About
Santa Ynez Valley Horseback Rides offers horseback trail rides, pony encounters, a petting zoo, an After School Farm Camp, and private weekly horsemanship lessons. Kids and families can choose from options such as the River Trail Ride, Magical Pony Encounter, and Family Fun Ride, with guides available to take photos using a guest’s phone or camera. All horses and ponies used in these activities are retired champion show, rodeo, or ranch horses, and helmets and tack are provided and sanitized before and after each ride.
• Ages: 2–18 years old
• Schedule: Rides are offered daily year-round by appointment, open every day except major holidays, with options including a one-hour Magical Pony Encounter, one-hour Family Fun Ride, 30-minute petting zoo encounters, and River Trail Rides of 60, 75, or 90 minutes.
• Price: Spring Special 75-Minute Horseback Ride: $159 per person; Magical Pony Encounter: $114 per child (or $15 less without the trail walk); Petting Zoo encounters: $15 for a 30-minute session; Local Riders Special: 10 rides for $800; guests at specified partner hotels save $10 per rider with listed promo codes.
Santa Ynez Valley Horseback Rides states that no riding experience is necessary, and offers small-group or private rides for up to five riders, with larger groups of six to eight riders arranged by calling the office. Kids aged 8 and up can join the trail ride if they have some previous riding experience, kids 6 and up can join their parents on the Family Fun Ride, and kids age 6 and up can enroll in private weekly horsemanship lessons. The Magical Pony Encounter includes a guided pony ride around the arena and a short trail ride into the woods, with a unicorn available on request, and the petting zoo is free for kids who do the Magical Pony Encounter. After School Farm Camp focuses on raising and caring for goats, sheep, miniature horses, mules, ponies, and full-size horses. Rides go along the Santa Ynez River with multiple crossings, and riders may encounter wildlife such as eagles, deer, and beavers.
The program’s mission statement says that Santa Ynez Valley Horseback Rides was born out of a simple idea: bring affordable, high-quality trail riding to the Santa Ynez Valley. Horses are described as former champions in dressage, roping, racing, sport horse, reining, and more. The program partners with several Santa Ynez Valley hotels, including Flying Flags RV Resort, SYV Marriott, Sideways Inn, Hotel Corque, Vinland Hotel, The Landsby, WorldMark Solvang, and Hampton Inn & Suites, to offer exclusive discounts to their guests, and Wine Country Fun Pass gift certificates and promo codes are emailed directly upon booking. The Local Riders Special offers 10 rides for $800, and the refund policy states that guest cancellations up to 48 hours prior to ride time or due to inclement weather are fully refunded, while last-minute cancellations receive a one-time rebooking certificate plus a $35 rebooking fee. All riders must wear pants and closed-toed shoes and are asked to arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled ride time. The program lists Bob as a contact, with an email address and phone and text numbers, and notes ©2023 by Santa Ynez Valley Horseback Rides LLC.
Last updated July 4, 2026.
• Ages: 2–18 years old
• Schedule: Rides are offered daily year-round by appointment, open every day except major holidays, with options including a one-hour Magical Pony Encounter, one-hour Family Fun Ride, 30-minute petting zoo encounters, and River Trail Rides of 60, 75, or 90 minutes.
• Price: Spring Special 75-Minute Horseback Ride: $159 per person; Magical Pony Encounter: $114 per child (or $15 less without the trail walk); Petting Zoo encounters: $15 for a 30-minute session; Local Riders Special: 10 rides for $800; guests at specified partner hotels save $10 per rider with listed promo codes.
Santa Ynez Valley Horseback Rides states that no riding experience is necessary, and offers small-group or private rides for up to five riders, with larger groups of six to eight riders arranged by calling the office. Kids aged 8 and up can join the trail ride if they have some previous riding experience, kids 6 and up can join their parents on the Family Fun Ride, and kids age 6 and up can enroll in private weekly horsemanship lessons. The Magical Pony Encounter includes a guided pony ride around the arena and a short trail ride into the woods, with a unicorn available on request, and the petting zoo is free for kids who do the Magical Pony Encounter. After School Farm Camp focuses on raising and caring for goats, sheep, miniature horses, mules, ponies, and full-size horses. Rides go along the Santa Ynez River with multiple crossings, and riders may encounter wildlife such as eagles, deer, and beavers.
The program’s mission statement says that Santa Ynez Valley Horseback Rides was born out of a simple idea: bring affordable, high-quality trail riding to the Santa Ynez Valley. Horses are described as former champions in dressage, roping, racing, sport horse, reining, and more. The program partners with several Santa Ynez Valley hotels, including Flying Flags RV Resort, SYV Marriott, Sideways Inn, Hotel Corque, Vinland Hotel, The Landsby, WorldMark Solvang, and Hampton Inn & Suites, to offer exclusive discounts to their guests, and Wine Country Fun Pass gift certificates and promo codes are emailed directly upon booking. The Local Riders Special offers 10 rides for $800, and the refund policy states that guest cancellations up to 48 hours prior to ride time or due to inclement weather are fully refunded, while last-minute cancellations receive a one-time rebooking certificate plus a $35 rebooking fee. All riders must wear pants and closed-toed shoes and are asked to arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled ride time. The program lists Bob as a contact, with an email address and phone and text numbers, and notes ©2023 by Santa Ynez Valley Horseback Rides LLC.
Last updated July 4, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.