Nicer barns in the greater LA area?

[twelvebelles]

So, I’m considering a potential move to LA, but among other issues I’m struggling with is horse boarding in the area. I’m afraid my hot house flower will lose his marbles (he’s not the most adaptable creature) at the boarding situation out west.

I’ve searched COTH for LA barn recommendations, and also looked around online, and I am just not coming up with much. I know and accept that my horse won’t get grass turnout and hay will cost extra, but is there ANYWHERE with nice facilities that offers at least a couple hours of dry lot turnout a day, access to hay even if I have to pay for it, and where grain is included in the board price?!

I know I’m asking for a lot, but I’m willing to travel a fair distance, and budget and training is not really an issue, either. I am willing to pay for fancy if I need to in order to keep my horse (and by extension me) sane, and he’s not a complicated ride that needs a pro on his back all the time.

Any suggestions? I hate to not even consider a good job opportunity elsewhere . . .

[Jarrn]

Depends on how far you are willing to go. Many, many barns do offer hay at least once a day. But not many offer turnout, nor do many offer grain in their pricing.
Any particular area you are looking in?

Lionheart Ranch offers turnout and hay, and will feed grain (not sure if owner supplied or not). It’s a nice place. I’ve never boarded there but I’ve been to it.
http://www.lionheartranch.com/boarding.htm

This place also offers turnout out and hay. I’ve never been here and don’t know anything about it.
http://www.tunacanyonstables.com/boarding/

[greysfordays]

It would be super helpful to know where you will be based and how far you are willing to travel.

I know for example that Peter Lombardo at Frontier Farms is fancy, has wonderful training and super turnouts with grass. But it’s in Moorpark. For someone on the west side, that might not work.

The trainers at Middle Ranch have sand turnout. Archie Cox’s setup in particular has really good turnout, training and they recently installed GGT.

It also depends if and how much you want to show? If you want to do a mix of smaller and larger shows and you’re willing to drive out to Moorpark, Jenni Brown of Shadowbrook has outstanding turnout and care, a eurocizer, a shared indoor and she is really lovely to work with. They run a really low stress program, everyone is super nice and they take such good care of the horses.

That’s just off the top of my head!

[twelvebelles]

Greys, I forgot you were in the LA area! I’d probably be in Santa Monica or thereabouts. I’m just at the start of this & trying to see what my options look like, though. Frontier Farms sounds like it would be perfect. Mr. Fancypants would probably survive there with minimal dramatics.

Jarrn, I am willing to go as far as Moorpark to the west. Haven’t looked other directions so much, but I’m open. I live in a major metro area now and drive about an hour to my barn, so it’s not like I’m not used to being in traffic. Lionheart definitely looks worth checking out!

[LadyJ526]

I’m currently at Middle Ranch and think it’s a great facility considering the proximity to LA. If you board at Main Ranch, you get access to the bigger trainers like Archie Cox, and that will run in the $2k range. If you go up to North Ranch, there’s both dressage & hunter/jumper trainers there. I’m currently at North Ranch and my trainer has designated turnouts where the horses go out 3+ hours a day, they feed hay, and she also feeds owner provided grain/supplements for training clients. Board + full training there is about $1200/month.
Also all boarders have access to the lodge/pool/locker facilities. I use it almost weekly when I ride early in the morning and then shower and get ready for work. Super convenient!

http://www.middleranch.com/

[snowrider]

Another somewhat (but not very) close spot with grass will be one of the ranches in Hidden Valley, in TO. There are a bunch and they change hands/ management somewhat often plus there are private but board a few pasture horses by word of mouth. I don’t know who’s there and offering board now (might be no-one) but I’d check it out. Especially since you said money is no problem It ain’t cheap.

If you have a few million laying around I saw a place for sale in Malibu with some pasture a little while ago. It looked nice!

[twelvebelles]

[QUOTE=snowrider;8513178]
If you have a few million laying around I saw a place for sale in Malibu with some pasture a little while ago. It looked nice![/QUOTE]

Haha - when I said money wasn’t a huge issue, I didn’t mean I had a few million!!! Although, if I did, sign me up! Thanks for the advice on Hidden Valley. I really don’t know the LA area at all!

[Kalele]

For turnout I definitely suggest Hidden Valley area. Its a trek, but if you have a horse who needs turn out that’s the area you need to be in.

[candico]

Hidden Valley is having a bit of a crisis with the drought though. They are on wells so have had to truck in water. We are supposedly having a wet winter, but maybe five inches of rain so far? Not sure that would be enough to replenish the wells. Kind of scarey during fire season. Can’t imagine the added costs for water wouldn’t be passed on in the board a bit. But definitely worth the drive to check it out! Some really good trainers in there for sure.

[marginall]

I know I’m reviving an old thread. I have a friend moving to the Los Angeles area in the spring and is looking for a jumper trainer with a facility that offers grass turnout. Commute and price aren’t factors. Are the suggestions in this thread still accurate? Any other suggestions? TIA.

[greysfordays]

For jumpers requiring grass turnout, Meadow Grove Farm is your best bet. They are at Middle Ranch, (or what’s left of it after the fire). Excellent care with grooms being responsible for 3 horses each, so each groom knows your horse and his legs very well. Really terrific instruction and when you go horse shopping, they really find fantastic horses. It is expensive, but I do think they are the gold standard of care and instruction in Los Angeles.

[Mayaty02]

Frontier Farms in Moorpark does have very nice grass turnouts. (www.frontierfarmsca.com). More of a hunter trainer but does do some jumpers.

[marginall]

Great, thank you @greysfordays and @Mayaty02, this is super helpful.