Miwok Livery Stables

Love the horses, the trainers, the facility, the arena. So happy I found this place.

This review is based on the kindness that I was met with when interacting with Theresa after falling off my bicycle and getting scraped up pretty bad. My buddy and I approached Miwok and once we found Theresa, were welcomed into the office and given their med supply kit and then shown to their washroom. She even had a great sense of humor saying (referring to cycling): «Oh, that’s not what I consider my type of fun – you should come horseback riding!»
I can only imagine that if they show this kind of care to strangers how they treat actual customers. Thanks again!

My one star goes to our trail leader, John, who was a fantastic teacher, really nice and very good with the horses.
I had been excited to go for a trail ride in a place surrounded by such beautiful trails and was incredibly disappointed when our ride consisted of a 25 minute walk up a road, where we made a u-​turn and walked back down the road to the stable.
I was planning this trip for weeks and felt like I couldn’t leave without saying something to someone about my disappointment in hopes that other riders may get a chance to actually experience a fun trail ride, but was met with passive aggression, rudeness and denial by the blonde haired woman managing the stables that day. She was a jerk, and the trail majorly sucked.
I can’t speak for the lessons there — from what I could tell they are quite good and the horses are beautiful and well taken care of.
However, I would never in a million years recommend a trail ride. I was very unhappy both by the trail and even more by the way the woman in charge responded to my feelings on the matter. It was an incredible waste of $ 100.

Words cannot express how much I love this place. It is a little slice of heaven on earth, and a welcome respite from the busy-​ness of life in urban San Francisco. The people who run this stable have good hearts, and they truly care about the horses and the riders.
I started riding when I was nine years old, was on a show team in my early teens (living on the East Coast), and had my own horse in my late teens (living in the Midwest). I did dressage, hunt-​seat equitation, and jumping. Then, after I sold my horse, I didn’t ride for 20+ years. My daughter, who is 9 years old now, started riding at Miwok about 1.5 years ago. Being at Miwok with her made me realize how much I missed riding, and I knew I had to go back.
For the children’s lessons — your child could not be more safe and cared for while learning to ride anywhere. The teachers teach respect for the horses, basic horse care, and the fundamentals of riding. My daughter started in lead-​line lessons, taught by a charming and knowledgeable young woman. My daughter loves the summer camps more than life itself. She takes after-​school lessons as well now, and they are the highlight of her week. She’s got a good set of fundamental skills for a kid her age, and she loves it. She spends time in the outdoors, and she’s learning important life lessons at the same time.
For the adult lessons — my experience has been that the teachers are knowledgeable, patient, kind, and helpful. Any time I’ve needed help with a horse, it has been at hand, and every question has been sensitively and knowledgeably answered. When I went back to riding after 20+ years, I was surprised to find that I was anxious about it. I’d never had fear or anxiety or fear around horses when I was young and riding, but now, I appreciate how badly you can get hurt if you’re not careful. Returning as a «rusty rider,» I was also woefully out of shape, and things that used to feel natural to me felt awkward and foreign. All of that gradually melted away under the instruction of the women at Miwok. I always felt safe, I never felt unfairly criticized, and I never felt pushed to do more than I felt I could. Throughout my experience, I’ve been challenged appropriately, but not pushed beyond my abilities. Miwok has quickly become the happiest place on earth for me.
It’s one thing to sit on top of a horse that will do everything for you. It is quite another to really know how to ride and handle a horse. Learning to ride well is a hard and slow business, a life-​long challenge. Miwok will teach you to ride, as opposed to just sitting there, and to handle yourself around horses. With horses, like with many things in life, patience, tenacity, and an honest, kind, and humble attitude will take you far. This is a wonderful thing for adults and children to learn.
Linda knows how to pick her horses. She’s an expert and she chooses carefully. She picks safe, lovely, kind-​hearted, and healthy animals for her stable. Some are energetic and strong for the more advanced riders, others are sweet and steady for the kids. She understands the horses, and she cares for them as you’d care for your own horses. She has to be cautious, and thank goodness she is.
To conclude, the thing I love best about this stable is the people. There’s no snob factor here, and haven’t seen any tiresome barn drama, either. At Miwok, you’ll find good-​hearted people who want to enjoy learning to ride in a beautiful setting.

Went for a trail ride and while everyone was pleasant and polite, I would not go again.
Before ever getting there I tried calling to make a reservation – no one answered the phone. I then emailed. It took them four days to respond.
Once we did get there my partner and I were put on horses that we were informed don’t like each other and should not be close together. Why would they send out these two horses who they know don’t get along on a trail ride together? My partner and I wanted to be on the trail ride together, but we were scolded multiple times for being too close. So much for spending time together. At what seemed to be an arbitrary point on the trail, we turned around having reached no particular vista and we were back short of the advertised time.

I decided to take myself horseback riding for my birthday. It had been 20 years since I had been and man was it awesome. My horse, Maxwell, was so well trained, well mannered and sweet. Just the slightest motion of the reins and that horse obeyed. I was really amazed at how well-​trained the horse was. I was given a thorough up-​to-​speed on safety and handling before the ride. My trail guide, John, was extremely knowledgeable, courteous, and helpful. The views were absolutely exhilarating. I’m glad these reviews didn’t discourage me from going to MiWok because I’m really glad I found it and I’m going to make it a regular habit!

This was my first time taking lessons. For me, the problem was the owner/​instructor. I found her communications style inappropriate. For example, in trying to find a balanced way to approach a powerful horse with an unwieldy saddle, I did not appreciate her saying 4 times in 20 seconds, in an overly loud & demanding voice, «put the saddle on the horse!». When I said, «I will put the saddle on when I am ready», we were less than a minute into the exercise. This did not sit well with the dominant mare in her and I became something of a target.
Her instructions were often very ambiguous to the inexperienced. She tries really hard to be congenial but becomes ill-​tempered & rude. I think she’s just been at it too long. She has a low opinion of horses and then treats a person the same way she treats a horse.

Bad tempered horses and staff. v rude staff. I’ve been riding english since I was a kid in England and this is probably one of the worse stables I have ever been too. the location is fantastic, shame the rest isn’t. When horses bite and get angry the way these horses do, there’s something wrong. Not the horses fault, just bad management and care.

Thought I would give a more thoughtful review here — I started my lessons as an adult at miwok when I first moved to the bay area. I liked them at first but didn’t really know better. I learned the very basics of grooming and tacking but not really how to interact with a horses energy and was often scared out of my wits when some angry horse was lunging at me or kicking out (many students who also didn’t get lessons in proper ground handling were ticking them off I assume and thus bad bad habits).
After many years of riding and lessons now I know that I never learned a proper seat at miwok (the basic foundation of all good riding) and the group classes were often a free for all. The manager/​owner whatever she is was MIGHTY grumpy putting all of the teachers in a bad mood too. The horses overall were feisty on the ground and ok to ride. When I was afraid of tacking up a horse who was after me and would ask for help I would get in trouble for that. It was really stressful.
I took one trail class here and what a disaster. No real «lesson» just literally the yell of «hold on» before galloping up a hill. The woman in front of me fell off under her horse and shockingly was able to get back up unhurt after her RAN over her. That was my last lesson there — I was done.
Finally I volunteered here at a kid day where troubled youth got to come and ride etc — the grumpy manager actually STORMED out of the lesson when one volunteer mentioned that the assistants helped the kids to trot in the last class. «You want to run the class?» she asked and stormed off.
My experiences at Webb Ranch and Moss Beach Ranch were beyond superior all around.

A wonderful experience. We took a trail ride that had the most beautiful views. We were beginners and were provided with excellent instruction and outfitted with boots and helmets. The staff was both warm and attentive which makes me want to go back and learn more about riding.

I started riding at Miwok when I was in third grade. I rode for years and made it to the show team, which was a blast. The same instructors that have always been there, are still there. Instead of slapping a saddle on a horse and just throwing you on, Miwok is way into safety. They take the time to teach you the basics on the ground, such as tacking, and on the horse. It may seem slow at times, but it’s more important than you think to learn the basics. In the end it will make you a better rider.
In a perfect world every stable would have a field for their horses to graze in and run around, but in a majority of places, horses are boxed in their paddocks. The good thing is each horse gets out more than once a day and lunged to let out their yahoos. The horse’s temperaments are great, some are feisty and great for she show team, and a lot are great and gentle for the kids classes. I volunteer at Miwok once a week to do grain and various things, and I love going there. Everyone is so nice, I’ve made multiple friends with the riders and instructors. Miwok is a great place for kids and I highly recommend it. I hope to take lessons there again soon!

I currently attend John’s introductory class on Sunday mornings and I just love it.
He is an excellent instructor and really cares about you learning the rights basics and being safe. I’ve read comments from someone who was complaining about it being too much about safety and I have to say, I’m surprised. Don’t you want your kid to be safe? Don’t you want them to understand horses before they ride them? To be honest, I don’t have kids yet but the day I do and they want to ride, I’d rather have them ready for the unexpected rather than have them afraid of horses for life — or worse, after a bad accident happens.
I actually think John’s class is the right balance of fun and learning. Horse are animals and they have their own way of reacting to the world, which is really far from ours. We humans should take time to understand them before we even think about jumping on one.
John usually has 2 people helping him with the class and last weekend it meant there was one horse handler per student. How great is that? I think the class must be around 6 students and there’s always someone missing a class so we end up receiving a lot of personal attention. At the same time we get to learn from the other students and I’ve discovered that it’s very valuable. I used to be a big advocate of one-​on-​one training. I’m not anymore. I’ve discovered you learn so much from looking at the others. Every Sunday I can’t believe I’ll have to wait another week before getting my next lesson. I think I’m gonna have to sign up for Saturday trail rides to get more of Miwok.
Oh, and also, everyone at Miwok is very nice, staff and clients. Normal people in the horse world?! What a nice change!

I took my then 16 year old niece here for a trail ride. She has a few years of riding experience, and me — none. In fact, the only horseback riding experience I have had has been trying to stay on a horse met with extreme fear and anxiety producing situations!
Our trail leader and instructor, can’t remember his name, was encouraging, nice and pleasant. We had some sun on our beautiful trail ride and both of our horses were suited well for us. They seemed to focus on safety and the check-​in process went quickly and efficiently. My niece had a great time and I had a corrective experience!

Miwok stables is a home away from home, if you like horses in your living room. All the staff are kind, experienced and wonderful to work with. I love this stable because it is not at all pretentious, the horses are well loved, and being out in the middle of nowhere just 20 minutes from SF is amazing! If you can take from Mia or Christine, do it. They are both phenomenal teachers and kind souls!

My kids and I have been riding at Miwok for six years. I took lessons with my teenager before she went east to college. My son has done «Mommy and Me» classes with me and is now in his first summer camp. I have moved from rank beginner (at 41) to advanced-​intermediate (at 47). I have been frustrated at times, but the more I learn and study books by the experts in the field (George Morris for example), the more I realize this is one of the best places around for adults and children to learn to ride and learn all about horses.
The setting speaks for itself – it does not get more beautiful than this. The trails are breathtaking. The riding arenas are surrounded by gorgeous landscape and wildlife. What could be better than a doe and her fawn wandering by your class?
It’s true that the instruction can seem to proceed at a snail’s pace. They are very safety conscious and they don’t let you do more than you’re ready for. They make you do your own groundwork, grooming and tacking your horse. You can find other barns that will throw you or your kids up on a horse that’s tacked up for when you arrive and have you cantering after two lessons and jumping in a few weeks.
However you will be a much better rider and horseperson if you stick with the slow, steady «Miwok Way.» You learn how to check your horse all over for problems while you groom him. You learn to work with horses on the ground and deal with different horse personalities. You even learn to shovel manure (there’s a trick to it!). Most important, you build a solid foundation of basic riding skills before you start doing faster, more difficult work.
The instructors are great teachers. Although very personable, they don’t have a schmoozy «the customer is always right» attitude, and that’s entirely appropriate. They are teachers, not salespeople. Their job is to take care of their riders and their horses and make sure the riders improve. Telling a student they’re great when they’re not does not help the student improve. At the same time, the teachers look for opportunities to encourage students and praise them when they do something well or make an improvement.
There is a full range of English riding classes here, both in the ring and on the trail. Kids can take camps and lessons, participate in the after-​school program, and participate in shows without their parents having to shoulder the very costly burden of owning a horse. Kids who come here don’t get to be spoiled brats – they do barn chores and take care of the horses they ride, and the show team kids are expected to work as a team, not be on personal ego trips. My impatient six-​year-​old kid absolutely loves the summer camp. They also have clinics from time to time and even an adult summer camp, which is fascinating and totally fun.
This barn really cares about the welfare of its horses. Each horse has its own carefully-​fit saddle and saddle pads, and a bridle that offers riders a correct level of control. (Some bridles are a lot more «disciplinary» than others.) The horses get top quality feed, bedding, veterinary care and farrier care. Complementary care such as equine massage is provided when appropriate. Horses are turned out in outdoor paddocks where they can stretch and roll and receive visitors most of the day, weather permitting.
This is not a snooty barn in the least. They’re serious about running a quality teaching program, but it’s so much fun. Adults like me can find wonderful comradeship with other students – I call us the «post-​adolescent National Velvet Syndrome ladies” – and a few men ride here too. The kids always have smiles on their faces, with lots of good-​natured joking and teasing.
The proof of the value of Miwok’s approach is in the pudding.
Adults, no matter how nervous or out of shape, can learn to ride at Miwok if they are patient. When I started six years ago, I was horrible. I hadn’t been to the gym in years, and I was as fearful as the Cowardly Lion and as stiff as the Tin Woodsman before the oil can came along. I will never be the most confident person or the best rider on the planet, but I have improved enough to be going on a week-​long riding vacation in Italy next month.
Attend a show in the North or South Bay where the Miwok Show Team competes with kids from from other barns and you’ll see for yourself. The Miwok kids are consistent winners. The kids and horses are turned out (dressed and cleaned) beautifully. The kids ride confidently, securely and with elegance, and they are mounted appropriately.
Miwok is really a wonderful place. I don’t think I’d be sane without it.

I’m modifying my review. My daughter finished her week much happier. While she still told me she would rather try another camp next year, she did end up enjoying her last few days.
I would recommend the camp to children who want to take lessons and who are prepared to (and can afford) multiple weeks.
My daughter enjoyed grooming and learning about the horses, but didn’t love spending the whole time in the closed arena. She would have (and I would have) preferred to have her on simple trail rides, and enjoying the outdoors and the horses in that setting.
Nevertheless, though she was unhappy her first few days, she ended up enjoying the camp to a certain extent.
The staff was extremely kind and helpful.
Once again, depending on the child, Miwok might be the perfect place for you. It wasn’t for us.
We would have liked more of a low key environment.

Nice to see their lack of customer service remains consistent and consistently bad.

While I really appreciate safety conscious riders, Miwok takes it to the extreme level of risk aversion. The stable is smack in the middle of the best trails in country and all but one of their classes is in the ring and enrollment is severely limited. What??? Why not make use of the trails???
And the classes are spotty — some days the ring is empty and some days filled and the teacher is overwhelmed by a huge number of students who are unexpectedly making up missed classes from other days. (Poor organization at the management level dumps the problem on the teacher).
And beware — some seriously crabby women take lessons there during the day — perhaps trying to live out their junior riding club fantasies from the 70s? It is funny to watch the olé gals get all riled up over what horse she might get for the annual «horse show.» (The blue ribbon is mine, mine, mine). But the ladies in your class will remind you of life in 8^th grade; One fellow student yelled at me two weeks in a row during a lesson — it’s enough to make you feel like you’re at work not at play. It’s a shame. Miwok could use its resources in a much better way.

Knowledgeable staff. Beautiful trails. A very accessible stable, literally and figuratively.
One of my best birthday presents ever was a trail ride at Miwok. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect gift. It was my first time on a horse in 15 years, so I had no idea what I was doing. My instructor was very personable and supportive.
My horses name was Maxie, I can’t remember my instructors name but just ask for the gorgeous red-​head, they’ll know who you mean ;)
A wonderful and memorable experience…
I also went to a charming birthday party here. The kids had so much fun!

I love horses. I love riding… I just don’t tend to love other people who ride horses, much less even like them. There just normally tends to be such a competitive nature to riding, especially hunt seat.
Miwok, however, is a great, laid back stable that offers affordable lessons. It’s the kind of barn where you can learn to ride without feeling mocked or like some hoity toities are looking down their nose at you. People come here to genuinely appreciate horses, not to be part of some tight-​jodphured, A-​circuit scene.
A phenomenal place to let your children learn how to ride as well, with safe, mellow and bomb-​proof lesson horses.