SF Bay Area Barns?

[MustangTwist]

I’m hoping someone can point me in the right direction! The care lease on my horse is ending in February (the lady is buying her own horse) and I need to find him a new situation. I live in the peninsula and he’s currently in Oakland, but there’s no one else at his current barn looking for a lease. He’s an older but very accomplished gentleman (CIC 3* evening & 1.30 jumpers) and he’s still sound, happy, and in full training. He doesn’t jump much these days but can still do poles and cross-rails.

I’d like to move him to a barn closer to my home/work (Mountain View) where I could find him a nice half lease or something like that. I’m most concerned w/ finding a place that takes great care of older horses where he can be semi-retired and well-tended. I work a lot so I’d need to make sure there was someone there keeping an eye on him. I’d be open to him being used a few days a week in a lesson program too if it was mellow. Basically I’m flexible, I just want him in light work and can’t afford to bankrupt myself!

If anyone has any barn/trainer suggestions I’d be really grateful.

[horsegurl]

Kismet Farm is near Concord, and has alot of turn out, I believe. If you post on Thermal Classifieds or Northern California Horses and Tack For Sale on Facebook, you will probably get a ton of suggestions.

[MustangTwist]

Thanks! I actually know Tracy and Jolie and they’re wonderful, but that barn would be farther than the one he’s at now (1 hr without traffic…but there’s almost always traffic) so unfortunately I don’t think that would work

[Huntin_Pony]

Stanford?

If not there then look over on the coast - Half Moon Bay to Santa Cruz. There’s more turnout over there and the prices might be a little better. Another possibility would be South Bay down towards Gilroy.

I moved away a long time ago so I don’t have any specific names at this point - good luck.

[MustangTwist]

Thanks! I actually asked a friend about barns in Gilroy last night and am waiting to hear back.

[SnicklefritzG]

I used to live in the area and I think the better turnout situations are in the east bay or south of San Jose.
Most of the farms that I know of in and around Mountain View/Portola Valley who could use a horse for cross-rails, poles, etc. don’t necessarily offer a lot of turnout.

I agree about Gilroy being a good place to look.

[MustangTwist]

Thank you! Yeah space is unfortunately at a high premium in the peninsula. Can anyone recommend specific barns that might have more flexible, reasonably priced programs? I’d love to find an AA to half lease him but I’d be willing to just board and pay part training for him to be semi-retired if I found the right barn (at a reasonable price).

[Training_Cupid]

Webb Ranch or Portola Pastures, both in PV. Both have pasture board, lots of recreational riders, and laid-back atmospheres.

[MustangTwist]

Thanks! Those are actually very close to my work too

[californiatransplant]

Stagnaro Stables, where Seascape just moved, or Nicole Di Corti. Both in the Gilroy area.

[MustangTwist]

@californiatransplant

Stagnaro Stables, where Seascape just moved, or Nicole Di Corti. Both in the Gilroy area.

Thanks! Have you ridden with them? Any insight on their programs?

[osgoka01]

Nicole is great, but more of a show program. She might have some younger kids that could do a half lease. The other farm you should check out down in the Morgan Hill/Gilroy area is Corrie Busalacchi of Triple Bar Stables… She has her program out of Ligara Farms and has a mess of kids in a very successful IEA program. Board is WAY less expensive down there than in Portola/Woodside/Menlo… I lived in Mountain View until about 6 months ago, so know the struggle. I would almost guarantee she would be able to use him in her lesson or IEA program and they, Corrie and Sue (owner of Ligara,) take great care of the horses. Good luck!

[MustangTwist]

@osgoka01

Nicole is great, but more of a show program. She might have some younger kids that could do a half lease. The other farm you should check out down in the Morgan Hill/Gilroy area is Corrie Busalacchi of Triple Bar Stables… She has her program out of Ligara Farms and has a mess of kids in a very successful IEA program. Board is WAY less expensive down there than in Portola/Woodside/Menlo… I lived in Mountain View until about 6 months ago, so know the struggle. I would almost guarantee she would be able to use him in her lesson or IEA program and they, Corrie and Sue (owner of Ligara,) take great care of the horses. Good luck!

Thank you! I actually just emailed Corrie a few days ago because I have a friend who used to work for her who thought it might be a good fit.

How are you liking Colorado? My husband and I are thinking of moving to somewhere more affordable and Denver was on the short list.

[californiatransplant]

@MustangTwist

Thanks! Have you ridden with them? Any insight on their programs?

Nic is a long time friend and definitely more of a show program, but it is worth reaching out to her to see what her program is like currently. I know she has riders of all levels and may be able to help get your horse leased within her barn.

Stagnaro used to do boarding alongside training, and they are extremely good at their job and horse care. They are trustworthy to get your horse cared for when you can’t make it out to see him. If they still offer boarding, they should be more affordable than anything on the Peninsula! I grew up with the family that owns it and they are amazing.

[anon40672407]

I have taken up with Windward Farms, which is in Los Altos. It’s a city-owned property out of which several trainers work. I’m riding with Victoria Dye and her co-instructor Renee (mumble mumble). They have full service barn all the way down to open pasture. I don’t know if they need more horses for their riding program (in order for your boy to get out more and help earn his way) or not. I do know that their riding schedule is pretty tight, so lots of people go thru there on a weekly basis. Nice facility, so far as I can see.

[MustangTwist]

@anon40672407

I have taken up with Windward Farms, which is in Los Altos. It’s a city-owned property out of which several trainers work. I’m riding with Victoria Dye and her co-instructor Renee (mumble mumble). They have full service barn all the way down to open pasture. I don’t know if they need more horses for their riding program (in order for your boy to get out more and help earn his way) or not. I do know that their riding schedule is pretty tight, so lots of people go thru there on a weekly basis. Nice facility, so far as I can see.

Thank you! That’s so funny, I actually just talked to Torie yesterday and she said she might be able to make it work! I’m going out this weekend to check it out. When do you typically ride? Do you board a horse there? And what are you thoughts on her co-instructor?

I’m a little bummed it doesn’t have an indoor arena or arena lighting, but I suppose that’s part of the reason it’s so cost-effective. Also, I donated one of my first pony club horses to the disabled riding program that was (and maybe still is) based at Westwind!

[anon40672407]

@MustangTwist

Thank you! That’s so funny, I actually just talked to Torie yesterday and she said she might be able to make it work! I’m going out this weekend to check it out. When do you typically ride? Do you board a horse there? And what are you thoughts on her co-instructor?

I don’t own anymore and am just a casual rider now. I’ve just started the 11 a.m. class on Tuesdays.

I had been riding with a H/J trainer in Fremont who had LOVELY horses (but moved her barn far away). She didn’t believe in diagonal aids and outside reins, so I had to unlearn a bunch of stuff there. I am more comfortable with Torie and Renee because their riding instruction more closely matches what I learned many moons ago when I was eventing. I’ve only had a few lessons at Windward and the exercises were appropriate and challenging enough. I’ve ridden two of the school horses so far, and they seem sound and experienced. The all-weather footing holds up pretty well in the wet, BUT the barn is located on a hillside, so the hill can get very soupy in the winter.

I’m a little bummed it doesn’t have an indoor arena or arena lighting, but I suppose that’s part of the reason it’s so cost-effective.

Lights and indoor were important for me, too. That was my primary criteria when I was trying to get back into shape 3 years ago, because I knew I’d be riding in the evenings. That’s when I found the H/J barn that has since moved. Now I’m not limited to evenings, so I don’t care as much.

Also, I donated one of my first pony club horses to the disabled riding program that was (and maybe still is) based at Westwind!

I believe they still have it! I’ve seen adverts for it there. It’s run as 4H (now? then?).

[MustangTwist]

@anon40672407

I don’t own anymore and am just a casual rider now. I’ve just started the 11 a.m. class on Tuesdays.

I had been riding with a H/J trainer in Fremont who had LOVELY horses (but moved her barn far away). She didn’t believe in diagonal aids and outside reins, so I had to unlearn a bunch of stuff there. I am more comfortable with Torie and Renee because their riding instruction more closely matches what I learned many moons ago when I was eventing. I’ve only had a few lessons at Windward and the exercises were appropriate and challenging enough. I’ve ridden two of the school horses so far, and they seem sound and experienced. The all-weather footing holds up pretty well in the wet, BUT the barn is located on a hillside, so the hill can get very soupy in the winter.

I’m hoping I could ride early in the mornings and mid-day on weekends, but I guess we’ll see. At least we don’t get too much rain in Northern California. Anyway, if I end up moving him there I’ll let you know!

[wanderlust]

It’s been forever since I’ve lived out there, but who is up at the big place on Skyline now? Used to be Cypress Ridge? They had better turnout options than most places on the peninsula at the time.

[MustangTwist]

@wanderlust

It’s been forever since I’ve lived out there, but who is up at the big place on Skyline now? Used to be Cypress Ridge? They had better turnout options than most places on the peninsula at the time.

Thanks for the suggestion! I can’t find much information on the facility or the trainer (Nessa) online. What has your experience with them been like? Is there anything else you can say about how the program is run, etc?