Jumper Trainers in SF/BAY AREA

[batgirl]

Hi All,

I’m moving to the Bay Area and looking for suggestions for trainers that are within an hour and a half of San Francisco. We are hoping to live in Marin County/Tiburon area but from the research I’ve done it seems that most barns are in the South Bay?

I am looking for a barn that travels to the bigger shows and trains clients through grand prix level. Are there any barns within commuting distance north of the city in this category or are most trainers in the Woodside area?

Thanks for the help!

[Training_Cupid]

Personally I wouldn’t want to have to cross the bridge to ride. I don’t know any trainers in the North bay but suggest you check out the Sonoma horse park,http://www.sonomahorsepark.com/onsite_training.php

[ottbincali]

Yep. I used to live in the North Bay. You’re likely going to end up in Petaluma/Sonoma or west of San Anselmo. I took some lessons with Clay Jackson (Santa Rosa) before moving to the East Bay. He goes to a lot of the bigger shows … http://www.jacksonshowjumpers.com
Also look at the area west of San Anselmo. There are some nice barns there but I can’t say off the top of my head if they tap the bigger shows. When I lived in San Anselmo I worked in SF and kept my horse in Novato and it wasn’t too terrible (ferry is definitely the best way to commute). She was just off the track so we weren’t ready to be at one of the A barns but before we moved I always said I would move her to one of the barns west of San Anselmo when she was ready. We moved first.

HITS Thermal just ended last month and a lot of the bigger H/J trainers from the Bay typically head to it, so maybe take a look at who was in attendance from the Bay this year to help you narrow down the search. I know you’re thinking North Bay, but if you decide to head to the East Bay let me know and I have some recommendations.

Good luck!

[Training_Cupid]

OP - Do you own, or are you looking to lease or just lesson? Might help to know for people to give recommendations.

[SweetMutt]

There are a lot up there, though you’ll likely be driving a little ways north of Tiburon.

Silver Bay Stables is in Petaluma. They’re regularly on the road at all the big shows. There are several at the Sonoma Horse Park as well - I think just about all of them are regularly at the A’s. Patrick Seaton I think is around Fairfax. Many others I can’t think of off the top of my head. I second looking at who was at Thermal (though that can be kind of a pain since some trainers only go for a week or two and you’ll never know which they chose) or last year’s Sonoma/Woodside shows, Sac International, etc.

[Hunter13]

Given your location, I would also recommend checking out the barns at the Sonoma Horse Park. If you are willing to do the commute across the Golden Gate Bridge, you may want to check out the barns at the Portola Valley Training Center. Olympian Matt Williams is now a trainer at Charlebois Farms at the PVTC. Also, you may want to check out Guy Thomas’ barn Willow Tree, which is now at the Stanford Red Barn. The Woodside Spring Preview horse show is going on next week at the Woodside Horse Park - the show is sold out and a lot of Woodside/North Bay barns attend, so you may want to check out or talk to some of the trainers at the show. Good luck!

[Rnichols]

I live in Santa Rosa, and love Sonoma county!! A friend of mine used to ride with Hope and Ned over at Sonoma Valley Stables (it is in Petaluma, so a little farther north than Marin county). I have also heard good things about Joe Pedroni (who is also in Petaluma). I think my friends main focus was on hunters, though but it was my understanding that they did both. I’m an eventer, so sorry I couldn’t be of more help - but I will say this is a great area to live in!

[batgirl]

Thank you everyone for all of the suggestions! I’m going to visit the area next week so I’ll definitely stop by the horse show. @Training Cupid- I own my own horses & would likely be bringing two with me. Looking for a barn where I could have them in a full training program.

[cgray0983]

I lived and rode in the Bay Area for a decade before moving back east. My husband and I both rode with Harley and Olivia Brown and loved their program. We kept our horses at home some of the time and at their place in Portola Valley (so it’s not close to where you want to live). They are very geared towards jumpers (but also do hunters and eq). Several of their clients are moving up the levels and have gone from childrens/AA to Grand Prix successfully in the past few years. I wish we could have taken them with us!!

Over the ten years I was in the area, I rode with a few other programs, but found for our needs we clicked best with the Browns.

[NorcalDiamond]

Welcome ! I live in Marin and have ridden and shown in the bay area my whole life and work in the horse show industry. After reading your post and what you are looking for, I would recommend Estancia Farms http://www.estanciafarms.com in Petaluma (roughly 45-hour drive from Marin). Both Nina and Mariano are great and run an excellent program. They have an amateur client that shows in the Grand Prix’s and juniors who excel in hunters, equitation and jumpers as well. There facility is nice and has turnout which can be hard to find. Feel free to private message me if you have any questions or want feedback on any other programs you may have researched. Good luck !

[ranarosa]

I don’t know if it’s helpful at all, but I can tell you that I had a terrible experience at Blackhound Equestrian in Castro Valley, CA. Based on what you said they’re likely not a great match for you, but just in case. The trainers there are Kate Jutagir and Dezraye Choi.

[BHTC]

My most favorite place is in Cotati/Petaluma-- PM me if you’re interested, I am super familiar with all the barns in the north bay.

[lintesia]

Good grief folks. Check out the dates. This post was resurrected so that someone (ranarosa) could bash Blackhound Equestrian.