Therapeutic horseback riding designed to support individuals with Autism and other developmental needs, promoting emotional and physical well-being.
Scenic horseback adventures through parks like Ed Levin and Wunderlich, offering breathtaking views and family-friendly fun for all experience levels.
Structured lessons for new riders, focusing on basic skills, safety, and building confidence with patient, knowledgeable instructors.
Group activities and outings that make horseback riding an enjoyable whole-family experience, perfect for weekends and special occasions.
Longer, more challenging rides for experienced equestrians, exploring diverse locations and terrains around Sunol.
My oldest daughter has been doing Hippotherapy at Chaparral Ranch for over a year. This is such a wonderful place for my daughter who has Autism. Although my daughter may become very aggressive at times and her anxiety revs up, when she is riding and learning about the horses, she is at ease, and happy. My 2 other daughters, and I also ride now, and we enjoy riding a Chaparral Ranch too. Shawn, Gigi, and all their staff are so patient and knowledgeable. They are such warm and welcoming people. The horses are cared for and they are happy too. We go every Saturday, and we make it a whole family event.
Hello, I've been going to this ranch for a couple of months for my beginner horse-riding classes. I am specifically writing this review for the instructor, LUCIA. Yes, she is the one who trained me 2-3 times, and she DOES NOT love her job. I should say she hates it. Especially when it came to me, she discriminated. She was purposely nice to other students and acted like a jerk in front of me. I confronted her too, but she didn’t seem to care. I tried reaching out to their manager, Grace, but she didn’t pick up my calls nor responded to my texts. They also owe me a class, which Grace said she would schedule. I would definitely NOT go there now because of my experience, and nobody on the admin side was there to reach out to about this. I kindly request a refund for my half an hour class that wasn’t completed by you guys. I would suggest giving appropriate and much-needed additional training to instructor Lucia before assigning her students to ensure that nobody else experiences what I have dealt with.
I booked a ride at Wunderlich County Park. The staff were super friendly and our guide—Ariella—was fantastic. I would recommend her to anyone. My horse (warlock) was a sweetie and so well behaved. He only tried to sneak trail snacks once. The view was great and the ride was genuinely 60 minutes. I think next time I'd like to try a longer ride and maybe at one of their other locations but Wunderlich was well maintained and all the horses looked well taken care of. 10/10 would recommend.
This is the third time we’ve been on the trail riding at Ed Levin Park. The view is gorgeous and it’s a very fun family activity. The horses were friendly and took good care of us😊 Just one more thing to add- the entire team is great too 🥰
I haven't been horseback riding since I was a kid, but i didn't have any problems, my friend and I decided to go and im glad we did, staff was really nice and the trail ride was great, loved the name of my horse, Playboy, I wanted to take him home....

Where horses heal hearts and trails create memories in the scenic hills of Sunol.
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Chaparral Ranch offers therapeutic horseback riding, guided trail rides, and equestrian lessons in the beautiful setting of Sunol, CA. Specializing in Hippotherapy for individuals with Autism and other needs, we provide a welcoming environment for families and riders of all skill levels. Our experienced staff and well-cared-for horses ensure safe, enjoyable experiences that foster connection, relaxation, and adventure. Whether you're seeking therapeutic support or a fun outdoor activity, we're dedicated to creating positive memories on horseback.
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