Blue Shadows at Rancho Colina

Love Blue Shadows. The organization is so great for kids learning the sport of equestrian. This organization introduces kids of all ages to horseback riding and drilling. Its a non profit, that provides guidance through leadership, as their motto states and its true to that motto.

I think that the idea of blue shadows and drill teams are excellent, however this particular organization lacks proper management. I personally have ridden on multiple of teams and this particular one doesn’t know what to do with itself. I feel like the young girl experience things from the older officers at way too young of an age. There has to be some boundaries so young, impressionable girls aren’t exposed to certain activities so early. Never would I want my daughter being in front of conversations including boys, alcohol, and marijuana at the age of 9 or 10. Besides the lack of proper training to the older girls, the ones in charge of the organization as a whole lack the proper behavior to be in charge of young girls. The lines have been crossed when involving children in adult matters, such as financials. They try and their hearts are in the right place but this is not the job for them.
Before joining I would strongly suggest looking deeper into other teams, such as the California Rangers who seem to have a bit more stability.

If you are looking for an extra curricular activity where you can enjoy riding horses, experience personal growth, build leadership qualities and make life long friends, then Blue Shadows is for you.
I rode in Blue Shadows for 13 years. I started out in remounts and by the time I moved out of state, I was leading my own troop. I already loved horses, but in Shadows I learned how to be a better rider, how to be a great teammate and the ups and downs of leadership. I developed the discipline necessary to attend regularly in good weather and in bad weather. I learned that being a great rider and knowing the drills wasn’t good enough; I had to be able to teach that to new riders for safety and for competitions.
I watched troop members come in and turn from shy, sensitive kids to leaders that grew in confidence and could shout drills with the best of the best!
In Blue Shadows you practice drills, learn horsemanship, go on trail rides, ride in parades and play games. You wear a uniform and have inspections. Once you are promoted you teach others everything you know.
Loving horses is a great motivator. There is no greater feeling than hugging your favorite horse and feeling their warm breath on your skin. Oh, wait. Yes there is. It’s when they put their head down and push you as they ask for more ear rubs and forehead scratches!

Blue Shadows is a fun and great place for group riding lessons for kids and teens. It is set up in a team format where you learn how to ride horses on a riding team, but I find you still get the individual attention you need to become a better rider. I joined Blue Shadows when I was 9 years old and really enjoyed it because I could make friends my age who also liked horses. I had never been on a horse when I joined and they taught me everything at my own pace. Rancho Colina is a private ranch so you get to know every horse there, and they all have different personalities! It’s also great compared to a lot of other riding ranches because it is super affordable. I would definitely recommend this ranch for anyone who has never been on a horse or even for those with a little more experience who would like to improve their skills on a competitive team. The team atmosphere makes it super fun!

I would definitely recommend Blue Shadows Mounted Drill Team to anyone and everyone I know! This is a great community for kids and anyone who is interested in doing an extra curricular activity. I joined Blue Shadows about 13 years ago, and stayed in for almost 10 wonderful years. I made lifelong friendships there. When you join Blue Shadows, you learn how to ride horses, do drill maneuvers, practice weekly and compete in shows. There are also advanced teams for a little bit more experienced riders. I will always cherish my time spent at Blue Shadows, and I look back on those memories very fondly. This is a caring community with so many benefits. I really honestly can not say enough about Blue Shadows.
First of all, when you sign up, you start out as a Remount. This is where you learn basic horsemanship, get comfortable with basic drills, etc. You do not need experience to join either, kids can range from never touching a horse before, to having your own at home, although one at home is not required. They have many fabulous horses to ride at the ranch. You take weekly classes as a remount for as much time as you need, most kids need a few weeks to maybe a month, then you are promoted to a trooper and join a team. There are different nights for different teams. Each team has a captain in charge of the troop, which is a volunteer who has spent a considerable amount of time with blue shadows, and many other fellow team mates.
Kids in Blue Shadows learn responsibility, leadership, and friendship! So many benefits in just one ranch!
This place is amazing!
Try it out, you will not be disappointed!