Cowboy Boot Camp

Great experience. Jim is the best guide and has a great personality, it was so much fun! I rode Jessy he’s beautiful and well trained. i honestly can’t wait go back and do this again !

My parents were in town from Singapore and all three of us had little to no experience around horses. My fiancée who grew up around horses thought a little sunset trail ride would be a great idea. We found Cowboy Boot Camp through Unilocal and we are so glad we did!
Jim is a great teacher, host, leader and guide. His passion for riding is overwhelming. He definitely facilitates the learning of the art of learning to ride a horse and making it take you where you want to go and not the other way around. He has a great personality and demeanor which puts even the most nervous and inexperienced rider at ease within minutes.
Overall we had a great session and everyone walked away with a huge smile on their faces. To top it all off, Jim even suggested a great local restaurant where we could go for dinner!
I would definitely recommend Cowboy Boot Camp in a heartbeat!

I’m a total novice that’s had a far off dream of ranching and horses. About a month ago I decided to start following my dream and took a couple of sessions up north but needed to find something closer to home. I researched and came across Cowboy Boot Camp! More than thrilled, I signed up for the membership and some sessions with my fiancé. We just finished our first lesson and Jim was amazing! Not only does Jim have a great personality but he’s incredibly professional with incredibly well trained horses. My ride started off… not great. Again, as a novice you lack the confidence and experience to know what you’re doing and the horse knows it. I got frustrated enough to just be done with it — annoyed at the horse, annoyed at myself. I let Jim know and he was so nice about it — he looked me in the eyes and said «You have to trust me. My horses are incredibly well trained and they know what they’re doing.» He instantly put me at ease — he led the ride with a horse he was in the process of training which was great in itself to watch what he was doing and how he was doing it and how he really treats his horses. I learned a lot, found my bearings, my confidence returned and we had a great ride! We hung around, met some of the neighbors, fed carrots to the horses — it was awesome. The trust between myself, Jim, and the horses grew and I realized that’s definitely what was missing from all of my other sessions pre-​Jim.
I can’t recommend Cowboy Boot Camp enough! We can’t wait to go back!

Perfect! I had been taking lessons up until I had my son. We live on the Westside and I have a busy life but wanted a place where I felt at home and could genuinely learn more about horse keeping and riding without pressure. I am not at the point where I need a commitment of even a lease. I do really enjoy getting out and pursuing my passions. Jim is a great teacher. And I am very pleased I signed up can’t wait for my next ride and time spent at the barn. Cowboy Bootcamp is the perfect answer for my needs. I would recommend to anyone who dreams of owning a horse someday and is thoughtful about the time, commitment, and resources available to them.

Cowboy boot camp is everything I expected it to be and more, I had a friend visit town and was looking for something a little different to do here in LA .
Jim and Lori did not fail, we felt very welcome and we’re not rushed in any way,
We even got a couple of pairs of cowboy boot on loan which authenticated the setting and prepared us to meet the Horses both of us had little to none experience
And Jim selected the perfect horse for each of us, it was an amazing experiecce
To spend time with such beautiful animals and feel their individual character .
As a boy I always wanted to be a Cowboy I knew all the old westerns and
Spending time with Jim at the boot camp gave me a real appreciation for how life was then, very different to today’s world .
So do yourself a favour go visit Jim and Lori set in a beautiful part of Los Angeles
And get to know a bit about yourself and a fine creature called the Horse !

I highly, highly recommend Cowboy Boot Camp. It is very friendly and has many dedicated workers there, especially Jim and Jennifer. The horses are very well trained and follow command very easily. The trail has a magnificent view. Unfortunately, along the trail, my phone fell out of my pocket and I was not able to locate it. I was very disappointed, but Jim and Jennifer were so amazingly dedicated, they went on the long trail ride AGAIN to rake through the dirt just to locate my phone. I am so grateful they took the time and energy and care to help me. I would definitely go there again.
Thank You So Much Jim and Team!!!

Cowboy Boot Camp! Yes they have boots for you to wear if you don’t have them. We went horse back riding along the beautiful trail hidden amidst the multi million dollar homes. I rode «Buddy», he’s a beauty.

I can only say wonderful things about Jim and Jen and our ride yesterday. I needed so much help and they were good, patient instructors. Beautiful ride on my horse, Buddy. I will seek them out the next time I’m visiting. GREAT RIDE!!!

Great Experience all around! I scheduled a ride for my boyfriend’s birthday and Jim was very helpful making me feel well prepared on the phone before we got there. He was very attentive with following up with a confirmation call the day before as well as calling about 20 min before we got there to make sure we could find the place okay. (The ranch is in the middle of a residential area designed for horses.) Although my boyfriend and I were very inexperienced riders, Jim made us feel very comfortable both with him and the horses. We had a great ride around the area with great views and Jim helped to take some pictures. He taught us a lot about horses and how to interact with them along the ride. The horses were great and extremely well mannered. They followed even the slight hint of commands and would go where you wanted. You can tell the horses are well cared after and that Jim has a great love for them, which was a huge deal for me. I would definitely recommend them to anyone else. Even if you have more experience they would be great because they just allow a faster pace, etc. As for the one bad review, I would call it a fluke, Jim was great and he’ll make sure you have a great time.

In January we took our entire company (30+) to Cowboy Boot Camp for an all day event. We participated in a number of fun rodeo-​like events and trails rides that our entire team enjoyed.
Jim and his team were amazing to say the least. They were excellent teachers and made all of us feel very comfortable on the horses. They also worked closely with people who didn’t have a lot of experience to make sure they felt comfortable. One member of our team had never been on a horse and by the end of the day he had participated in every one of the events!
I worked with Jim to plan the event and he was very helpful and accommodating, which made the planning process nice and easy. I explained to Jim ahead of time what we wanted to do for the event and what we were looking to get out of it– he nailed it! He went above and beyond for our event and it showed!
I will definitely be going back to ride with Jim again and highly recommend him to anyone, whether you’re learning to ride, are an experienced rider, or are looking for a fun group event.
Jim, his team, and their horses are amazing and we will never forget our wonderful experience at Cowboy Boot Camp.
Thank you Jim for all the memories and a truly unforgettable experience!

If you’re looking for an affordable adventure without going too far from home, check out Cowboy Boot Camp! None of this group ride business where you’re out there with 20 other people, this is a private ride/​lesson with beautiful horses and a great staff. I can easily recommend them to riders of all skill levels as they’re ready to help you push your limits. Jim, his wife Lori, and all the neighbors and friends we met along the trail made the day as much as the perfect weather. I can’t recommend them enough!

Jim was a great teacher. I’ve had several local trail rides and this one by far was the best. He taught me how to be a good horseman. I am looking forward to another ride soon!

My dad and I have been coming here for years for trail rides with Jim. We are both experienced riders– I rode on the equestrian team in college and my dad grew up on a thoroughbred farm– and they certainly deliver a thrilling experience for people who can ride, which is not always the case for trail rides. In fact, I wouldn’t really call this a trail ride, it’s more of a freelance, no-​rules riding lesson that include galloping.
They are great with beginners too, as all the horses are quiet and very well broken. Plus, Jim is an excellent trainer and is always safety first. It’s also pretty good deal at $ 60 an hour. Go for the two hour ride to the other side of PV… on clear day you can see Catalina! Just don’t let Jim convince you it’s Hawaii ;-)
Note: this is no slow, boring trail ride with fat horses who try to eat grass the whole time. Last time I went, I rode an Arabian, and we galloped hell-​bent-​for-​leather over the blooming hills of PV. What a rush! One of the best experiences of my life.
Tip: Bring your own boots and cowboy hat if you have them!
Have fun!

Worst Experience EVER! I would NEVER recommend wasting your time with these people!
I had planned a surprise horseback trial ride for my 1 year anniversary. My boyfriend had always talked about wanting to ride a horse and I thought it would be a wonderful surprise to treat him to an intimate horseback riding trail for our special occasion. Thanks to Lorie from Cowboy Boot Camp not only was that experience completely ruined but she lacked the customer service to make up for the horrible experience.
On Tuesday October 15^th I had contacted Cowboy Boot Camp about booking a trail ride. I had left a message asking about the pricing and reservation process. About 4 hours later, I received a phone call from Lorie, who had sold me on their trail rides. Lorie had explained that their trial rides were better and more intimate than other local group rides. I had told Lorie that I would need to get back to her and confirm my plans before I booked a reservation.
Wednesday October 16^th, at 5:15pm I had called Lorie back and left a voice mail telling her that I would love to book a morning appointment if she was still available. Later that night, I received a phone call at 8:50pm from Lorie confirming the morning appointment for Sunday October 20^th. Lorie had instructed me to arrive at the stables at 9:15am. She had instructed me to park our car on the street and walk back to the stables where the horses would be saddled up. Lorie told me to come 15 min before our trail hour so that we could get fitted for boots and get ready to leave. Lorie had also instructed to come with cash and be sure to contact her beforehand if anything had changed. She had written down my name and contact information and then gave me the address.
Sunday October 20^th, I had gotten my boyfriend out of bed for our special day. Keep in mind that we live about 30min from Lorie’s stables, and I had to wake my boyfriend (who is not a morning person) up at 7:30am to get him ready for his surprise. We had arrived at the address provided at 9:10am and walked to the back stables as instructed. My boyfriend was super excited once he saw the horses which I had noticed right away that they were not saddled up. We met a man who was feeding the horses in the back and he had taken us inside Lorie’s house to meet up with her.
To my surprise Lorie was sitting at her computer in PJs. She looked confused and asked me who I was. I told her that we had an appointment at 9:30 for a trail ride. Lorie pulled out her agenda, looked at it, and said that she did not have it written down. She looked up at me with a blank stare and said that she could not do a trail ride today. I just stood there in shock waiting for her to say that she was joking. Instead she stood up and said, «oh, isn’t it your anniversary or something?» I shook my head yes, holding back tears, and Lorie put her hand over her mouth and said «I am so sorry. My son has a fashion show at noon, and I do not have time to do a trail ride.» My boyfriend said it is okay and told me that we can come back another time, as Lorie just watched us leave her home.
I was hoping that she would have tried to rescheduled and offer us a special deal or some kind of discount for having us drive all the way out there for no reason but nothing was offered but a meaningless apology. She ruined my surprise and our one year anniversary, which is something that I can never have back. DO NOT waste your time with these people or their horrible customer service. I have never been so upset by anyone’s nonchalant demeanor. Lorie did absolutely nothing to make up for her mistake and I am so pissed that I wasted the gas and time to drive out there.

Fantastic experience for two newbies. My wife and I recently moved to Rolling Hills Estates and decided to attempt horse back riding. After reading reviews of the options in the area, we settled on Cowboy Boot Camp. As a child I had a shetland pony, but my wife had virtualy no experience riding and was very nervous. Jim did an amazing job putting her at ease beforehand and on the trail. She’s hooked and I can’t thank Jim enough for wonderful experience. My wife and I came away with a better appreciation for not only horseback riding but horsemanship. If your considering a lesson the area, we would highly recomend Cowboy Boot Camp.

So refreashed, in a world of extremes, where you have to be on a nose to tail ride with a bunch of beginners (it does have a place I know) or a private member or owner somewhere very expensive, this place is a great place for people who know or want to get to know how to ride, have a true love for it, but not a whole lifestyle /​bank dedicated to it. Plus, they made my super beginner hubby feel just as welcome as me, a seasoned but rusty rider– a huge feat, especially when it comes to horse back. I can’t wait to come back and be able to ride half as much/​good as I used to and I know they will have the patience for it, and maybe even to get my hubby comfortable in the saddle as well. Everyone that works here seems warm and friendly, but more — and most importantly, the horses are happy and healthy, well trained and cared for.

I went to Cowboy Boot Camp with friends to celebrate my Birthday with some horseback riding. One friend was nervous about riding due to a previous bad experience. Jim and Lori were great guides and everyone had a wonderful time. The horses are well trained and in great shape. I will definitely return!

It’s the most fun you’ll ever have on a horse! Lori & Jim are the best!!! Love hangin out after the ride in their barn.

Took my 13-​year-​old boy for his first riding lesson ever. What a kick! Lori and Jim are wonderful people. They made us feel very welcome. Their horses are extremely well-​trained and very cute. Two corgis are very friendly. Beautiful setting, plenty of trails. Fantastic experience!

What a great time!!!
I brought a friend up who was new to riding and timid and a friend’s son who was new to riding but fearless. Both of them had an amazing time! The horses were great, not half dead, but very well trained. Jim is an exceptional tour guide and is a lot of fun. I recommend for anyone wanting to see another side of Palos Verdes!