Las Trampas Stables

If I could add a «-» before the star, I would. Horrible people… horrible to their horses (Gary slapped one on its nose and yelled at it in front of me and my young kids). I took my 10, 7, and 12 year old to the stable for a short trail ride. Gary yelled at me because I did not know how to lead a horse (that is why I paid them, btw) and ruined what should have been a joyful experience for all of us. He discussed his alcohol problem with the added horse «leader» (sorry, I am unsure of the correct lingo), and completely ignored my kids. Cindy was equally unprofessional. I suspect they had all been drinking, because their service to their paid customers was so appalling. No apologies, nothing. In fact, my 12-​year old was so upset over the verbal abuse that I have contacted my lawyer and East Bay Regional parks. Yes, it was THAT BAD. I would be extremely concerned if I had a horse bordered there.

I am currently looking for a location nearby my home for my 3 girls to get riding lessons. I call this location this morning and the lady just seemed like she was having a bad day. She was extremely rude and seemed irritated by me asking a simple question «Do you offer once a week classes at a monthly flat rate?» she went on saying they are not accepting any new students or riders until August. I’m in no rush and would have waited until we were able to enroll had she put a smile in her voice. I don’t recommend giving these people your hard earned money with the type of service I received over the phone.

My daughter did riding lesson a few years ago here and the horses are top notch. They are well cared for and well trained. Cindy is a no nonsense lady who knows her stuff. If you can’t handle someone telling you what to do than you should not take LESSONS of any sort! My only complaint was no cell service, drove me crazy!
Not the fault of the business at all. If your child wants to take lessons this is a great place for kids.

Cindy did a Ranch Hands Class for our combined Boy Scout/​Venture Scout crew. We are going on a 7 day trail ride at Philmont in New Mexico this summer and needed some training ahead. This class was perfect. She started with history of the horse, parts of the horse, saddle and bridle. After the class we went to the barn and the students learned how to approach, halter, lead, tie, groom, saddle and bridle their horse (2 students per horse). After a nice lunch break at their picnic area, the students all learned the basics of riding. We had kids that were experienced and 2 that had never touched a horse before. All 6 students were cantering by the end of the session! This is a testament to their amazing horses. We loved Apache, Lacy and Prince. I highly recommend this class fro anyone that wants a beginners look at what horses and riding are all about!

My husband and I took our daughter for a trail ride at the Sunol location for her birthday. The Sunol Regional Wilderness location was so beautiful and scenic. The guides were very friendly and really made sure my 5 year old daughter’s safety was a priority. Now she wants to take horseback riding lessons!

My grand daughter participated in riding lessons and Ranch Days at Las Trampas last year, and she loved it. The kids learn about horse anatomy, horse psychology, horse care and barn work as well as only riding, which is so important to being able to be around horses. They also learn how to be responsible and do required chores in a fun, supportive environment. The kids are outdoors, getting strong in the fresh air.
My grand daughter was out of state all summer, and we are hoping to get her set up at Las Trampas for lessons and Ranch Days again as soon as we can. It is a wonderful resource, and I am grateful we found it. We love Cindy!

We took our 8yr old daughter for a 30 min ride in the Sunol Wilderness. Couldn’t have had a better experience. The guide was knowledgable about the horses and the area! He was great with our daughter and taught her a lot. Prices are very low considering what you get. We will definitely be back and recommending this place to our friends.

I’ve been going to Cindy at Las Trampas Stables for the past year and half. I had to take a break due to my foot injury however I am so happy to be able to ride and see Cindy and the horses again. Horses are good for the soul, I tell ya!
My review will consist of two parts the Stable and Cindy.
I take private riding lessons with Cindy, she also grooms me for horse ownership. Her lesson doesn’t consist of just riding a horse (you can do that if you do a trail ride). The lessons I take teach me how to understand my horse, how to groom and properly take care of a horses and how to be a good horse owner.
I love their trail rides too, basically you get on a trail horse and just ride, of course there is a professional leading the way. The trails are beautiful and gorgeous. It’s great to do trail rides in a group environment, as a couple or just by yourself. Either way you can’t go wrong with a trail ride.
Stable Review
* I absolutely love this stable. They are very reasonable if you want to board your horses here. There is someone on site ²⁴⁄₇. Cindy and her husband love and care for all the horses as if the horses belong to them. The horses get an ample amount of exercise, care and attention on a daily basis.
They also offer private and group horse riding lessons. You can use their stables to take lessons or actually do a trail ride. The prices are very reasonable compared to other companies. Obviously they use their horses when they are doing lessons with adults and children and not the horses that are boarding at the facility. The horses they use are amazing and so good with people and kids.
Cindy has always been very accommodating with my schedule and very understanding. I had pre paid and got injured (not at the stables) however I am still able to use the lessons I paid for. I didn’t even stress when I got injured about the money I had prepaid because I knew there wouldn’t be an issue.
The stable also host’s the cutest birthday parties for kids ! They have a room dedicated to kids and the most adorable ponies ever (I will take some pictures next time for my fellow Unilocalers with kids)
Review for Cindy
* So I have to LAUGH at some of these 2 star reviews about Cindy. (In my head Im thinking what the F is wrong with these people) Horses weigh 4,000 — 5,000 pounds, she is trying to PROTECT you and the safety of your children and she is also being a smart business by following all the mandatory paperwork her insurance company requires. As a parent would you want to use a stable or business that doesn’t follow directions or doesn’t want to put safety first, I would think you would appreciate Cindy’s due diligence. I love Cindy because she is one of those cowgirls who doesn’t mess around. She will tell you how it is and put safety first. She doesn’t sugar coat anything. My lessons with her are like therapy for my soul. Horses and Cindy makes me very happy.
I LOVE how Cindy responds to all the negative comments clarifying the situation.
I adore you Cindy and I love your stable ! Thank you for having this amazing place, your stable has been therapeutic and I adore you for who you are and how you run your business.
I personally rather go to a stable that has a cowgirl who doesn’t tolerate shit and puts the safety of the customers first rather than a stable that is lenient and accommodating when it comes to safety, waivers and business practices. Again horses weigh thousands of pounds Unilocalers ! :)

My family and I scheduled a horse riding session with Las Trampas Stables. I called and spoke with Cindy who I found very friendly she explained the reservation process to me thoroughly and we booked our event. At a later date I called and left a message to add additional persons to my reservation and wanted to change the time for my event. Cindy was prompt in her return calls to me and was always very helpful. She even called me the day prior to my event to confirm my reservation. We arrived for our event two men (sorry I can’t recall their names) were very friendly and the six horses were prepared and ready to go! My daughter and family had an amazing experience and my parents even inquired how they could make their own reservations to ride at a later date. Sure we needed to sign waivers and the men were strict on who got to ride what horse and they picked out the horse that was appropriate for each rider via their age and size, which I respect. Just because my daughter wants the black horse doesn’t mean their experience and knowledge of what horse would be good for her size and age over rides her want. Horses are large powerful animals and I’m willing to listen to what the experienced employees tell me! The negative reviews seems to be about the owners attitudes, but I can understand that Las Trampas probably needs to be strict with people who want to treat their business like a petting zoo. Our spoiled children (and parents apparently) would benefit from learning that there are rules and processes to follow and respect. (Insert your Veruca Salt, «Daddy I want it now» quote here.) We learned about Las Trampas Stables from frequenting the Las Trampas Park. The rates they charge are completely reasonable as well and a bargain as far as I am concerned. Everything was a success and I will surely bring back my kids and family again!

My daughter attended a birthday party here recently. Cindy, The woman in charge (not sure if she is owner or manager) came off as very abrasive and unfriendly from the start. There was an issue at the beginning of the party with a child being brought to the party by an adult (not the parent) and her waiver was not already signed. As a result she stated the child could not ride or even attend the party. She instructed the adult to take her off the premises quite harshly. This parent also had her own child there which caused a problem. The child’s parent is in the hospital so obviously a difficult situation. I can honestly say I appreciate the fact that they have to follow the rules for their insurance and legally having children riding horses can be dangerous! I appreciate that she cares about the safety of the children and her liability. There is a tactful way of handling the situation however and tossing the child off the property and saying so out loud at the beginning of the party as people are arriving and in front of all of the kids was very uncomfortable. She then out loud demanded payment from the parents of the birthday child even saying the amount they owed and that they needed to pay right then or we all had to get out. It was very awkward! She told the kids to get out of the party area! My friend remained extremely calm and was able to work things out and paid the lady to salvage the situation for the sake of her daughter’s birthday party and all the kids that were there.
I was impressed with how my friend handled herself because with my temper we would have been out of there and not paid a cent! The party began and the kids actually had a very nice time. Cindy did a nice job teaching them about the horses and grooming and safety. They rode, got to pet some other animals and had cake and snacks. I think the part that made up for the trouble at the start was that the kids had a nice time. Very uncomfortable situation and I think that Cindy needs to realize that people are paying a lot of money to come there and have parties and they should not be in the business of hosting children’s events with that type of attitude and hostility. My kids noticed it and heard it and commented on it!
I also understand that she commented to the Grandmother of the birthday child that the kids were the most difficult group she had worked with before which was ridiculous as nothing out of the ordinary occurred and they were all polite and listened! I thought this was rude and an insensitive thing to say to someone’s Grandmother!
Maybe a nice place to board your horse or to take lessons but would not recommend for a children’s party. I noticed similar comments on other Unilocal reviews about the customer service and attitude.

My daughter just had her 8^th birthday party here. Thankfully, all 8 children in attendance appeared to have a fantastic time! That is why I’m giving this business any stars at all. Unfortunately, the abrasive, unprofessional party host (Cindy) made what would otherwise be a 5-​star experience become a 2-​star one.
One guest got a ride to the party with another family because one of her parents was traveling and the other was dealing with a relative’s health crisis. In the midst of setting this up, apparently they forgot to sign the waiver allowing the girl to ride at Las Trampas. Cindy would not allow the adult who brought the guest to sign for her.
Now let me stop here: I completely understand and respect Las Trampas’s concern for their own liability. That’s fair. Here’s what was not fair — Cindy’s attitude. She became frighteningly mean in front of the little kids and all of the parents — and mind you, this was within 5 minutes of most people arriving. It was truly mortifying and completely uncalled for. No smiles, no «gosh, sorry, I hate to ruin this little girl’s dream of riding a horse today, but…» or «let’s see if we can work this out somehow; can we call the dad in the hospital?» No. No kindness, no warmth. Just straight up MEAN. She folded her arms and said the girl had to get off the premises immediately! And before anyone could even get their head around how to move on (for example, who was going to get this girl off the premises when the adult who drove her had her own daughter at the party too) Cindy started demanding full payment from me — again, in front of everyone. I was like, hold up — can we work this out first? And then she literally kicked all the kids out of the little party room and said we all had to leave if I did not pay that instant. It was surreal. I paid the woman, and was seriously numb with shock the rest of the party.
Now I’ve seen the snippy responses she has made below to any negative reviews (again, unprofessional!) but I feel like she was enough of a bully that day — it shouldn’t stop me from an honest review of what happened. Like I said, liability is liability and I get it. But it’s the attitude. Totally uncalled for.

Las Trampas Stables is operated by two of the best people ever! They give good care to the horses and clients. This is not one of those snotty barns, but they are very safety minded and the students all understand that. They are given a good foundation of basic horse 101 yet have a blast. Cindy has a super cool group of teen age girls that speak volumes toward what a barn/​stable should be. The barn is owned by East Bay Parks, and the managers have to work with that. Needless to say Park budgets are thin, and it is amazing what Cindy and Gary have accomplished, much on there own dime.
Bottom line, I would recommend this stable to those interested in boarding or taking lessons. The most important aspect of any stable is to imprint an equestrian experience that is positive and safe for those who visit. These young kids are the whole future of keeping the horse stables alive and well and the management has done an excellent job of just that!

I brought my 4 year old niece here to see the horses. I’ve been checking out different places in the area where she could start lessons next year. I don’t know who the woman is who runs this place (I see her mentioned in some of the reviews) but she was SO MEAN! We left right away. Ugh. Worst vibes. The other places we visited, the owners were so nice and welcoming. Is it that hard as A BUSINESS to say «Hi! Welcome to our stables! We are glad you’re interested. Please note the following rules…» — which should also be posted. She just started barking stuff at us the second we got out of the car. I had to explain to my niece that we would have to go find a «friendly stable.» Seemed like a nice place, too. Bummer.

I have never taken horseback riding lessons until 6 months ago. Now I am hooked because I have learned more about myself and about life by working with Cindy & her horses that any other experience I have had (and I have had a lot of experiences). My time at Las Trampas has inspired me to «get-​past-​myself» and look for ways to build with what I cannot change. What a great way to live!
Cindy at Las Trampas Stables is a great instructor. Her love of horses and riding are evident. She began with the basics, making sure I understand how a horse thinks & responds, with safety as a top priority. I have hearing loss (wear 2 hearing aids) and Cindy noticed this the first day. She made sure I could hear and encouraged me to ask questions. I hate making mistakes (as I learn) and Cindy’s good-​natured style and encouragement creates an environment where I can learn. I cannot tell you how important those qualities are to my developing horse-​woman-​ship.
My husband & I (at this stage) combine lessons with trail-​rides in the Sunol Wilderness (Wrangler is Cindy’s husband: Gary). Its great to practice what we learn out in the regional park!
I have to also say a word about the community at Las Trampas. The folks who teach, board their horses and visit the stables have all been encouraging and welcoming. I love that there are kids around taking lessons or «dragging» their parents to see the horses. Its so refreshing to exit the City and enter the Country with the easy-​does-​it humor that is just part of the Las Trampas culture.
Cindy, Gary and the whole Las Trampas team are one of the reasons I have resisted a job transfer. My work with them is hugely valuable to me. I’ll stay put for now!
–Elizabeth

I have been taking lessons from Cindi for 2 years & gone on numerous trail rides with her & Gary during that time. Their primary concern is the safety of their customers; closely followed by the welfare of their horses. Adhering to these goals ensures an enjoyable ride & fruitful instruction.
Coming to horseback riding relatively late in life (I was 65) & standing 6’5″
(& 230 lbs), I present an interesting challenge for an outfitter & instructor.
Not only do they have horses (& tack) that can handle my size & tolerate my inexperience, but Cindi’s training philosophy & teaching style coupled with her intimate knowledge of her horses’ quirks & personalities make me feel safe & secure as I ride along the path towards becoming a true horseman.
The trail riding side of the operation is equally impressive. From the moment one steps into the staging area there is no doubt about who is in charge. Both Gary & Cindi are clear & direct about information & instruction regarding managing the horses & the trails. Most important, perhaps, for the customers’ peace of mind, is that neither Gary nor Cindi are more than a horse length away from the group at any time. (Something I can’t say for other outfitters I’ve ridden with.)
Finally, I must say that I’ve never had a problem scheduling lessons or rides. If any changes needed to be made, we were able to make them to everyone’s satisfaction.
I would whole heartedly recommend Las Trampas to adults wishing to learn western trail riding & who want to experience the beautiful east bay hills.

May — We wanted to schedule a riding session using our Groupon because they are expiring soon. Bethe says sorry, ‘We are booked through end of June because of a deadly horse virus and are running in limited operations mode.” But she says they will honor the Groupon through the end of the year. Ok, fine with us.
August — Called and left a message to book a session on September. After no response in one week, I called and left a message AND an email to follow up. Finally got an email three days later saying she just got back from a horseshow competition. She says ok, we can schedule your session in September. I email her back immediately because I want to schedule lesson #2 because she is difficult to get a hold of.
September — I email to confirm our lesson #1 date. She replies and says, «I’m sorry, we don’t have you scheduled on that date. I thought it was last week. But hey, there’s an opening tomorrow for your 2^nd lesson». I want to cry.
End of September — We email Bethe saying we give up and call Groupon to get a refund.
Outcomes:
a. I now question Groupon’s quality of vendors.
b. My friend and I really let our group of friends down with all the back and forth of scheduling rides. Made us look incompetent.
c. I really wanted to go horseback riding but now am afraid to go near this place and meet with Bethe in person for fear of more disappointment.

Over the last several years I have boarded horses here off and on. I am very impressed with Cindi and her managment style. She makes children feel welcome (not all boarding stables do). The children are always busy with horses and it does not interrupt the boarders use of the amenities. Very well done!

Contrary to what a previous reviewer believes, my review herein is genuine. I stand by every word it. We had a great experience with our granddaughter at this stable. We had pleasant encounters with both Bethe and Cindy. Had I read Carol A. s’ review beforehand, I probably would have asked Groupon for a refund. I’m glad I gave these people a chance. The shock at reading her glaringly negative review after having such a great time ourselves was what prompted me to bother reviewing. This is, after all, a democracy and not everyone will agree with our opinions. And that’s ok.

First of all I grew up in Danville/​San Ramon so I know the history of this stable-it’s on EB Regional Park grounds so it’s not entirely private. This is what I like about the barn, it’s a community and an institution unto itself. It will always be there and there will always be horses there. Everyone is welcome, period.
Cindi and Gary are owners I was introduced to through Bethe (American Romance Equestrian)-my instructor-​and they are down-​to-​earth and friendly. They are also fair and honest. If you’ve ever ventured into a barn community you have to understand how RARE this is! It is no drama. You come in with drama but you can’t leave it there-it’s a place where things get worked out-​worked on. If you can’t do that they you pretty much need to take your drama with you!
As with many places, people come and go. The ones that leave are people that, I hate to be brutally honest, make enough of a mess wherever they go that wherever they go it turns out the same.
Anyway, moving on…
I started with a Groupon and I staid. I have been riding on and off since I was 19 (over 10 years) and I am a pretty independent/​drama-​free rider (I have enough in my «other» life). I staid because I was challenged and I really started to improve my riding. More importantly, I started to improve myself and my life. Lots of people are into Equine-​therapy these days. Jaycee Dugard’s basis of therapy after she was finally freed was EQUINE based! It really works.
I like this barn for these reasons: 1) Prices are fair, 2) Safety is number one, 3) No one is ever trying to sell you on anything (you don’t know how many novice riders I’ve seen begin riding for the first time in their lives and within 6 months they are owners of a gorgeous but crazy young horse they cannot possible control), and 4) EVERYONE is willing to work with you.
I can’t speak to the parents that are looking for lessons for their children. Riding is something that I started as an adult because I did not have the luxury of having parents who could/​would support it. I can only say that if you are a parent you should ALWAYS be concerned if a lesson instructor does NOT go over every safety precaution with you, starting from learning to pull a horse out all the way to getting in the saddle.
Parents also need to understand that riding is not something you can «drop» your kid off at. Unlike soccer, baseball, basketball or even art class, this activity involves a sensitive and unpredictable 1,000 or more pound creature! I’m not trying to scare you, but when you are working with animals great or small, it is no longer about you, there is a sense of humility you must always carry (which makes riding so rewarding).
Anyway, Las Trampas is great because you get what you see and that, as a seasoned novice rider, is priceless.

UPDATE — I’m convinced that these new reviews are plants written by the owners and/​or their friends. They are so similar in style and both try to mis-​characterize my review and are extremely condescending in tone.
Anyway, I don’t really have a problem with Bethe. She is okay, but she has no power. Cyndi runs the show here, and to say that she is unpleasant is an understatement.
And don’t just take my word for it, read ALL THE BAD REVIEWS of the trail riding service that Cyndi runs — WESTERN TRAIL RIDING
.
REAL people are not very happy. Quite a few 1-​star reviews with experiences similar to mine and they are not all written the same day, month, or even year, so you know that they are authentic reviews.
I’m am not against safety and I do fully understand and appreciate what it means to be around a 1000lb. animal. I grew up taking riding lessons myself. Also, as I mentioned, my daughter was not an absolute beginner. She has ridden off and on since she was 5 years old in all day summer camps mostly, so she is well acquainted with safety, grooming, and caring for horses. Bethe, insincerely PROMISED a program tailored to my daughters experience.
I am in no way seeking a «thrill ride» for my 9 year old.
I don’t like that Las Trampas, etal are trying to manipulate this forum. They are bullying me with emails and by posting distortions of the facts. I did not argue, attack, or make a scene. I wish my daughter could tell you what happened to her. They might refrain from attacking a child, but sadly, I doubt it!
They have a business to protect, I don’t have an agenda here.
My daughters have found a much better barn and we are happy. We have moved on to greener pastures. I wish Las Trampas would just move on too, fix their program, and develop better people skills.
My only interest here is to help others avoid an unpleasant and unprofessional business. — There is a reason that this place is dead on Saturdays! (3 other riders, Cindy? Well, the other 2 must have been hiding,)
***************************************************************************
Would give zero stars if I could!
I got a refund from Groupon because of this extremely poor experience at this stable.
In addition to being extremely disorganized, and offering a lousy program, the stable manager, Cindy Wilkenson, is very unfriendly and is not interested in helping your children learn to ride. We were treated very rudely and they were extremely unaccommodating and callous in their treatment of my daughter.
They are obsessed with covering their insurance liability and seem to have little interest in actually providing a service They will cancel your lesson at will without any concern for your time or your children’s feelings.
Cindy Wilkenson clearly doesn’t have any children of her own. This woman has a heart of stone. Her demeanor is that of an army drill seargent, not a teacher, making this an inhospitable environment for children. My 9-​year old daughter left this place in tears because of the cruelty and belligerent behavior of Cyndi, who she referred to as the «mean old lady!»
I suspect that everyone is treated this way, but perhaps we were treated so poorly because we made the mistake of purchasing their Groupon offer, which was a complete WASTE of TIME AND MONEY.
My daughter had ridden many times before and we were promised that the program would be tailored to each persons ability and riding experience. That of course was a lie to get me to buy the package. My daughter was never evaluated and was subject to the same boring rip-​off scheme as everyone else.
The first «lesson», 1 ½ hours of reading to the kids from a horse coloring book! I kid you not! They didn’t even see a horse that day!
Second lesson — was canceled when we arrived at the stable. We There were no other students for the class, but I was told that my daughter would ride for only 15 minutes that day in another 1.5 hour «lesson.» What a joke!
They blame their insurance company. for this emphasis on safety, but their is really very little discussion of safety going on. We mostly got an earful from the instructor, Bethe, talking about herself and her glory days and sacrifices as a youth competitive rider.
The whole thing just felt like a scam. I grew up taking riding lessons and never did I experience such strict «safety» guidelines before. I just don’t buy it.
In addition, the place is dead on a Saturday morning., which is not a good sign. I think the business is in trouble and they needed some quick cash a la this Groupon???
If you bought this and were equally dissatisfied, I suggest that you request a refund from Groupon. They will issue you a refund immediately. I got my refund within 5 minutes! I don’t think that Las Trampas stables should get away with this poor excuse for riding lessons.
Don’t waste your time her