Serene and lavish Napa Valley is known for its exquisite wines, sweeping vineyard views, and sprawling green acreage perfect for all nature lovers. The best way to soak all this up at once, though? Definitely on a horse.
Napa Valley offers plenty of great horseback lessons and packages that include wine tastings and historical tours, and we have rounded up the best ones to ensure you receive the fullest experience out of your wine country getaway, and maybe even meet your next four-hoofed friend.
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100 Rapp Ln / Website
Shady Brook Estate offers a full package of wine tasting and food pairings all beginning with a 30 minute trail ride accompanied by a knowledgeable and experienced guide. Take in all the views of the Rapp Ranch Estate and nearby Coombsville hills before settling down into the Estate's garden patio to enjoy fine wines with charcuterie assortments of cheese, fruit, nuts, and more.
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1000 Vineyard Lane, 23900 Ramal Road / Website
Sonoma Valley Trail Rides is the full authentic western experience. With 1-hour horseback riding and horsemanship lessons for both kids and adults at only $80, you will receive an inclusive introduction to safely handle horses. Their well-trained equestrians will work amicably with you as you become proficient in catching and leading, grooming and saddling, lunging, and more. This is the best place for all beginners and intermediate riders of any age.
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1132 El Centro Ave / Website
With 16 of the finest quality school horses from the safest first time pony to the "A" show quality warmblood, Valley Brook ensures proper education with their one on one intimate lessons. Valley Brook accomodates for any rider on any stage and of any age, even as young as 4 years old, offering both individual private lessons or in groups, with a package of 10 lessons for $650. You are guaranteed to receive proper care and the most optimal teaching method with no judgment and friendly personalized service
Valley Brook even offers the opportunity to lease or half lease a privately owned or VBEC owned mountfor those more experienced riders.
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485 Brown Street / Website
Whether you're as young as 2 years old looking to be taught how to kindly care for horses, or are just a bit older and more into wine tastings, Churchill Manor has it all. The Manor offers basic riding and grooming lessons perfect for group and corporate events, as well as their all-inclusive Vineyard Rides, which is a short safety lesson followed by a 45 minute horse ride around the Chateau Lane Winery. This romp provides an education on both the wine-making process as well as past stories of the property, which is just one of their many customizable tours.
We recommend their signature Guided Vineyard Trail for only $125 a person, as you will also be able to take home a bottle of Stella’s 2012 Sauvignon Blanc.
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5310 Biava Ave /https://tulucayfarms.com/
Tulucay Farms is located nearby Napa's many shops and eateries just off of the Silverado Trail, and is a must visit for the most intimate and renowned lessons. As a family-owned and trainer-operated private horse boarding facility, their impeccable 22-acre lot offers plenty of individual lesson options, including traditional horse training methods and how to perform and impress in the show ring.
Smiles are guaranteed all around with these friendly and professional services, both from the trainers and from the gorgeous horses.
Photography by: Collin Lloyd/Unsplash
