Sea Horse Ranch
Sea Horse Ranch
4
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Beautiful guided coastal trail and beach horseback rides on dramatic Coastal Equestrian Trail and Half Moon Bay's Poplar Beach. Minimum riding age is 7 years old. All rides appropriate for first time, moderately experienced and very experienced riders. Online reservations required, height/weight restrictions available online, check before booking. Barbecues available for groups of 10 people or more. Closing time ends with seasonal changes. Always open for early bird ride at 8:00 a.m., by reservation.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
361 reviews
Excellent
225
Very good
56
Average
20
Poor
20
Terrible
40
ColoradoMts
Lafayette, CO140 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
Seahorse Ranch is a organized facility with healthy horses that seem well cared for and fed well. The owner was thorough with her safety talk and giving us guidance on how to ride properly to eliminate any accidents. (I’m an experienced rider so it was important for others to hear the info)
The guides were very experienced and kept the riders safe with no stragglers.
The path we took ran along the ocean in parts and we crossed a fun stream and then headed down a steep hill to ride in the sand at the beaches edge. Some of the rides do not go onto the beach so choose wisely. I’ve always wanted to ride on the beach so it was a big plus for me and my Granddaughter.
They had a professional photographer who followed us on a Segway so he could go ahead and take 100’s of photos of the group. We were not allowed to take anything on the ride-no phones, no hats (must wear a safety helmet) etc.
The photos were expensive imo. 1-5 photos was $45.00 or you could buy a thumb drive with all of them for $75.00 which included approx 150 pics of each rider.
Overall, it was worth the money for the 1 1/2 hour ride. -Warning. I’m 68 and my knees were very achy after the ride! If you have back or knees challenges this is not for you. It’s bouncy and can be challenging to stay on if you are inexperienced.
The guides were very experienced and kept the riders safe with no stragglers.
The path we took ran along the ocean in parts and we crossed a fun stream and then headed down a steep hill to ride in the sand at the beaches edge. Some of the rides do not go onto the beach so choose wisely. I’ve always wanted to ride on the beach so it was a big plus for me and my Granddaughter.
They had a professional photographer who followed us on a Segway so he could go ahead and take 100’s of photos of the group. We were not allowed to take anything on the ride-no phones, no hats (must wear a safety helmet) etc.
The photos were expensive imo. 1-5 photos was $45.00 or you could buy a thumb drive with all of them for $75.00 which included approx 150 pics of each rider.
Overall, it was worth the money for the 1 1/2 hour ride. -Warning. I’m 68 and my knees were very achy after the ride! If you have back or knees challenges this is not for you. It’s bouncy and can be challenging to stay on if you are inexperienced.
Written August 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Angie K
1 contribution
Dec 2022 • Couples
Theres about 15-20 other people on your ride, and you can’t take your phone to take pictures. (They used to let) There’s a photographer that will charge $40 for 5 pictures. Half of the time you’re not on the beach but on a dirt road. It’s ok. I prob wouldn’t go again
Written January 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Sensei
1 contribution
May 2021 • Couples
We did the early bird 2 hour ride which had really pretty scenery between the woods and going onto the beach which made the experience worth it and why they earned the 4 stars. I wanted to give 3.5 because I did not like some of their rules/regulations such as not being able to bring a backpack, personal items or even having your own cell phone in your pocket (and they are VERY adamant about sticking to those rules). Otherwise I really enjoyed my time but did not like relying on having to ask one of the two guides for photos (which they really dont stop to take photos, more like moving candids).
Written May 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
K K
1 contribution
Jul 2022
My daughter and I were looking forward to our ride in beautiful HMB. The trails that Sea Horse Ranch utilizes are gorgeous. The weather was also perfect. However, those were the only positives about our experience.
The horses rode, single file, about 6-12 inches apart, the entire ride. It felt very automaton. We were spoken to harshly by the lady giving instructions and by the two employee riders who accompanied us as we had our trail ride. The horses did not seem to be well taken care of, dirty/muddy and no eye guards to help with all the flies. The grounds are also very run down and in need of maintenance.
Our ride was supposed to be an hour but the lecture given previous to the ride gave us a late start and then we returned 10-15 minutes early, so about 40-45 minutes of riding for $100. This will be our last visit.
Hopefully our experience is not the norm and it was an off day.
The horses rode, single file, about 6-12 inches apart, the entire ride. It felt very automaton. We were spoken to harshly by the lady giving instructions and by the two employee riders who accompanied us as we had our trail ride. The horses did not seem to be well taken care of, dirty/muddy and no eye guards to help with all the flies. The grounds are also very run down and in need of maintenance.
Our ride was supposed to be an hour but the lecture given previous to the ride gave us a late start and then we returned 10-15 minutes early, so about 40-45 minutes of riding for $100. This will be our last visit.
Hopefully our experience is not the norm and it was an off day.
Written July 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Sarah Trad
1 contribution
Nov 2020 • Friends
I was not happy with the customer service. It costs $100 for our ride and the staff was very unprofessional. Even though we were supposed to “social distance” the staff were very touchy and inappropriate. One of the male workers would not leave us alone and after being instructed not to touch us (by female coworkers) while getting off the horses due to COVID he insisted on carrying us off. This place has no sanitizing procedures that I am aware of and overall it was a very bad experience. Would not recommend and would not go back.
Written November 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
cc00_yang
Milpitas, CA2 contributions
Sep 2020
I give two stars for the hard working horses.
I don't recommend this place for anyone with younger kids or any family member that might need a little extra help. Or you don't want to pay $20 for each picture you had during the ride. LOL
My son is 11 year old with special needs. But he loves horse back riding. We have been taking him for trail rides at different places in the bay areas with no issues. Most of the places we have been welcomed us with their warmth and kindness. I think that is why my son started to love horse riding. Although my son is special needs but he does not need a lot of extra help when it come to horse back riding. For the most part he just function like a 7 or 8 year old which is slightly below his actual age.
First when the old lady at the registration discovered my son was special need, she questioned me very rudely for 15 minutes like our family was criminal. Finally, I said "fine, I can cancel this ride..." Then she probably realized what she had done was a little too much, she proceeded forward w/o saying anything else. Then the horse handlers treated my husband and son very rudely. My son has been looking forward to this ride for the whole month. That was why we did not cancel the ride right away, we still wanted him to be able to enjoy it. I am so glad when I came back and read the reviews here, I am not the only felt they were rude. There was a reviewer wrote that during his ride one girl accidentally fell off the horse and got yelled at instead of help... There were other reviewers mentioning they got rudely treated by the front lady too...
At this difficult time, I thought we should try our best to support our local small businesses. But definitely not the ones who discriminate people with special needs or minorities.
During the 1.5 hr ride, they don't let your bring anything. No cell phone or not even water bottle (tomorrow is going to be over 90 F LOL). They only reason is that they have photographers to take pictures for you and sell it to you for $20 each. Not sure if they sell water during the rides LOL. We had never came across this during our multiple trail rides at all other places in the Bay Area. Not even when we had trail rides while vacation in Mexico. LOL
I am sure the trail and scenic is beautiful. But if you don't want to be humiliated and rubbed. Stay away from them.
I don't recommend this place for anyone with younger kids or any family member that might need a little extra help. Or you don't want to pay $20 for each picture you had during the ride. LOL
My son is 11 year old with special needs. But he loves horse back riding. We have been taking him for trail rides at different places in the bay areas with no issues. Most of the places we have been welcomed us with their warmth and kindness. I think that is why my son started to love horse riding. Although my son is special needs but he does not need a lot of extra help when it come to horse back riding. For the most part he just function like a 7 or 8 year old which is slightly below his actual age.
First when the old lady at the registration discovered my son was special need, she questioned me very rudely for 15 minutes like our family was criminal. Finally, I said "fine, I can cancel this ride..." Then she probably realized what she had done was a little too much, she proceeded forward w/o saying anything else. Then the horse handlers treated my husband and son very rudely. My son has been looking forward to this ride for the whole month. That was why we did not cancel the ride right away, we still wanted him to be able to enjoy it. I am so glad when I came back and read the reviews here, I am not the only felt they were rude. There was a reviewer wrote that during his ride one girl accidentally fell off the horse and got yelled at instead of help... There were other reviewers mentioning they got rudely treated by the front lady too...
At this difficult time, I thought we should try our best to support our local small businesses. But definitely not the ones who discriminate people with special needs or minorities.
During the 1.5 hr ride, they don't let your bring anything. No cell phone or not even water bottle (tomorrow is going to be over 90 F LOL). They only reason is that they have photographers to take pictures for you and sell it to you for $20 each. Not sure if they sell water during the rides LOL. We had never came across this during our multiple trail rides at all other places in the Bay Area. Not even when we had trail rides while vacation in Mexico. LOL
I am sure the trail and scenic is beautiful. But if you don't want to be humiliated and rubbed. Stay away from them.
Written September 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mari R
1 contribution
Jul 2022
Drove 2 hours to experience horseback riding on the beach and was mislead. The ride does not go near the beach and the guides said they never do. The owner is rude and harsh. They demanded to show the credit card I used to pay for the ride which I felt was unnecessary because it was paid for in advance. After having to show her my bank account we finally got on the horses. The horses are not well trained I struggled the entire ride and I am not new to horseback riding. I was scared the entire ride and at one point after almost being thrown off the guide finally traded horses with me which wasnt a whole lot better. These are not calm horses and I can not imagine putting a child on one. Im glad I didnt bring my kids. I did not feel safe and feel like we could have had a much better experience for over $400.
Written August 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jessica J
1 contribution
May 2021
We did the early bird 2 hour ride and it was such a fun experience. We went through so many different landscapes - forest, prairie, stream, & beach. It was our group's first time ever riding a horse, so we were a little nervous going into it, but the horses are so well trained and the staff were very friendly and provided clear instructions before we got on the horse. Yes, the instruction time was short as other reviewers mentioned, but if you are someone who is able to listen for 5-10 minutes, you will be completely fine. The guides were wonderful, made sure we all felt comfortable, and took pictures of us on the ride. Their rules are strict (ie. show up 30 minutes before scheduled time, no cellphones or backpacks), but it is understandable why - it would be easy to be distracted on top of a horse with your phone and something that is not safe for either rider, horse, or guide.
We loved our experience at Sea Horse Ranch and will definitely recommend anyone visiting Half Moon Bay to ride horses there.
We loved our experience at Sea Horse Ranch and will definitely recommend anyone visiting Half Moon Bay to ride horses there.
Written May 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Margaret M
Olympia, WA9 contributions
Jul 2022 • Solo
This was a very safe yet engaging ride even for an experienced rider such as myself. At 72 I was looking to relive my teen years as a HMB beach rider...the beach itself was empty and unchanged for the early 8am ride (and a bargain to boot). Loved my red-headed mare, Mellie.
Written July 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Amanda
Pacifica, CA3 contributions
Jan 2022
I've gone riding at Sea Horse Ranch multiple times over the past 10 or so years, and I love it more every time I go. The lady who runs it is always so sweet to me. She's one of the things I look forward to when I go there. Also, lot of the horses are rescues, which is so awesome.
I went this past weekend with my son, who is 10. He was a little scared at first, but the Guide who was riding with us helped him get comfortable and he ended up having a wonderful time. The last time I went (which was about 6 years ago...) I rode a horse named Squiggles. He was a bit feisty, which I LOVE lol! I told them that, and they went into the back and brought Squiggles out so I could ride him again. It was wonderful, like seeing an old friend. He was just as feisty as I remembered, and I love him even more now! And I always love seeing the picture the photographer takes of you on the ride. Cherished memories with my baby boy. I will DEFINITELY visit Sea Horse Ranch again!
BONUS: There are two very sweet kitty cats who will come say hi to you while you're there. Shadow and Luna. Such sweet little fur babies!!
Side Note: I see a lot of people complaining about "communication skills" and a few different issues. No offense, but I feel like these people haven't spent much time on a ranch. It's not all sunshine, rainbows and gentle talks lol! Sometimes you have to be loud and firm in your communication in order to make sure they don't hurt themselves, or the horses. The Guide who helped my son was definitely firm in his communication, but I wouldn't say he was "yelling". There is a big different between being loud/firm so you make sure you're heard/taken seriously, and straight up scolding someone like these people make it sound. My 10 year old handled it just fine lol! SO, don't let those reviews scare you off! This place is wonderful. I have seriously been there 6+ times, and I'm already looking forward to the next time I go!!
I went this past weekend with my son, who is 10. He was a little scared at first, but the Guide who was riding with us helped him get comfortable and he ended up having a wonderful time. The last time I went (which was about 6 years ago...) I rode a horse named Squiggles. He was a bit feisty, which I LOVE lol! I told them that, and they went into the back and brought Squiggles out so I could ride him again. It was wonderful, like seeing an old friend. He was just as feisty as I remembered, and I love him even more now! And I always love seeing the picture the photographer takes of you on the ride. Cherished memories with my baby boy. I will DEFINITELY visit Sea Horse Ranch again!
BONUS: There are two very sweet kitty cats who will come say hi to you while you're there. Shadow and Luna. Such sweet little fur babies!!
Side Note: I see a lot of people complaining about "communication skills" and a few different issues. No offense, but I feel like these people haven't spent much time on a ranch. It's not all sunshine, rainbows and gentle talks lol! Sometimes you have to be loud and firm in your communication in order to make sure they don't hurt themselves, or the horses. The Guide who helped my son was definitely firm in his communication, but I wouldn't say he was "yelling". There is a big different between being loud/firm so you make sure you're heard/taken seriously, and straight up scolding someone like these people make it sound. My 10 year old handled it just fine lol! SO, don't let those reviews scare you off! This place is wonderful. I have seriously been there 6+ times, and I'm already looking forward to the next time I go!!
Written January 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
kate y
3 contributions
I fell down from the horse, because they made the horse surprised by shouting.
I was a beginner, but they made my horse hopping by whistle.
I had bone break and bruise on my left finger and rt. Knee.
They did not care about my condition after a ride.
They mix every levels of people together, and hurry the group.
They are amatures in horse ride.
Never recommend this company!
Corri Lynn
Newington, CT5 contributions
I see no cameras or cell phones are allowed on the ride - does anyone take pictures for riders to access afterwards, or are the opportunities for a photo along the way?
Willa C
Half Moon Bay, CA5 contributions
Yes, there will be someone taking pictures of you and your group throughout the ride, which you are able to see after the ride. Thanks for your question.
If we book ahead and rains on the day, will the tour be cancel? And can we get a full refund?
Willa C
Half Moon Bay, CA5 contributions
If it is a rain out, or other weather-related cancellation, full refunds are available, as well as the option to reschedule--your choice. Thanks for your question. Hope to see you at the ranch soon.
AnnaFjord
Soender Felding, Denmark3 contributions
We have a 4 year old son, which would like to go with the rest of the family. Is it possible that he rides with me or my husbond?
Willa C
Half Moon Bay, CA5 contributions
Hi, Anna. Our minimum riding age is 7 years old, and for safety reasons, there is no double riding. Unfortunately, then, your four year old won't be able to ride. I am so sorry. Up the road from us is a place called Lemos Farms which has pony rides and other activities for children. Thanks and good luck!!
Willa
What is the cost per person?
Willa C
Half Moon Bay, CA5 contributions
Depending upon which ride you take, and when you take it, the cost goes from $60 to $90. Thanks so much.
Hello, I wanted to go this Mother's Day with my family. I was looking at the chart, I'm a "Mom" 5'1" tall and 167 lbs. according to the chart, I'm in the pink (x) area. Am I not able to go? Please let me know as I wanted to book ASAP for this Sunday.
Brigit K
Dixon, CA30 contributions
You should be fine. I was over the weight limit and there was no problem.
Can u have the opportunity to gallop along the coastline where the water meets the sand?
Licia V
Solana Beach, CA1 contribution
We went on the sand along the water for a while, and we mostly "walked." We were not an experienced group. It was gorgeous!
Hi! We are hoping to book a ride out with you over Christmas while we are on holiday from the UK. My daughter is a very experienced rider - is she ok to wear her own helmet? Thank you
Willa C
Half Moon Bay, CA5 contributions
Absolutely! We have riding helmets here, but if you prefer to use your own, that is perfectly fine. Make sure to book your reservation as soon as you know what day, since the holiday, if the weather holds, fills up quickly. Just go online, and book it yourself!! Let me know if you have more questions. Thanks!
Willa
Sea Horse Ranch (Half Moon Bay) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Sea Horse Ranch
- Sea Horse Ranch is open:
- Sun - Sat 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Hotels near Sea Horse Ranch:
- (1.12 mi) Cypress Inn on Miramar Beach
- (0.77 mi) Quality Inn Half Moon Bay/Miramar Beach
- (2.06 mi) Beach House Hotel Half Moon Bay
- (0.63 mi) Luxo Stays |Beach Now| 5bd/3ba #getaway #staycation
- (1.24 mi) The Oceanfront Hotel
- Restaurants near Sea Horse Ranch:
- (1.50 mi) Pasta Moon
- (1.55 mi) It's Italia
- (1.28 mi) Miramar Beach Restaurant
- (1.37 mi) Flying Fish and Grill
- (0.89 mi) The Barn