Sunshine and Daydreams Horseback Riding

Sunshine and Daydreams Horseback Riding offers a variety of riding options, including a One Hour Trail Ride, Wagon Ride, Draft (XL) Horses, Two Hour Gaited Trail Ride, Sweetheart Ride, and a five-hour Riding Block. The program also offers hand-led pony rides, a Pony Meet and Greet with photo opportunities, pony rides, a Tack Meet & Horse Sales event, and access to petting zoo farm animals. Riders rent well-trained horses and ride along with professional instructors, with rides individually instructed and focused on safety and horsemanship.

• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: One Hour Trail Ride: 1 hour; Wagon Ride: 45 minutes; Draft (XL) Horses: 1 hour; Two Hour Gaited Trail Ride: 1 hour; Sweetheart Ride: 1.5 hours (package includes a one hour trail ride divided by a 30-minute break); Riding Block: 5 hours
• Price: One Hour Trail Ride: $75/rider; Wagon Ride: $45/rider; Draft (XL) Horses: $90/rider; Two Hour Gaited Trail Ride: $75/rider; Sweetheart Ride: $375/couple; Riding Block: $300; Pony Meet and Greet: $25 with a $50 add-on option for a pony ride; Tack Meet & Horse Sales: $25 fee for horse application to sell; Early Morning Discount: $15 off rides that start before 9am; riders can skip the processing fee and receive a discount when paying through Zelle.

Sunshine and Daydreams Horseback Riding was created by Sonja Trefethen in 1990. The program includes a Riding Block where participants learn to identify, halter, lead, tie, brush, and tack a horse before going on a trail ride through the Hidden Valley Wildlife Preserve. The One Hour Trail Ride covers up to 25 miles of horseback riding trails and includes views of the Santa Ana River and San Bernardino Mountains, and Wagon Rides are available as an add-on to this ride and are described as family-friendly and suitable for all ages. Draft horses (extra large horses) are available for larger riders and for riders who want to ride an extra large horse, and the Two Hour Gaited Trail Ride is a 5-mile ride through landscapes such as bamboo forests and desert plains on smooth gaited horses guided by experienced instructors.

The Sweetheart Ride is a private ride for two through the Santa Ana Riverbed, followed by apple cider, strawberries, roses, Martinelli's, strawberries and chocolates, and a vase with roses. The Pony Meet and Greet is available on Sundays by walk-in only for guests 7 years old and younger and includes a photo opportunity with the ponies, with pony rides available as an additional option. The Tack Meet offers hand-led pony rides every weekend and a chance to browse tack and ranch equipment, while the Tack Meet & Horse Sales on Sundays allows families to bring tack and ranch equipment to sell in the parking lot and to participate in horse sales with a reservation. Sunshine and Daydreams Horseback Riding has a very conservative riding policy, and the horses are trained in a specific manner, with the program stating that deviation from this policy can confuse and stress the horses.

The program runs a senior horse rehabilitation and re-homing program that focuses on retrieving older, trained horses from the feedlot. It also offers Jolena's Lil Buckaroos, which features petting zoo farm animals and pony rides, and a Ride for All Nearby Attractions. Participants are asked to complete the S&D Horseback Riding Release of Liability Form and bring it to their scheduled ride. The mission of Sunshine and Daydreams Horseback Riding states that it specializes in safety and instruction, that most customers are beginners, and that every rider is individually coached based on their knowledge and practice of correct horseback riding with the purpose of beginning or improving their horsemanship skills.

Last updated March 13, 2026.