Circle K Riding Stables

Got to Circle K around 11:00am. on a Sunday morning. Brought my two exchange students (Germany and Norway) Had never been on horses before. Perfect weather. Not too hot, not too cold. $ 35.00 gets you an hour and a half ride which takes you up the mountains of Griffith Park, overlooking beautiful views. Highly recommend the hour and a half ride! Allison was our ‘guide’ and some of us were not familiar with riding, and a little scared, she was attentive and gave us tips on what to do. Our three horses were great (Bear, Socks & Duck (?) Girls and I had a great adventure! We will definitely come back!

Tucked away in the corner of urban sprawl is this quaint stable with the most beautifully tempered horses and kind trail guides who efficiently get you going on a little saddleback journey on a scenic trail through Griffith Park. My horses name was Pablo, a sweet white and brown speckled handsome beast who enjoyed being front of the pack for most of the journey. Riding through nature hushes the noise and bustle of the city’s edge, there are moments where the rhythmic sound of the horses gait feel meditative, and for that hour or so that you are out there, you start to reconnect with nature, which is such a necessity.
It’s also fun to see the different personalities of the horses unfold as you continue on down the trails. Some playful, some wanting to lead, others content with following. Some trying to snag a snack off the mountainside, others scratching an itch on the edge of the water trough. As a novice horse rider, I felt very safe and in control of Pablo, the horses are very well trained and mannered. You also have the trail guide there to have your back and lead you in the right direction so you don’t have to worry about going off trail and getting lost or galloping off into the wrong paths.
This is a fun and refreshing way to spend an afternoon. I only wish we could give our horses a healthy treat to thank them for the ride, but obviously you don’t want to be messing with their diets. We visited on a Sunday, it was pretty busy and some of the horses we rode (including Pablo) had to go right back out with a new rider when we got back. They have over 40 horses so I am sure they get rotated out so that they have a chance to rest in between rides. I’m all about humane treatment and happy animals, which is important to be conscious of, especially when the animals have a job that involves human recreation.
So, get your riding boots on and get some nature on, city slicker!

Despite some reviews that made me question coming here my friend and I decided to give it a shot. We went on a Thursday evening at 4 (they close at 5) and all we did was sign a waiver, payed and was asked if we were experienced or beginners. We got on our horses and were taught three basic moves: how to direct a horse left, right and stop. It’s really all you need as the horses already know the trails and your guide is always looking out for you. My horse, Charlie, was so cute and slow which is what I chose! Horse sped up a bit sometimes but it’s all to gain speed. We did see a coyote and I was scared but apparently they are scared of horses (unless you see a pack of coyotes… Run) but horses didn’t get spooked out like I was paranoid they would. Our guide Richard was very nice! Offered to take a picture of us and even saved me when I accidentally dropped my debit card from my pocket! Was not that sore after but everyone has different experiences. I would say check it out! :-)

I had a good experience. The price is good. Nice view of nature.
There were times the horses would randomly speed up and scare me, but it was good overall.

Was looking for a last minute, horseback ridding fun and this is the first one that came up on Google. I called and the gentlemen was very nice it was already about 2:50 and he told us last ride leaves at 4PM we made it, this was my first time ridding alone, I absolutely loved it. The VIEW WAS AMAZING, the horses are very calm. I would recommend everyone to experience this. Our Guides name was Chris very helpful and very nice.

Found this place on Unilocal and decided it had the best reviews so I gave this place a shot. Parking was easy to find, it was 25 $ for 1 hr roughly. We signed a waiver and immediately got on a horse minutes after. It was a awesome experience pretty scary in the hills for me but overall my boyfriend had fun and so did I. The people are nice and will even take pictures of you next to a nice view. Definitely come check this place out! We tipped our guide because he was nice and talkative and he even let us go to the back and see all the horses they had! Come check this place out.

$ 25 a person for 1 hr guided tour. What can you ask for more. The horses are very smart and know the way around if you are too lazy to direct it. Friendly service as well. Def recommend you to try it. Went up Griffith park with amazing views, couldn’t ask for more.

25 dollars a hour to take a guided tour. 20 an additional hour
The horses are well behaved. The view is amazing!!. Super convenient location.
You will be sore the next day but totally worth it.
I will be back

My boyfriend took me here for my bday and I had a super duper time. Hector was put horsie guide and he did a fab job.

The only thing that I was bummed out about at our visit was that when I called and inquired about riding up to the Hollywood sign I was told that it was a 2 hr ride. When my daughter and I got there, we were told its a 2 ½ hr ride. We didn’t go up to the sign, but since we are planning another trip soon, we will make it there!!! Our guide, Eric, was AMAZING! He is a very outgoing and polite gentleman. Horses are beautiful! Definitely planning another trip soon!

Amazing 1^st time experience… Friendly service. Great place to bring your out of town guest to see the other side of Griffith Park. Great views, great trails… Loved it. Will be back, soon. Or after my soreness goes away :)

Went here today with my niece whose visiting from Arkansas, we usually go to the stable down the street but after being rejected for not having enough horses I’m glad they referred to Circle K. Our guide Adrian was awesome, the trail we took was well worth the $$
We will definitely be returning SOON!

I am glad to have gone with Circle K Riding Stables/​Horse Rental for my first horseback riding experience! The workers here are really nice and wait is short on a Sunday morning (~10AM; no reservation needed!). My 5 friends and I went on a 1-​hr guided tour ($ 25/​ea), which took us around a part of the Griffith Park. The beginning of the trail from the stable to the park entrance was super dusty, so I was not a fan of that part. However, the city view from the top of the Griffith Park was gorgeous!
(-1 star):
— Wished our guide would have told us some basic tips on about how to control the horses (i.e., speed up, slow down, stop, etc) as opposed to just instructing the horse to turn right and left since some horses in the group are faster/​slower than others.
Overall, I would definitely recommend Circle K for your equestrian cravings! It’s a good place for a weekend family gathering, dates, and even just a hangout. It is also definitely a go-​pro/​selfie stick moment! #guilty :P

Now this is a place that deserves all the starts!
One, every person we met there was very nice, even when we were told to remark our car.
Two, the guide was very attentive to all the riders! My both sons, one with special needs, had a blast!
Three, we paid $ 25 an hour for each person, and it took us a little longer than an hour to get back. We weren’t charged anything extra.
This is definitely the place to come back!

I want to make this fast and short.
If you are looking for a cheap and fun horseback riding experience, this is the place to go. Dont worry if you have kids, they provide them with helmets. Also Their horsers are for people with all types of experience. The horses are very nice and easy to control with no experience at all. Before you start the trail, they will instruct you on how to control the horse anyway. The leads usually stay behind you and usually lead you by yelling what direction to go lol. There are morning joggers and people hiking so it’s definitely safe out there. The leads are also very friendly and wouldn’t mind taking a picture of your group. One hour is $ 25 bucks and after that its $ 20 for any additional hour. I will definitely be going back there soon.

Had a really good time. It’s a fun simple trail. I wouldn’t recommend this place if it’s your first time riding and you’re expecting a lot of guidance and instruction. It’s more you hop on and ride the straight forward trail. Great price and decent trail and views.

Here goes: I almost gave it two stars but my husband did enjoy himself so the third star was for him
PROS:
–the horses are beautiful and well taken care of it seems.
— it was my husband’s first time and he got the leader horse who was in the front the whole time so he had a lot of fun
— some parts of the view was very nice, showing burbank and la. however I grew up in LA so I know how our traffic freeways and sreets look. they’re not that interesting
CONS:
— our guy Adrian didn’t speak English. and really didn’t speak at all. So, I couldn’t ask questions or bond with the horse. I couldn’t give him any commands.
— we got set up with two males and the leader male would flip out if mine went ahead so I was stuck staring at the leader horses ass for an hour. I was really annoyed at this because I’ve been horse back riding several times and horses know how to ride next to each other without having to measure dicks. Furthermore, it wasn’t a big deal that they took turns being in the front. I don’t like the fact that they HAVE to be in a single file line. what is this elementary school?
— I told the guy that it was my birthday and that I’m an experienced rider (not expert, but I’ve ridden about 5 – 7 times). I told him it was my husband’s first time. So he gives him the leader horse? So I get stuck with the beginner person who will freak out at the slightest trollop. which there was none of. We were at an excruciatingly steady snails pace. pretty sure I fell asleep actually. Both of us have a feeling this happened because I’m a small five foot girl and my husband is a 6’4″ big guy. so they assumed he’d
want to lead. spook why make me fill out a form about level of experience if it doesn’t even matter?
BOTTOM LINE: I’m not coming back. If you actually care about the overall experience I suggest you go somewhere else. They don’t really give a shit bout your experience. .it’s more. «Here’s a horse. Give me $ 25 bucks, ride it, and have a nice day».

My father grew up on various farms on the east coast. He has been on and around horses since he was a baby. When he moved out to L.A. a few decades ago he had to find a place to ride horses that was close to home. Due to his busy work schedule he didn’t have the time to own a horse because of the constant care, exercise, and attention that a horse requires. So, he wanted to find a stable that he could count on to provide what he desired. After riding at all the different stables around Griffith Park he chose Circle K as his spot. When I was old enough to ride at age 7 he took me riding for my first time and I was instantly hooked. I have been riding at Circle K stables for about 20 years now and have never had a bad experience.
Please keep in mind that if you are new to horseback riding there are a few things that you must understand. The first is that you have to realize that you are riding on top of a LIVE animal, and even the most expertly trained animal can have unpredictable reactions. For example, in my 20 years of horseback riding I’ve learned that one of the most dangerous things to come across on the trail in front of your horse is a plastic bag. You see, horses see differently than humans. It’s called an «equine eye» and its almost like that of a fish — where their sight is slightly magnified. A horse is a «flight» animal, which means that in times of panic or nervousness it’s natural instinct is to run away. So to a horse, a floating plastic bag could be compared to a crazy ghost that they are afraid of.
Although there have been a few times where I’ve been out on the trails and the horse (s) were spooked, it was all because of something that Is natural for them to be afraid of. Griffith Park has over 50 miles of open trails and many people and animals frequent it. A horse can be spooked by a jogger in flashy clothes, another horse that is acting crazy (sometimes owned by private cowboys and cowgirls), a local coyote, or even a loud unexpected noise. Fortunately, the stables make you sign a waiver that explains all of this, so that you know what you could possibly expect.
Ultimately, if you want to ride horses in Los Angeles at a place that treats their horses right, and provides a quality ride at quality prices, this is the place to go.

The world is a better place when you view it from horseback.
I had a nice ride at Circle K this morning, with a very good friend and our guide, Chris. It’s been a LONG time since I’ve ridden, and despite a lifelong love of horses, I’d consider myself a novice at best, so we signed up for a slow ride.
They were pretty busy, since today’s an unseasonable cool Sunday for July, but within twenty minutes or so we were ready to go! I was a little nervous at first, and the ranch hand who helped me mount up teased me by asking if I was hungover! It was just what I needed to relax a little and have some fun.
They have horses of all sizes, and I love that you can just show up when you want and have a personalized experience. Many of their horses come from auction, which means that by working here, they’ve likely been saved from the horse meat trade. That’s worth five stars alone, in my book.
Our horses, Smokey and Blake, were slow plodders who had some personality! At times, Chris had to use his horse to drive Blake along under me, and in the process, I almost remembered how to post a trot! Smokey liked being in the front, so he’d move it along to head off Blake. Smokey also wanted to stop and graze on the side of the trail from time to time, something I knew to be a big no no– but I’m guessing he probably gets away with it from other novice riders!
Smokey knew where we were going, so I didn’t worry too much about which trail to take, I know some other Unilocalers found the lack of instruction annoying… perhaps they expected their trail guide to take the lead? I liked having Chris behind us, personally, as he could spot any trouble from there better than if he was in front of us, and therefore not facing us.
One thing I found surprising, although I really shouldn’t have, since I do hike frequently, is that hikers and joggers really don’t understand that they should yield for horses, just as they would for mountain bikes. Horses are big, strong animals who can kick you, step on you, etc, and if you see one coming, you should get out of the way. Like, all the way out of the way!
Anyways, we opted to go for an hour ride, and I’m glad we did because I’m sore now! Apparently all this fat on the sides of my hips is hiding muscles I’ve forgotten I had. (Thanks desk job!) As someone who has been spending a lot of time in Griffith Park, this was a great way to do a little more exploration! Next time I’ll stretch first and set out on a longer trek.

RIDING BAREBACK IS THE BEST
BACKGROUND:
Circle K provides horse boarding, riding lessons, and most popular of all — our trail rides through Griffith Park. We have horses for those who have never ridden a horse before as well as for all other levels; for beginning, intermediate, and advanced riders.
STATS:
Days a Week
Hours: 7:30am — 6pm
Winter Hours: 7:30 am-​5pm
$ 25 for 1^st hour, $ 20 for each additional hour
All rides are with experienced trail guides
Minimum age is 7 years
Maximum weight is 250 lbs.
ESSENTIALS:
Money of the paper or plastic kind
Little to no fear of horses and heights
Long pants
Boots preferred, and not the ones with 3 inch heals
Hat (optional)
Sunscreen
Camera
Bandana (trail gets very dusty)
EXPERIENCE:
A salute to Throwback Thursday. Growing up on top of a mountain in SoCal one way I got around the canyons and hills was riding my neighbors’ horses, bareback. Down the canyon up on the other side to friends’ houses was our mode of transportation, as well as on the, what was but not now, dirt roads. I miss those days.
Growing up riding horses, the thought of riding a trail horse didn’t really interest me, but to be one with a horse is such an awesome feeling. So, when a friend, for decades, came to town and suggested we go riding, I was couldn’t say no.
We decided on the afternoon tour so we could ride as the sunset over the hills of LA. We arrived early enough to walk through the stables and greet the horses. 15+ hands in height these beautiful loving creations are eye-​wellingly magnificent. Once around the stables we were call to read, initial, and sign a waiver, including indicating what level of riders we were. Although it had been a while since both of us had ridden, riding a horse is like riding a bike, you never forget, so we both marked Experienced.
The horses were pulled out of the stables ready to go; saddled and reined. My friend who is over 6ft and built, got a horse rather large horse in stature, and I was quite disappointed in the size and condition of the horse they choose for me. At first I thought they disregarded my level of experience noted on the waiver. After riding for a few minutes, I knew they disregarded it. Just because I’m relatively small, doesn’t mean I can’t handle a full size horse. By the way, I did mention that I grew up with horses, took lessons, and at the age of ten, was a guide during the summer on a ranch in the Sierra’s. I understand that many people probably stretch their experience and it’s a liability issue, but I believe I have a solid resume to have the opportunity to ride a horse with some gusto. Boo!!! (minus
With one guide in front and one behind we headed off into the sun on a soft dirt trail. We crossed over the LA River via a bridge into Griffith Park where we followed a single track trail and a fire rode, Skyline Trail, to the top of a hill overlooking the valley. After a short break of picture-​taking and waiting for others to catch up we head back down the other side.
We stopped at a local Mexican eatery for some grub and beverages before we took the horses back to their stables, or should I say, the horses took us back. That’s one of the many downsides to trail horses. All they do, day in and day out is ride the same trails, which I’m sure they become boring. These horses are so warn that riders don’t have to do anything, but basically hold on, the horses know where they are going and how to get there, and riders just have to keep up if they are riding a slower horse.
The upside to these horses at the end of the ride is that they have built up so much unchecked aggression and they know they are going home, so they let loose. …and this little horsey went galloping galloping all the way home. That was the highlight of the ride, unfortunately, due to safety reasons, the guides slowed us down. Boo!!!
The staff are fairly friendly, the guides were a bit more personal and good conversationalists. All in all this a pretty good way to spend a couple of hours for those who love horses, yet doesn’t mind riding a trail horse.