About
Capistrano Valley Riding Center Lesson Program offers horseback riding, equitation, and horsemanship lessons, including access to Sabo Eventing Training and Newport Mesa Pony Club. The program also includes activities connected with Summer Camp 2025, Summer Horse Camp, and Twin Rivers Show Jumping, Dressage, and Cross-Country (XC). The introductory lesson is a one-hour private lesson that is used to assess the rider’s current skill level and discuss goals, and the program then matches each rider with a trainer and can take riders from beginner to advanced level using the “Sabo System.”
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Introductory lesson is a one-hour private lesson
The program focuses on equitation as the foundation of riding and emphasizes horsemanship so riders become well-rounded horsemen, with fantastic school horses available for lessons and lease options offered. For the first lesson, riders are asked to wear long pants and a boot with a heel; boots and riding helmets can be provided, and any personal helmet must be ATSM/SEI approved. Riders are asked to arrive 10 minutes before the first lesson, fill out a SmartWaiver before riding, and give 24-hour notice to cancel a lesson, and lessons can be scheduled by texting (949) 408 4490.
The leadership team includes Brian Sabo, Lisa Sabo, Laura (Office Manager), and Monica (Riding School). Instructors teach through the “Sabo System,” and Brian and Lisa are both graduate “A” Pony Clubbers and Advanced level competitors. Brian has been recognized as the leading event rider in USEA Area VI in both 1969 and 1981, has served as USPC District Commissioner, USEA Area VI Chairman, and President of the USEA, and currently teaches clinics across the nation and coaches the Mexican Olympic Eventing Team. Lisa was a member of the Silver Medal Area VI Young Riders team in 1984, has ridden multiple horses she trained through the Advanced level including riding at Rolex Kentucky on three different horses, and is still actively competing and coaching. Brian and Lisa have both been long listed for the U.S. Olympic Team, and Lisa has specialized in starting young horses, working with difficult horses, and teaching young riders and adults.
Woodland Hills Pony Club was founded in 1965, and in 1985 Lisa and Brian married and built Hurdledale Equestrian Center, where they trained and rode until 2001. Over the last decade, Lisa built a large riding center in Costa Mesa, and in 2025 the riding center moved to San Juan Capistrano under the name Capistrano Valley Riding Center, formerly known as Newport Mesa Riding Center. Sabo Eventing is described as a premiere Three-Day Eventing training program, and the riding center has experience starting riders from the beginning through the top levels of the sport. One parent testimonial states, “You won’t find a better team than Brian and Lisa if you are looking to take your riding to the next level.”
Last updated June 24, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Introductory lesson is a one-hour private lesson
The program focuses on equitation as the foundation of riding and emphasizes horsemanship so riders become well-rounded horsemen, with fantastic school horses available for lessons and lease options offered. For the first lesson, riders are asked to wear long pants and a boot with a heel; boots and riding helmets can be provided, and any personal helmet must be ATSM/SEI approved. Riders are asked to arrive 10 minutes before the first lesson, fill out a SmartWaiver before riding, and give 24-hour notice to cancel a lesson, and lessons can be scheduled by texting (949) 408 4490.
The leadership team includes Brian Sabo, Lisa Sabo, Laura (Office Manager), and Monica (Riding School). Instructors teach through the “Sabo System,” and Brian and Lisa are both graduate “A” Pony Clubbers and Advanced level competitors. Brian has been recognized as the leading event rider in USEA Area VI in both 1969 and 1981, has served as USPC District Commissioner, USEA Area VI Chairman, and President of the USEA, and currently teaches clinics across the nation and coaches the Mexican Olympic Eventing Team. Lisa was a member of the Silver Medal Area VI Young Riders team in 1984, has ridden multiple horses she trained through the Advanced level including riding at Rolex Kentucky on three different horses, and is still actively competing and coaching. Brian and Lisa have both been long listed for the U.S. Olympic Team, and Lisa has specialized in starting young horses, working with difficult horses, and teaching young riders and adults.
Woodland Hills Pony Club was founded in 1965, and in 1985 Lisa and Brian married and built Hurdledale Equestrian Center, where they trained and rode until 2001. Over the last decade, Lisa built a large riding center in Costa Mesa, and in 2025 the riding center moved to San Juan Capistrano under the name Capistrano Valley Riding Center, formerly known as Newport Mesa Riding Center. Sabo Eventing is described as a premiere Three-Day Eventing training program, and the riding center has experience starting riders from the beginning through the top levels of the sport. One parent testimonial states, “You won’t find a better team than Brian and Lisa if you are looking to take your riding to the next level.”
Last updated June 24, 2026.
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