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Vino Vaqueros Horseback Riding
- Scenery
- Fiancé
- Worry
“Best customer service, best horses for any level of rider, and the most gorgeous single track trails with breathtaking vistas of the vineyards and canyons.”
Best Horseback Riding Lessons near Santa Barbara, CA
2 of these schools are based in Santa Barbara; the others serve Santa Barbara from towns including Santa Ynez (25 mi), Ojai (24 mi) and Solvang (5 mi).
21 open weekends · 20 rated 4.5+
Data verified October 18, 2026
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Eclipse Thoroughbred Training & Sports Therapy
“My wife and I met with the owners Angie and Mike and were shown around the farm/track/ barns/ paddocks by them for an hour while I am sure they had other things to do.”
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Little Big Riding School
- Kids
- Instructor
“The ride itself was great, just a quick 45 minutes around the fields outside Santa Ynez, but the horses were very well behaved and easy to get along with.”
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Ridgewood Farm
“Great energy.”
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Santa Ynez Valley Therapeutic Riding Program
“Tranquil and homey feeling”
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Santa Ynez Valley Pony Club
“Great place”
The 24 schools listed for Santa Barbara, CA teach riding. Which disciplines a barn runs, whether it has an indoor arena and which ages it accepts come from what the barn publishes itself; star ratings and rider quotes are taken from public listings.
Area overview: Santa Barbara, CA
23 of the 24 schools on this page have a rating, from 3.8 to 5.0 across 381 reviews; 1 has 50 or more reviews and 20 are rated 4.5 or higher. 21 are open on Saturdays and 17 on Sundays. 16 have ten or more years of experience, the longest 29 years. 4 are family- or locally-owned. We have a website on file for 23 of the schools on this page; 17 publish a contact page; 17 list a public email and 1 takes bookings online. We count these figures across the schools on this page; distances are straight-line, and hours and prices change, so confirm the details with the school before you enroll.
Where are riding lesson times and rider levels published?
Out of the 24 schools here, 23 publish a site of their own. That page carries the lesson timetable, the rider levels and the age rules; whether a barn has an indoor arena is rarely in the listing itself, so read it before you call.
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Horsemans Hangout
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The Big Valley Ranch of Santa Barbara
“I was able to stay on the ranch while I was in town on business.”
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Jacobsen Dairy Equine Center
“Very nice for the rodeo”
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Los Padres Outfitters
- Guide
- Patient
- Informative
“Great casual ride through Carp neighborhoods crossing the highway overpass (strange but interesting) and then a perfect beach experience with all the horses happy to have their hooves in the sand.”
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Sunnybrook Farm & Ranch
“As a Rebecca, this place is really important to me.”
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In the Irons Farm
“There are a range of boarding options and training packages to suit needs, environment is friendly, and the team is super accomplished and professional.”
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California Sporthorses
“This facility is so incredibly beautiful and peaceful.”
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Equestrian Excellence at Infinite Horsemanship
“My young daughter was excited to ride but scared of the horses at first , Cara has a very gentle way of working through any fears yet still keeps a level of discipline and order to make it fun and exciting.”
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Hidden Creek Ranch
“Beautiful place with beautiful and knowledge people to help all your horse dreams come true.”
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On the Line Equestrian
“Her wealth of knowledge and patience has taken myself as a rider with 25 years experience that developed bad habits over the years regain my confidence.”
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Canty Rune Training Stables
- Learn
- Kids
- Adults
“Not only does my daughter get to ride but she learns valuable lessons on Horsemanship which will stay with her for a lifetime and has added to her overall confidence.”
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Santa Barbara Beach Horseback Rides
“We trotted on the beach, rode on beautiful trails, he took wonderful pictures and we saw lots of amazing birds (a huge blue heron), property, and plants.”
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Western Trail Rides
- Boys
- Learn
“My Daughter finds comfort in melissa's company and loves learning everything about the horses, she is now confident in riding and looks forward to work every lesson.”
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Black Mountain Sport Horses
“I highly recommend the riding program at Black Mountain, whether it's your first day in the saddle or you're looking to ride in the prix.”
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Nojoqui Horse Ranch
- Patient
- Beginner
- Training
“The children had an experience of a lifetime learning how to work with the horse for riding, and the trainers took care to make our daughter's birthday celebration extra meaningful.”
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Santa Ynez Valley Horseback Rides
- Stream
- Kids
- Trees
“My husband has a problem with his right leg but Michelle and Vanessa had great options to help him mount his horse with a mounting block and hands on support.”
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Monty & Pat Roberts Inc./California Horse Center
- Training
- Ranch
“What he does is train unbroke horses to be able to have a rider get on within a very short amount of time by using techniques that make the horse trust what you're doing.”
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A Lotte Horses
“This is a special place for me and if you give it a try I'm sure it will be a special place for you.”
Horseback Riding Services in Santa Barbara, CA Cost Estimates
Minimum cost
$230
Maximum cost
$1092
National Average
$328
Avg Per Hour Rates
$98
$288
$517
Typical price range is based on 332 cost profiles
Why these companies made our list
What students and parents say about schools near Santa Barbara
- “A spacious, clean ranch with riding arena. Really friendly and competent instructors and community of students working together.” — from a review of A Lotte Horses
- “Everyone there is friendly and knowledgeable - they truly care about the horses and the growth of their riders!” — from a review of Nojoqui Horse Ranch
- “The staff provides excellent care for the horses and does an amazing job working with the riders to help them obtain their goals.” — from a review of Sunnybrook Farm & Ranch
- “My daughter did a private beach ride. Amazing experience, lovely horses and super instructor Elena.” — from a review of Los Padres Outfitters
- “I felt safe the entire time. I highly recommend Little Big Riding School.” — from a review of Little Big Riding School
Excerpts from public reviews of the schools listed on this page.
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