Dal Porto Show Horses and Riding Academy
Rafter D Ranch, 8400 Bryon Hwy, Brentwood, CA 94513
About
Dal Porto Show Horses and Riding Academy offers kids, youth, and adult riding lessons, along with horsecamps and day camps. The program also provides horse training, including halter training and show horse training, as well as horse boarding and equestrian teams. Lessons use well-trained gentle lesson horses and professional riding instruction within a nationally acclaimed riding program.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Monday–Saturday, 9:00–6:00
For 35 years, Steve and Carol Dal Porto have offered youth and adult riding lessons, day camps, and horse training to East Bay communities including Brentwood, Oakley, Livermore, Antioch, Discovery Bay, Pleasanton, and Tracy. The program is family oriented and offers fun and educational horsecamps, quality care by trained experts, and horse training for all of California. The ranch includes several outdoor arenas, a large covered riding arena for year-round comfort, and full service horse boarding.
Steve Dal Porto attended the University of Colorado, where he played football, including in two bowl games, and received his BA in Business with an emphasis in Marketing and Advertising. Carol Dal Porto has developed riding program, training, and equestrian teams for all ages, and horse trainers from Germany and Italy have come to the ranch to study with her. Carol is a past president of the Appaloosa Pleasure Horse Association and the Cal-Western Appaloosa Association.
Dal Porto Show Horses and Riding Academy has been awarded the Appaloosa Horse Club Trainer of the Year. The program has promoted Leading sire and Appaloosa Horse Club Hall of Fame inductee Maids Dream and has promoted three stallions who were inducted into the Cal Western Hall of Fame. To date, over 400 National and World Champions have been made at Dal Porto Ranch.
One parent, Kristin F., describes the program as youth friendly and notes that her girls are maturing and progressing in their riding. Another participant, Kandi M., describes the program as well known for quality services and shares that it has affected many areas of life outside of the barn.
Last updated March 13, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Monday–Saturday, 9:00–6:00
For 35 years, Steve and Carol Dal Porto have offered youth and adult riding lessons, day camps, and horse training to East Bay communities including Brentwood, Oakley, Livermore, Antioch, Discovery Bay, Pleasanton, and Tracy. The program is family oriented and offers fun and educational horsecamps, quality care by trained experts, and horse training for all of California. The ranch includes several outdoor arenas, a large covered riding arena for year-round comfort, and full service horse boarding.
Steve Dal Porto attended the University of Colorado, where he played football, including in two bowl games, and received his BA in Business with an emphasis in Marketing and Advertising. Carol Dal Porto has developed riding program, training, and equestrian teams for all ages, and horse trainers from Germany and Italy have come to the ranch to study with her. Carol is a past president of the Appaloosa Pleasure Horse Association and the Cal-Western Appaloosa Association.
Dal Porto Show Horses and Riding Academy has been awarded the Appaloosa Horse Club Trainer of the Year. The program has promoted Leading sire and Appaloosa Horse Club Hall of Fame inductee Maids Dream and has promoted three stallions who were inducted into the Cal Western Hall of Fame. To date, over 400 National and World Champions have been made at Dal Porto Ranch.
One parent, Kristin F., describes the program as youth friendly and notes that her girls are maturing and progressing in their riding. Another participant, Kandi M., describes the program as well known for quality services and shares that it has affected many areas of life outside of the barn.
Last updated March 13, 2026.
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