Horseback riding is a great activity for kids. Yes, it teaches them the physical skills needed to ride a horse, but it also teaches them some pretty important life lessons through the less glamorous parts of riding—like feeding, grooming and cleaning. Not to mention, they’ll also have a blast interacting with these big, sweet animals. We found five great places (within a half hour drive of San Francisco!) where kids can take horseback riding lessons, attend summer camps or go for a scenic trail ride—read on to find the perfect spot for your child.
Best for beginners: Mar Vista Stable, Daly City
Where: 2152 Skyline Blvd, Daly City, CA
Mar Vista Stable’s location (just outside San Francisco city limits in Daly City) makes it a particularly convenient spot for San Francisco kids to learn horseback riding. The instructors here take a gentle approach to riding, focusing on teaching kids how to safely communicate with and care for horses. (There’s also a pony carousel, where little ones can experience riding for the first time!) Mar Vista also offer lessons, trail rides, summer camps and private lessons along with guided trail rides.
Best for lessons: Miwok Stables, Mill Valley
Where: 701 Tennessee Valley Rd, Mill Valley, CA
Located in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in the Marin Headlands, Miwok Stables stress safety first, ensuring that kids get a solid foundation of the basics before moving on to more advanced skills. Their lessons are a great way for kids to get comfortable behind the reins—they’ll start with 30-minute “leadline lessons” taught with the assistance of advanced riders from Miwok’s show team and, after graduating, kids can take a course of weekly, after-school lessons from September through May. For a shorter horseback riding experience, sign your kids up for a week-long summer camp or trail ride.
Best for summer camp: Moss Beach Ranch, Moss Beach
Where: 1862 Etheldore St, Moss Beach, CA
Moss Beach Ranch, adjacent to the beautiful and ecologically diverse Rancho Corral de Tierra, features some 4,000 acres of riding trails. While the ranch offers horseback riding lessons (group, private and semi-private), the action-packed summer camps (for children ages six to 15) are what makes this ranch special. Here, kids will ride every day with the same horse, so they can develop a very special bond with their new four-legged friend. The camp curriculum also includes daily gymnastics on horseback along with horsemanship instruction where they’ll learn about horse safety, health and nutrition. (Registration for summer camp is open now!)
Best for guided trail rides: Sea Horse Ranch, Half Moon Bay
Where: 1828 Cabrillo Hwy N., Half Moon Bay, CA
Sea Horse Ranch is a great place to go for a family trail ride with your horse-obsessed child. Kids as young as seven can saddle up for one to two-hour guided trail rides along Half Moon Bay’s coastal bluffs and beaches after a brief overview of horseback riding basics. Guides carefully match children with horses appropriate for their level of experience, and will keep a close eye on the kiddos throughout the ride to make sure they stay in the proper riding position. An added bonus—photographers are strategically positioned along the trail to capture photos of your kids!
Best for learning how to care for horses: Sun Valley Equestrian, Montara
Where: 2001 North Cabrillo Highway, Montara, CA
This Montara spot strives to teach kids the importance of care and respect for the horses throughout their experience. Their special summer programs (which run from May to August) give kids the chance to “own” a horse for a week complete with all the daily responsibilities from feeding to grooming. They’ll also learn about various breeds, veterinary care, farrier work, different riding disciplines and how to ride. Camps run for ten week-long sessions with plenty of dates to choose from—click here to see the upcoming summer 2018 schedule.
