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Garrod Farms
Saddle up for scenic trail rides and unforgettable equestrian adventures in Saratoga.
4.2(5 reviews)
Business
$$
Saddle up for scenic trail rides and unforgettable equestrian adventures in Saratoga.
Garrod Farms offers a unique blend of outdoor recreation and rustic charm in Saratoga, CA, specializing in guided trail rides through beautiful landscapes with views of San Jose. Catering to all skill levels—from beginners to experienced riders—the farm provides friendly, professional instruction and well-cared-for horses with distinct personalities. In addition to horseback riding, visitors can enjoy wine tasting and connect with nature on the scenic property. With a focus on safety and memorable experiences, it's a perfect destination for tourists and locals seeking adventure and relaxation.
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Scenic horseback tours through Garrod Farms and adjacent parks, suitable for all experience levels with professional guides.
Group and individual lessons focusing on Western riding techniques, led by knowledgeable instructors in a supportive environment.
Sample a selection of locally produced wines at the on-site winery, offering a relaxing complement to outdoor activities.
Tailored experiences for first-time riders, including safety briefings and gentle horses to ensure a comfortable introduction.
Special packages for birthdays, anniversaries, and other occasions, combining trail rides with wine tasting for a memorable outing.
Super beginner-friendly! We came in with no prior experience, but the staff were incredibly kind and helpful. The scenic tour was smooth overall, and we’re so grateful to Goldie and Chief for being such amazing champions.
I went to Garrod Farms on a trail ride with a friend, and unfortunately neither the handling or the safety lived up to its stellar reputation. There were seven people on that particular day, including one younger kid and two young teens. Garrod has an incredibly efficient saddling process, but after the saddling was complete, the riders, including the children, were left unsupervised. The younger kid was saddled first, and while waiting for others to be saddled, yanked on the reins too hard, causing her horse to back up into another horse and a chain reaction with multiples horses. The instructors went over to supervise afterwards, but this should've never happened with children and inexperienced riders in the group. Additionally, one of the horses in the trail group, Thor, was known to be a biter. The rider on him was not notified of this fact until after the trail ride, and as I was behind this horse on the ride, I experienced multiple instances where Thor attempted to bite the horse in front of him. This would cause the horse in front to back up or try to turn around during the ride, and then cause the rest of the line to shuffle to avoid the two horses. Finally, despite having seven people including children and problematic horses, there was only one guide leading the group. Normally with larger groups, even four to five people, there should be at least one more instructor bringing up the rear. In short, Garrod Farms has been the most unsafe and disorganized trail ride I've been on. Please limit your group sizes or increase supervision or perhaps consider removing horses prone to biting from the lineup.
Outstanding experience! My wife and I celebrated her upcoming birthday by taking a 1 hour scenic tour of the property and adjacent park on horses. The views of the valley below were incredible. We also tried several of the wines and they were outstanding. Lastly, we were fortunate to be able to visit with the family that owns the winery and stables. What nice people. We highly recommend tourists and locals alike to plan an afternoon at the winery, you won't regret it!
Perfect experience! Staff was friendly and the horses have their very own personalities that make the trail riding a delightful time. Try to do it with clear skies to have the best viewing pleasure of San Jose. No riding experience necessary, the staff was professional and polite the whole way. Highly recommend if you are in the San Jose area!
I started coming to Garrod for trail rides as a teenager while taking lessons at a different local [now-closed] stables, and always loved the experience. As I got older I stopped riding, time and money both being at a premium for a young adult, but am so glad I came back to it last year. Fortunately Garrod is still as wonderful as it was in the fond memories of my youth! I've been coming for weekly group Western lessons and fitting in weekend trail rides when my schedule permits, and both are great experiences. The staff and instructors are informed and passionate, and they're well in tune with the horses' needs, health, and individual personalities. A lot of the fun of becoming a regular again is seeing what horses they match me up with: every one brings something different to the experience, and if I'm riding a mount I don't know the staff can always give me some good information about what to expect and what works or doesn't work well. As someone who can most kindly be described as 'indoorsy', the trail rides are my main form of connecting with nature. The farm and preserve are gorgeous, and the guides are friendly and knowledgeable. It's obviously a different experience moseying through the greenery vs doing patterns or cantering in the arena, but both have their place in my heart. In our fast-paced lives it can be easy to forget how lucky we are to have such natural beauty essentially right in our backyards, but a trail ride at Garrod is a great way to appreciate it.
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