Calero Ranch Stables

First I will tell you what gives me the authority to write a review on this, um..., 'facility'. I have rode horses since I was five years old on so many different horses I cannot even count them. Riding everywhere from the mom and pop laid-back Legacy Oaks to the very impressive, show oriented Macintosh Stables in Portola Valley Training Center and back again. So I like to imagine that I know a little bit more than your average 'equestrians' across the street who take their kids to a monthly ride at a place like Calero and calls that riding. With my authority being est. I will move onto the actual review. My first experience of the horrors of Calero came from a horse that had been BLINDED from Calero's water. The owner of the horse later told that right before she had bought him that she went out to inspect the horse and found the water he was drinking to be tainted with mosquitos and moss and occasionally a dead vermin. I later found this to be true in the pasture troughs as well as the stall ones. My next experience with Calero was 5 years ago when my family rescued a horse named Cheerio. The vet said that he had received minimal care due to the fact that he was not only 300 pounds underweight, but also had ringworm, rainrot, broken/missing teeth, and poor conformation due to ill-fitting saddles. We later confirmed this when we found that the reason for his diarrhea was because he was allergic to hay, something that even a person with the slightest of horse sense could have figured out if someone spent hours on him. Because of the weight issue we honestly did not expect him to make it a full year, but now 7 years later he is thriving. Showing what proper treatment can do to a horse. My final experience with Calero confirmed that what I had seen on previous experiences was not unique but also gave me a chance to inspect the footing in the arena used by One Step Closer. In there I was forever removing stones to give the horses a path that would prevent stone bruises. From my experience with Calero it is obvious that I cannot but help feel joy when I hear that Calero ranch will soon be closing? Past all this, the trails really are the best I have ever been on. Pros: Beautiful Trails Cons: The Facilities more

I have ridden at calero for 7 years and I have ridden Lad,Remy,Clubs,and Jorge on the trail and in the arena. I have walked, troted, and cantered all of them, I have ridden Lad over 50 times and I have learned to jump with him. I have NEVER had any problem with any of these amazing horses. Lad and I have become best friends to the point where he recognizes my voice and comes when I call him. I plan to take him to a show later this month., If you are unable to stay on any Calero horse, you are obviously a terrible and inexperienced rider and the horse obviously didn't like you. Please do not make assumptions about horses you don't know. Lad is the most caring and responsible horse I have ever met. I would trust Lad with my life. Pros: awsome horses more

Calero is a very good barn but has it difficulties just like every other barn. So if you have a bad experience there kinda like i did just get up and start over. The view is great there and there were many animals around and everything. The instructors are good and Calero has plenty of arenas. So just enjoy every minute of it cause life is to short not to. Pros: Scenery was pretty Cons: listening to what people have to say more

I used to work at Calero. I taught lessons, worked summer camp, and lead trail rides. I also boarded my horse there for two years. I no longer have any affiliation with them (I have no reason to lie to you). The summers that I worked at Calero were the best of my life. They take EXCELENT care of their horses, and they spend hours, making sure that the horses that kids and adults ride are safe and sound. I've personally spent hours/days/weeks working with different horses to make sure that they could handle any situation in summer camp (screaming, yelling, hair pulling, yanking on the rains, kicking, leaning off the side of the saddle, ear pulling, etc.) and I am sure that Pat (the Summer Camp Director) still has her employees thoroughly test/train all new horses. The employees all have a passion for horses, and often take the Calero horses out for rides, just because they think it is fun (even though most of them have their own horses!). Pros: Beautiful settings with wonderful horses! Cons: It gets really hot in the summers more

When we were close to the corral on the way back from the trail ride, my horse went up in the front at a trot. All of a sudden, my best friend's horse started to go into a wild gallop. So did mine. The guide was telling us to pull back on the reins (which we did). My horse came to a sudden stop and I went over the horse. I'm 9 years old, and don't weigh much, and fell hard on the ground on my left side. The guides' horses weren't even fast enough to stop the horses from galloping off. It was ONLY the children's horses that took off wildly. Long story short, much pain, lots of gore, scared my mom to death, and spent the afternoon at the ER. Miraculously, no broken bones, although my nose was swollen 3x normal size, and the bone bruise on my left hip made it difficult to walk. My lip was split open and had to be stitched. I looked like the bride of Frankenstein for about 2 weeks, but was lucky. I'm afraid that the next child may not be so lucky. Pros: Lovely setting. Cons: Uncontrollable horses for children and inexperienced riders. more