San Diego Barn Recomendations for an Adult?

[WombatCA]

I’m an adult who rode extensively as a junior. I haven’t ridden in several years and would like to get back into the saddle. I’m hoping to find a barn with other adults, as I’d like to meet others who have the same interests as me.
I’ve read back through the old threads, but most are quite old and I imagine things change. Additionally, I live near SDSU, so I’m particularly interested any barns that are more South (but please share all recommendations, regardless of location).

Main question: Does anyone know of a fun, inclusive H/J barn for adults in the San Diego area? I don’t have my own horse, so great lesson horses is a plus. Please send any ideas! Also grateful to hear about any barns that I should definitely avoid, or any suggestions on ways to find the right barn.

[nolirides]

I can’t speak to anything that far south but there’s many nice facilities in Del Mar - Ridgemar and blanking on the others (I grew up riding in San Marcos/Bonsall but the Del Mar facilities were always the crème de la creme). Jamie Lund at Cherry Hill is wonderful and has many amateurs. She used to be Shayne Wireman’s asst trainer many years ago. Shayne is also great but think she’s on the road extensively with Skylar now. They were always a jr barn anyways - not any adult ammies. There’s also Wildflower Farm in Olivenhain but that may be too north county for you.

[Paint_Party]

I’ve been out of the SD area for about 8 years now, but it’s an expansive area with a number of excellent trainers. I also loved the SD county show series.

Try visiting the website for the Greater San Diego Hunter Jumper Association. You have to scroll a couple pages but you’ll find recent show results and listings of some of the sponsor barns. Some focus more on ponies and kids, others on jumpers. But I know there are several that do leases and have a lot of ammy adults.

https://gsdhja.org/wp3/

[WombatCA]

Thanks! Thats helpful! Fun fact, I rode with Shayne when she was a teenager and I was a toddler. I would definitely go back to her if i could, but shes way too far away from me. I will look into the others you mentioned!

[zany1]

I’ve heard only great things about Alicia Saxton at Oceancrest in Encinitas if that isn’t too far North for you!

[Inimitable]

Jasmin Stair at Fairbanks Ranch. Lovely facility and she seems to have a mix of juniors, AAs, and lease options.

[WombatCA]

Thank you! I’ll check them out!

[BellaFortuna]

What are your goals i.e. do you want to eventually lease? Own? What level would you like to get back to in the short term and what was your rider as a junior? This will help with recommendations.

The heart of the hunter jumper community is Del Mar on north. There are a few places south of SDSU and I know of one in Lakeside. Knowing more about what you are looking for and your experience will help.

[WombatCA]

@bellafortuna
I rode the A circuit in the Junior hunters and eq, and dabbled in jumpers up through the Junior jumpers. I was a working student for three different trainers over the years through college.

I haven’t ridden at all in about 5 years and haven’t ridden seriously in about 15 years. I’d like to get to the point where I could do some county level shows in any ring (no preference). I’d love to own but I don’t think that’s realistic right now for my budget or time availability. I’m open to a lease if it’s right, but not immediately. In the short term I’d just like to get back into riding shape and make some horse friends. I’m ok with a good lesson program or whatever works for the trainer.
In the past, when I’ve started at a new barn, they relatively quickly ask me to come out and hack horses for them or otherwise help with riding. I’m not amazing, but I don’t make horses worse when I sit on them, and I have some strong foundational skills that trainers seem to appreciate.
I hope that gives a bit more context. I do appreciate all of the recommendations in this thread.

[mika0116]

Most of my knowledge is North County - not toooo many barns have lesson horses that do more than flatting and x-rails.

Most barns are going to require a partial or full lease pretty quickly. Generally leasing is a requirement to show, but not always. Sometimes barns will do a care lease - those are also sort of rare and often those horses will be doing .90 - 1.0m or lower.

Junior Jumpers - as in the Lows 1.0 to 1.10ish or do you have 1.30m+ experience?

TBH owning is sometimes less expensive than a lease - but I too don’t own and totally get the lack of time to commit that much.

A decent show horse going 1.10m+ is going to put you at like $20k-$60k lease a year on top of full training board ($2k/mo is the cheapest I’ve seen for full training board in SD county) which lands you at around $4k/month minimum.

Do you have a budget in mind / how many days can you realistically lesson per week / what are you say 1 to 2 year goals? The barn you start at may not be the barn you continue at / long-term lease at…