San Diego hunter/jumper barns

[shmon]

I’m moving to San Diego in the next couple months and am looking for a place to keep my horse. She’s a 6 year old Belgian Sporthorse that I started and have been bringing along myself with the help of my trainer. We had a good year in the baby greens and pre-adults this year, and will likely be ready to move up to the 3’ next year. My horse lives outside 24/7 (in a large dry lot) so I would love to find something that either had a lot of turnout or the chance to live outside in a similar fashion.

I’m a working ammy, and while other ammys in the barn isn’t a requirement (we don’t have a lot now), it would be nice. Excellent care and excellent instruction are highest on my priority list. I’ll most likely be looking at local shows next summer and maybe an A show or two.

I’ll be living just a little bit southeast of Del Mar, so I’d love to find a trainer that’s at the Horse Park there or in Rancho Santa Fe to keep the drive down. I did a search but most responses were in private messages so I didn’t get a lot of information

Thanks in advance!

[greysfordays]

I just sold my horse to a client of Philip Cillis’ at Westwood Show Jumping in RSF.

http://www.westwoodshowjumping.com/

Philip is one of the most upstanding people I know. Absolute professional, puts the horses first, but still has wonderful bedside manner with his clients. I feel very lucky my horse went to such a great program. If I lived down there, I would probably ride with him.

[MtnDrmz]

If turnout is a top priorty, just be prepared that the public facilities like Showpark are not going to have that kind of 24/7 option you are used to. You might have better luck with a trainer at a private facility, which there are some chioces around there! I’m not sure of the setup or program details, but Checkout Oceancrest Farms. The trainer judges a bit in Orange County and I’ve always liked her. Her clients seems to do well at the shows and horses always look happy well fed and well kept.

[TullyMars]

There won’t be much in the way of turn out other than an hour per day at a lot of the facilities down here. That area is especially expensive, and we just moved up into North County recently. Phillip Cillis is good, but the barn has a membership fee if I recall correctly, then board. I have a pony on lease there and the care is great however. There is Newmarket, Wildflower, Ridgemar, Blue Fox is up towards Escondido end of Del Dios, let me think of a few more!

[Absolut_Equestrian]

Check out Penny Wahler at Caballos Del Mar. Great trainer and lovely facilities. Should be an easy commute from where you’ll be living.

http://pennywahlerequestrian.weebly.com/penny-wahler.html

[two_sticks]

I had a great experience riding with Diana Yeater/Brooktree in Del Mar. No 24/7 turn out but I believe they have some turn out options. Turn out is going to be hard to find in this area.

Brooktree Equestrian website

Here is the barn that she trains out of: Brooktree @ Ridgemar

[TullyMars]

Forgot about Penny! Yes she is good!

[Mardi]

Ridge Mar Equestrian in Del Mar. South of Showpark.
Stalls or 24x24 pipe corrals. 7 large turnouts for daily use.
Dirt GP field, hunter ring, dressage ring. Trails.
Family owned and very well managed.
Hay 3x day.

AA riders, teens and beginners. A nice group of owners and riders…and all trainers get along (it’s a requirement).

858-245-9705 Chris

[paw]

Philip Cillis is great, but yes - the Rancho Riding Club where he’s located charges a membership fee (and annual dues) - not cheap when you add it to the board.

I’m with Hap Hansen (http://www.haphansen.com/) at Rancho Osuna in Rancho Santa Fe - there are a number of different setups around that property, including 24/7 dry lot spaces, as well as normal stalls and in and outs, and all the stalled horses get out in grass paddocks every day. There are a bunch of amatuers who ride there, and it’s all pretty pleasant.

Availability might be an issue - it seems to be pretty steadily full - but I got lucky when I wanted to move there, so maybe you will, too!

Good luck, and feel free to PM me with questions.

[shmon]

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate all the leads. From what I’ve investigated, costs aren’t too much higher than what I’m used to paying, so that’s a bit of a relief. It also seems like a lot of the barns have access to trail systems, which is pretty cool.

Do most barns have a local show trainer and an A-show trainer? Around here a lot of the trainers are gone all summer at the AA shows, but only some of them have an assistant that does the locals. I’m an ammy on a budget, and while I can do a few big shows every summer, I can’t do week in and week out. I like having access to lessons if the main trainer is on the road for 2 months straight (and the option of staying to local/county shows as well).

I should also mention that while my horse and I are competitive and do well, we’re not a top of the line, fancy, indoor-winning combination, so some of the big names I see are a little intimidating! Is there room for us in those kinds of places?

[Peggy]

If you’re interested in doing local, as well as USEF, there is a good local circuit, Greater San Diego Hunter-Jumper Association, with a fun year-end show that’s at Del Mar. There is a Find A Trainer Map in the drop-down under Membership, which might be helpful in general. You can also check out shows on Horseshowtime.com to get an idea of which trainers go to which shows and how they do. Essentially everything that’s blue in Horseshowtime site is a hyperlink.

[Absolut_Equestrian]

[QUOTE=shmon;8830002]
From what I’ve investigated, costs aren’t too much higher than what I’m used to paying, so that’s a bit of a relief. [/QUOTE]

I recently relocated to the San Diego area from the East Coast, and that was my first impression as well. However, I soon learned that this is the land of a la carte pricing. Maybe it’s the same where you are currently, but it was certainly a shock for me! The “base” board price you see listed generally includes a stall, bedding, stall cleaning and maybe hay. Everything else is extra. Want your horse to get grain? You buy the grain, and you pay someone to feed your horse the grain. Want turnout? You pay for the privilege of turnout, and you pay for someone to actually take your horse to/from turnout. Many places also require a grooming program, and partial if not full training. You get the idea, and it adds up fast. However, the weather here is lovely. :winkgrin:

Feel free to send me a PM if you would like, I just went through this search myself so I know what you’re going through

[Gumby80]

I am most likely moving to San Diego as well soon, so this is very helpful and timely! If anyone also has recommendations for a barn which does half-leases or similar (which is all I can afford right now), that would be great too

[paw]

Most of the barns will have someone who’s around to train folks (and horses) that aren’t showing - I know Hap and Philip do, and am sure Newmarket does. Many of the A circuit shows are at the Horsepark, and there’s also a County (Greater San Diego H/J Assoc) show there pretty much every month, so a least the trucking fees are cheaper and everybody can live at home (no trainer expense fees, for the most part). The County shows have taken a step up in quality in the last year or so - courses nicely designed, footing better maintained, etc, and no one braids, so they’re probably better value for money if you’re counting your pennies (and aren’t we all?).

I don’t think I know of a trainer who won’t go to a County show if there’s a demand, and most wind up going to at least a few, even if they’re concentrating on the A circuit. But always best to ask if it’s not mentioned on the website or rate sheet.

[paw]

@Absolut Equestrian;8830344

I recently relocated to the San Diego area from the East Coast, and that was my first impression as well. However, I soon learned that this is the land of a la carte pricing. Maybe it’s the same where you are currently, but it was certainly a shock for me! The “base” board price you see listed generally includes a stall, bedding, stall cleaning and maybe hay. Everything else is extra. Want your horse to get grain? You buy the grain, and you pay someone to feed your horse the grain. Want turnout? You pay for the privilege of turnout, and you pay for someone to actually take your horse to/from turnout. Many places also require a grooming program, and partial if not full training. You get the idea, and it adds up fast. However, the weather here is lovely. :winkgrin:

That’s not strictly true everywhere, though the a la carte pricing is quite common. Most barns I’ve boarded at have a “full care” option which is all-inclusive, and some will let you do half care (they deal with the horse on days you don’t). Hay (grass or, often, alfalfa) is generally included in the stall board, but grain comes as part of the training fees, or you buy your own.

Smaller barns/programs tend to be more flexible.

[paw]

[QUOTE=Gumby80;8830791]
I am most likely moving to San Diego as well soon, so this is very helpful and timely! If anyone also has recommendations for a barn which does half-leases or similar (which is all I can afford right now), that would be great too :)[/QUOTE]

I’d look at Jasmin Stair Stables (http://jasminstairstables.com/) or Kelly Covey at Foxlair West (http://www.foxlairwest.com/) off the top of my head.

[avesane]

What a timely thread. I am thinking of relocating to San Diego from Alberta next spring (yo I am SO done with winter) and where to keep my pony is a huge concern. I clearly have nothing to add but I am posting so I can find this thread again later. Thanks to everyone for the great answers!

[Providence]

Newmarket has multiple trainers and offers showing at the A and local level
http://www.newmarketfarm.com

[a.d.casey]

Hello,

I am in San Diego, have graduated from College, live here and now need to find a barn to get back into riding consistently again!

My horse is back in the Northwest and I unfortunately don’t have the time (or funds) to bring him down at the moment but am looking for a barn in the area where I could begin riding, possibly half lease and potentially bring my horse down in the future. I grew up showing hunters, eq and jumpers, and have a ton of experience with the greenies.

I’ve scoped out a few barns in the area but it seems most (understandably) are only looking for new client ready to go into a show program, which isn’t what I am looking for at this point in my life.

Any suggestions?

Thank you!

[Peggy]

For anyone looking at trainers in SD, especially those that do at least some county shows, the GSDHJA championship show is this week at the fairgrounds. Great opportunity to see trainers and their clients in action, talk to people, etc. Go to horseshowtime.com for class lists, entries, trainers, etc.