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Vino Vaqueros Horseback Riding
- Adventure
- Guide
- Area
“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 Maria, CA
2 of these schools are based in Santa Maria; the others serve Santa Maria from towns including Santa Ynez (29 mi), San Luis Obispo (26 mi) and Arroyo Grande (16 mi).
16 open weekends · 22 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
- Instructor
- Kids
“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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Grace Riding Academy
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Santa Ynez Valley Therapeutic Riding Program
“They are awesome!”
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Cambridge Equestrian Center
The 24 schools listed for Santa Maria, 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 Maria, CA
The 24 schools on this page are rated from 3.7 to 5.0 across 241 reviews; 22 are rated 4.5 or higher. 15 are open on Saturdays and 11 on Sundays. 1 has a BBB rating of A or A+. 15 have ten or more years of experience, the longest 40 years. 2 are family- or locally-owned. We have a website on file for 22 of the schools on this page; 18 publish a contact page and 20 list a public email. 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, 22 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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Santa Ynez Valley Pony Club
“Very beautiful place”
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Horsemans Hangout
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Jacobsen Dairy Equine Center
“Very nice for the rodeo”
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Roseshell's Roundup
“Great trainer”
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Starlite Meadows Farm
“Awesome”
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Amanda Garcia Equestrian Training
“She is so professional , the barn is always spotless clean and she is an amazing rider and trainer!”
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Santa Ynez Valley Horseback Rides
- Pony
- Guide
- Trees
“I enjoyed the tranquility, the open fields, the green bushes that my horse was constantly trying to eat, the tree branches that I had to duck under because my horse is such a tall guy, the shallow stream that we waded through, even the butt of the ho...”
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Monty & Pat Roberts Inc./California Horse Center
- Ranch
- Training
“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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Meadow Creek Farm
- Trails
“Dozens of white and blue peacocks roam freely, strutting and preening, goats, ducks and other barnyard animals fill the air with calls of nature, friendly folks chat easily, and contented horses graze in vast green pastures.”
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Varian Arabians
“Love the beautiful ranch and horses.”
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Morning Star Equestrian Center
“The owners are delightful, historic California family crossing paths with mine.”
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Bodhi Ranch
“In conclusion, Bodhi Ranch is not just a boarding facility; it's a retreat where horse enthusiasts can enjoy the beauty of Edna Valley, the proximity to Pismo Beach, and the unparalleled environment created by Kenzie and Keefer that's safe, comfortab...”
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Sage and Spur Ranch
“Premium hay is fed three times daily, grain/ supplements fed, (owner provided), blanketing, fly masks, protective boots applied for daily turn-out, all without extra charges.”
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California Sporthorses
“Heather is very knowledgeable, keeps me well updated, and my horses return in top condition and happy as can be.”
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Eric Wagner's Training Center
“I've been a client here for a few years and really like their approach to starting and training horses, giving them a thorough foundation and teaching the owner and/or rider how to be an active knowledgeable rider and not a passenger.”
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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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Ironwood Ranch
“They've been great to work with and my daughter loves taking lessons there too.”
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Madonna Ranch
“Five Star's”
Horseback Riding Services in Santa Maria, CA Cost Estimates
Minimum cost
$235
Maximum cost
$1113
National Average
$334
Avg Per Hour Rates
$100
$293
$527
Fair price range is based on 495 cost profiles
Why these companies made our list
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