve been there though so I’m not sure if it’s changed. The trainers there are great, as well as are the trainers at Flintridge. However, a friend of mine boarded multiple horses at FRC and ended up with one getting a career-ending injury due to a trainer’s negligence/laziness. So while I’ve never been there, it’s never been a place I’ve looked favorably on. I do know the trainers there are top-notch though.
I’ve only heard great things about Hansen Dam, so I would definitely look there! Not sure about their turnout or anything.
LAEC is too busy for me, but obv that is a personal opinion.

[Doctor_sOrders]

Thanks Jarrn!
I have lots of driving to do this week I guess. Hah. Nothing like looking at the facility myself.

Does anyone who’s boarded around LA know the story behind Haley Farms? It’s located pretty much right across from Hansen Dam. Beautiful facility and I’m very interested in boarding there, but their number is disconnected and when I tried to stop by on Sunday, it was almost empty…

[findeight]

Flintridge was private last time I visited, had to join the club and pay those dues along with board etc. there used to be some smaller facilities in the Pasadena, Glendale, La Canada and Burbank along the river areas. Maybe some are still in operation.

The Internet has made searching easier but nothing beats getting out, driving around and asking at tack stores or going to a show and watching, asking around.

[showmom858]

We were just at Hansen Dam a couple of weeks ago to see our daughter ride in an IHSA show. The facility was nice and there is good access to a lot of trails. I didn’t notice a barn across the street from there that weekend. As others have suggested I would look for the best place for your horse where the commute to the barn isn’t going to kill you. Good luck in your search!

[Doctor_sOrders]

Thanks! I have a couple appointments this weekend, so while I’m out, I’ll drive along those areas and see what I can find!

[findeight]

[QUOTE=Doctor’sOrders;8568379]
Thanks! I have a couple appointments this weekend, so while I’m out, I’ll drive along those areas and see what I can find![/QUOTE]

Drive them at rush hour weekdays on the route you will use before you decide. Out there, “rush hour” is substantially longer lasting. Venture to say you got 9am to 3pm and 9pm to about 4:30am to get around easily, everything else is rush hour.

[Doctor_sOrders]

Yes, i need to drive them in person. I’ve been using the Google Maps thing where you can change your arrive and depart times to get an estimate, but I would want to make sure. I’m lucky to be able to shower at the gym at work so I can drive earlier in the morning, but get off at 5 like everyone else, so the drive to the barn after work could be a nightmare.

[poltroon]

Definitely practice driving at the times you’ll go.

I’ve been at San Pascual also. There is a nice trail system along the arroyo. When I was there, some of the facility was older and the footing and grounds were a problem in heavy rains, but that may be fixed now. I really enjoyed being there - it was close to my home and I enjoyed driving through the Arroyo Seco area. There is a total turnover in management and trainers since I was there.

Flintridge you must be a member, but that is maybe less of an obstacle than it once was compared to the alternatives in terms of cost. I have been there overnight for shows and clinics on multiple occasions. The grounds are lovely and it is a very nice place to be with horses if there is a trainer situation that fits you.

I am friends with the people who own, built, and run Equinox, and it is a very nice facility with nice people and very good care.

I don’t know anything about the current management of Haley Farms, but I boarded there (yes I have been everywhere! I am old!) when it was The Summit. It was built in the 1990s and is very compact but with everything built carefully. The arenas were engineered with good footing. The barn stalls that face west used to get a little cooked in the summer. Turnout space is very tight. When we were there drama was a little high due to the management.

If you want to work completely without a trainer, your calculations are going to be different. Most barns are only going to provide feeding hay and cleaning, so any care you want beyond that is going to be on you to arrange. You may also not get access to a tack room if the facility you’re choosing doesn’t have lockers. You may have some issues with getting arena time during peak usage. Choosing a place that is an easy commute for you is also much more important. You said Hunter/Jumper - note that many of these places won’t allow you to jump without trainer supervision.

So all of that is very long, but I’ll circle back to the idea that finding a professional that you like to work with (and possibly clientele you like being around) is what is going to make any of these places happy or unhappy for you more than the facilities themselves. You may have certain facility dealbreakers - we all do. Have those in your mind and shop for a trainer first, would be my advice.

[poltroon]

One other thing is to find a pro/facility that can fit your time schedule. I used to have a weekly lesson at 7am before work and then did some of my other rides in the morning and some at night. Some places have better arrangements for night riding than others, in terms of lights and access (often imposed by the city), and some pros don’t teach evenings. A pro that does a lot of showing may not have reliable Saturday lessons.

[greysfordays]

If you are interested in being on the Westside, I will say that Sullivan Canyon in Brentwood might be a good option. The facility is nice and undergoing maintenance right now to improve the footing. There’s no central barn, people board with private homeowners in the canyon, some of them have very nice big stalls. There are trainers you can do full service with or just lessons with. A lady Meredith Bullock has been in the canyon for a very long time and gives wonderful lessons. She is the one who trained Zazou Hoffman before she became a working student.

For someone looking to do it a little more DIY, it could be a great options for you. the turnout is a bit challenging as there are only two turnouts for close over 80 horses, but if you go at off peak times and bring a book, your horse can have a nice relaxing turnout.

They used to have a long waiting list bc it’s one of the only places on the west side, but there is no longer a waiting list. Membership is not cheap but you can also sign up to ride more off peak hours to lower the cost. If you have more questions, don’t hesitate to PM me.

[Doctor_sOrders]

Thanks so much everyone for your input!!
Poltroon, I talked to the manager of Equinox yesterday and they are totally packed. So sad, because it is a 10 min drive for me and I’ve heard nothing but fantastic things about them. Also, good point about hours. I usually ride around 5 AM to be at work by 7. Not sure how many places are willing to let me ride that early… I might have to switch to after work. Daylight savings time should help a lot.

I’m really starting to hone in on Paddock Riding Club and Hansen Dam. Both are very convenient for me (either close to home or close-ish to work). If only they both did hay instead of cubes included in board… Guess I can’t have everything hah.

This weekend will be spent looking at TONS of barns though, just so I don’t miss out on any hidden gems or anything.

Greysfordays, I’ll certainly look into Sullivan Canyon. I’m torn between wanting to be fairly hands on and being realistic about my time management and commitments outside of the barn.

[Doctor_sOrders]

First off, sorry if that isn’t how you update the thread’s title…

So thanks to everyone here, I have two wonderful barns to choose from. They are a bit different and it’s giving me a hard time choosing which is best.

Option One: Closer to home so I could ride before work, then stop by after work as well for some turn out or hand walk. The hang up I have is they only offer 12x12 stalls and with the limited turn out (true for both facilities) I’m worried a 12x12 isn’t large enough. Is this a silly thing to worry about? There is a Eurosizer here. Does anyone have an opinion regarding Eurosizer over small turn out? Is it better to make sure they move around or just let them go out and stand around if that’s what they want?

Option Two: Bigger stalls. I can get a double stall if I want for not that much more money than Option One. The facilities may be a tad less nice here, but not enough to bother me immensely. However, it is farther from home, not on my commute, and thus I will only being going out once a day, maybe not at all on some days.

What would you chose? Larger stall and less time or smaller stall with a more hands on approach. Both places are pretty comparable in price, feed, amenities, etc. Multiple trainers to chose from. Either way, I will be paying for turn out 5x a week at each place for during the work week.

Thanks!

[BITSA]

My 17.1h horse is in a 12x12 and is fine. Your horse will be happier to see you more often. We have a Eurosizer that gets used in the winter when turnout isn’t an option. I’d go with what’s easiest for you to get to.

[lmlacross]

I’m not in LA, but I’d take the 12x12 with shorter drive and better proximity to daily commute. 12x12 is an adequate size, even for a large horse. If you’ll be able to go out more and get pony out more because you’re at this location, I think it’s a no-brainer.

Most of us ride for fun. If riding for fun involves sacrificing precious daylight unnecessarily and feeling guilt ridden when you just can’t find that extra time every day, it’s really no longer fun. At least it hasn’t been for me.

[Doctor_sOrders]

Thanks BITSA and lmlacross. The horse in question is a 16.2 (on a good day) Thoroughbred, but I have a tendency to treat him like a massive draft horse. Must be his huge personality that has me fooled :lol:
lmlacross, I always seem to forget that riding and horse owning involves me as well. I guess I forget this is supposed to be fun for me too! Thanks for the reminder