Chaparral Ranch

We took the class that was on 4 consecutive Saturdays and had a great time.
Our hostess/​teacher did a great job of showing us the animals (goats, horses, pigs, sheep, chickens) and explaining all of the fun stuff about them, like behavior of the horses and the other animals. I felt like I learned a lot of fun and interesting information, even as an adult. The kids get to pet the animals and interact with them. My daughter even got to hold little baby goats.
Video cameras are welcome so make sure to bring it.
On the final day, the instructor let the students ride the horses around in a circle (very safe) in one of the covered areas.
My daughter absolutely loved it, and so did my wife and I. Also, they were generous enough to give my daughter a gift (stuffed animal bunny rabbit) for Easter.
Well worth the money and time. Fun for both adults and kids. We will definitely go back and take more classes or do the horse back riding lessons when my daughter gets old enough for them.

Horrible people to do business with. Awful customer service and the business owners are scattered and disorganized. No concept of right from wrong. Horses are overworked and not well taken care of. Take your business elsewhere.

Instructor Name: Sean, Shaun, Shawn?
Horse Name: Sugar
Location: Salinas River State Beach Park
Duration: 1.5 Hrs
Family Friendly: Most Definitely
Date Friendly: You will own the Game if you take her here.
I decided to think a bit outside the box this Valentine’s Day. Definitely a unique experience, my girlfriend enjoyed it because she used to ride horses back in Canada and thought that these horses were outstanding due to their ability to maintain an impressive behavior throughout the whole ride. After reading the reviews about how the horses seemed mal-​nourished and how the rides were unpleasant, today’s experience begged to differ. After all, these horses were not meant for pageants, racing, or anything showcase related. I feel like the other customers had really high expectations for a horse who’s intended purpose was to provide a fun leisure experience. The horses are definitely respected and it shows by the reciprocation it radiates back to its owner and instructor. Today was pretty epic, felt like something you’d see in a music video, the view of the ocean and the weather, all tied into the experience. It was definitely a memorable moment and most definitely something I would love to do again. 1.5 hrs seems like a lengthy ride, but at the end you start to feel a bit sad that it was going to be over, time flew by so fast.

Awesome view and amazing nice horses.

Spent a great Sunday afternoon with our awesome guide Jillian. She was super friendly! I have never ridden a horse before, but Jillian made me feel very safe. Definitely will do this again. Riding horses and checking out redwoods should be more commonplace. Thanks guys!

Grew up going to this horse ranch. Can’t believe it’s still openned. LOVE this place

Trail rider’s paradise. We went for a hike, and noticed they offer trail rides here now. Loved it! The nature alone is breathtaking. You are deep in the Redwoods, and views are lovely. Not expensive either. Trails are mostly cool and shaded. There is a portion of the ride called oxygen alley — it is so dense and deep in woods, that you feel you’re in an oxygen tank. It was amazing! Horses were well kept, the location was breathtaking, and our guide was super knowledgable about horses and the area, super friendly cowboy type of a character. It has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. You also get to see Folger’s stable, which is also amazing.

LOVE Chaparral Ranch! I’ve been here twice for the horse trails and the entire staff is awesome. The guides are fun and entertaining and the trail ride has gorgeous scenery. They go over the basics of how to stop and steer your horse, but overall the horses know what they’re doing and will take you where you need to go. Trail rides are extremely affordable and worth every penny!

Totally amazing!!! First time horseback riding and it was amazing. The trial was amazing. Wish it was longer but worth it for me and my friend. Owners there were so kind and generous. They got a sense of humor and we totally enjoyed the ride!!!

We had a great time at the ranch. We took our daughter for a birthday ride. Staff was really friendly & helpful. My daughter got a complimentary tour of their soon opening petting zoo! Pricing was very economical. We will definitely come back.

I came here for Valentine’s Day with my girlfriend, and we had a blast. It was my first time riding a horse, but the staff, especially Steve made the trail ride memorable. Honestly, the first five minutes I thought I was going to fall or the horse will do something unexpected, but as time went on I felt safe and knew what I was doing. Steve was our trail mentor and he talked to us about the rest of the horses, the lands, etc. It was pretty cool. I would definitely come back next time with my girlfriend or family to ride on a horse at the beach. Steve and his co-​workers are definitely cool people and nice. They take care of their animals and train them well. I would recommend people to come by and check out the rides. I came from San Francisco and it was worth it.

Chaparral is THE worst place to go ride, because the horses are so poorly cared for. Their coats lack luster, eyes are dull, some hooves are cracked and ribs are showing. I saw horses drenched in sweat after one ride and put out for another ride immediately; no break, no water, nothing. One horse was missing a shoe and still being worked.
Without proper nutrition, grooming and vet care; it’s both unsafe for horse AND rider. I KNOW what a healthy horse should look like, since I have TWO. These horses looked as if they would drop at any moment, and they were so resigned to their sad fates.
The staff was friendly, but obviously, inexperienced. Too many green customers riding, coupled with poorly cared for horses, is a recipe for disaster. There wasn’t much guidance for those who had no idea what they were doing, and helmets should NEVER be optional.
While I opted not to ride after inspecting the establishment and meeting their horses, I saw enough to conclude that the owner (s) do not care about their horses, the safety of their clients, or the upkeep of the facility; they’re only in it for the money. The barn is dilapidated, arenas had terrible footing, hay wasn’t well stored, tack was in awful shape, and the lady at the front desk was brusque and unprofessional.
A trail ride in Ed Levin Park is quite beautiful, and if you’re not someone who knows much about horses, I can see why this place has fairly good ratings.
But, the next time you go check out a stable to rent a horse for a trail ride, inspect their horses thoroughly. Are their coats clean and shiny (dusty is, of course, par for the course)? Do you see ribs? Are they sweaty? Or, is sweat dried on them? Hooves free of cracks and splits? Are all FOUR shoes on? Is the facility well kept? Tack in good shape? Does the horse look happy? Bright eyes? Is it well groomed? The well-​being of the horse is more important than the actual barn, but how they keep up the barn is important, too.
I went trail riding at a stable called Isabella Farms, in Clayton, a couple of years ago, and they were the epitome of a fantastic barn. Their horses were happy with shiny coats, attentive eyes, and clean hooves living in a well cared for facility. These horses worked only once a day with two days off. When they weren’t working, they were free to roam and run in the pasture around the farm. They genuinely loved their work and their people; and, their people loved them.
l understand that there aren’t many options for trail riding in the bay area, but please choose wisely. Don’t support places that mistreat their animals and care more about money than safety. As long as they’re in business, lives are at risk: both yours’ and the horses’.

Went on a ride today and what a perfect day for a climb in the saddle through Ed Levine Park, cool and foggy.
The staff at the ranch were very nice and patient with the beginners and the horses were just as great… super friendly. I had the pleasure of riding June who was a bit slow at times but seemed at ease and really cautious on downgrades.
Can’t wait to go back with a big group and see if I can get June again.

We attended 1 hour horse riding tour to celebrate my wife’s birthday and we both enjoyed it a lot. We rode on the horse slowly around the park near the Ranch. It’s our first time been to this place and we are amazed by the view there. The staffs are also very friendly and answer me any questions about the horse. Great choice for relaxing. Definitely worth the time and the money.

This place was fabulous!!! Linda was our guide and she was simply amazing. We got to see the beautiful views of the Bay Area as well as tons of wildlife and hang-​gliders and para-​gliders. Linda was awesome with my kids as this was their first time on a trail ride (though not the first time on a horse). My 8 yr. old daughter summed the day up perfectly later at lunch «good times, good food, great memories — Thanks Dad!!» Linda thanks for helping me be a rock star to my daughter!!! We’ll definitely be back!

I love this Ranch!
driving out there leads to a complete change of scenery.
No matter if you go there to take classes or go on trail rides, it will be worth your while!
Go ask for Rachel, she is the best! She teaches English and Western lessons, guides trail rides and is so much fun to be around!

I have taken lessons here and they were great at first… and went downhill very quickly.
I started as a very naÏve groupon’er…just happy to be around horses. As I continued with my lessons, quality went down and down. By the time I stopped taking lessons here, Shawn was having is go in circles while he sat in his «box» and talked to us through a microphone. Totally disconnected and WEIRD. I’ve never taken a lesson where there was so much disconnect. I stopped actually learning anything. It was just horse time and nothing more.
The other reason I had to leave was… the dire situation of the horses. They are so skinny and not well cared for. The trail horses are used up and tossed in a stall when they are no longer any good… or too busted up to use regularly. I had even been asked to use injured horses for a lesson. One week is was an injured eye. They put a fly mask on him so no one could see it. Later he had stepped on a screw so he was sound at a walk but not trot or lope. Very very sad.
Bottom line is I would NOT recommend anyone coming here. Go to Garrod Farms ! They care about their animals and it shows.

My girlfriends and I went to Chaparral Ranch for horseback riding & had an AMAZING time! The women who led us on the trail were very friendly and helpful.
The only negative encounter we experienced was with the VERY RUDE woman at the front desk. This woman had such a rude attitude with us as we checked in. She definitely did not make us feel welcome at Chaparral Ranch.

I haven’t been to many ranches before, so I can’t really compare, but what I can say is that my first horseback riding lesson was great and so much fun! It’s a little tricky to find since one of the roads is unnamed, but they have a good amount of parking and a large arena. When I came on Saturday, it started raining right before our lesson, so thank goodness they have an indoor arena, although it’s smaller.
Watch out for the dogs running around (as you’re driving too), but don’t worry, they’re well-​behaved.
I had my lesson with Rachel and she was great. I can’t wait to take my next lesson! We had a group of 4 and it was $ 40 per person for an hour. You can also choose to learn either Western or English (what I’m learning).

My first time going horseback riding! My friends and i used the group deal – $ 80 dollars for 4 people! Good deal! Ranch can be a bit tricky to get too, just follow the directions they provide. Come early or else you ride time would be given to the next group. Staff here is super nice, knowledgeable and friendly. They did a great job teaching first time riders like myself. It’s a very simple, easy and fun trail– anyone can ride a horse! Great experience!
Book early because they book up FAST!