Monterey Bay Equestrian Center
Monterey Bay Equestrian Center
4.5
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Full view
About
We offer wonderful horseback rides along Monterey Bay. Our horses are well cared for and the guides are friendly and helpful. Our stables is located as published but our horseback rides on the beach are located at the Molera Lot of the Salinas River State Beach. It can be found at the end of Monterey Dunes Way. Please rely on the directions found using the map to the beach link on our website.
Salinas, California
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Monterey Bay Equestrian Center
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
185 reviews
Excellent
153
Very good
17
Average
5
Poor
1
Terrible
9
Islands4me22
Rocklin, CA444 contributions
Sep 2019
I always wanted to horseback ride on the beach. My husband indulged me for our anniversary. We found Monterey Bay Equestrian Center on Trip Advisor with great reviews, so signed up ahead of our trip to the coast. Our guide was very talkative and friendly. We met at a parking lot south of Moss Landing before 11 AM, got on our horses, rode over the sand dunes and onto the beach. Having grown up in San Jose, we knew the area well and it was so much fun riding in a familiar place, beach on the beloved Monterey bay. The fresh air, smell of the ocean and waves crashing on the shore as we trotted along the surf was fabulous. It was a beautiful, clear day. We could see Moss Landing up ahead and the whole bay. The guide took pictures of us with our camera which was great. After a while we went back over the sand dunes and enjoyed a nice ride along the wetlands, then back over the dunes and along the surf again.
It was a wonderful ride in a beautiful place. Go for it!
It was a wonderful ride in a beautiful place. Go for it!
Written August 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
J H
4 contributions
Apr 2022
Pony ride for three children, aged 3, 4 and 8. Ms. Bridgette was the handler and she did a great job with the three young ones. They each got to take three rides around the corral and they then got to feed Jellybean a snack. They really enjoyed the experience and Ms. Bridgette took time to insure that ach rider had an enjoyable adventure.
Definitely recommend this if you have some young ones to entertain.
Well worth the time and money.
Definitely recommend this if you have some young ones to entertain.
Well worth the time and money.
Written May 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NJA
6 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
We went yesterday and Bridgette was our guide. We had an incredible time and Bridgette was very knowledgeable and entertaining. We took our 9 year old daughter and Bridgette taught her how to ride. By the way it was my daughter's first time riding a horse and I was terrified of riding (since I have fallen in my friends horse before). Let me tell you that I left wanting to ride again! The whole experience was amazing and I will definitely be asking for Bridgette again! I will definitely be riding again and coming here.
Written July 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kelly
2 contributions
Feb 2021
Pretty disappointing experience... We wanted to treat our kids to a farm fun time and booked a $100 dollar pony ride / animal meet and greet (basically). We should have left upon arrival. The pony was very unkempt and limped the whole time the kids were on it. They seemed pretty disorganized the whole time. The rest of the animals were viewed through cages or barn doors. Not at all what I was expecting and again not worth the time, money, or trip to the facility. Lady who gave the tour was nice, but was a little close of comfort during covid times (and only wore her mask covering her mouth, not nose). I hate leaving bad reviews but that was our experience.
Written February 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Justin W
Annapolis, MD429 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
Our second visit with these guys and not a disappointment at all, Nicky our guide clearly loves her horses and provided such positive energy, calm, patient. As experienced riders she could tell immediately and focused on those less well healed on equine fun. Delightful beach ride across the dunes and onto the sands. Perfect outing for any ability.
Written December 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stacy C
Kihei, HI27 contributions
Jun 2020 • Couples
What a great experience. Our guide, Bridget, was amazing! Great energy and made the ride so much better- she took lots of pictures for us and she was very knowledgeable about the horses. If you want to ride on the beach, this is the place to book through. Thanks for a memorable day!!
Written June 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
laur711
salinas1 contribution
While planning a fun family excursion, we decided to go through Monterey Bay Equestrain Center to do horseback riding on the beach. Unfortunately, we never got to go because of the extremely unprofessional owner (also the woman in charge of reservations). Madaline, the owner, told us the wrong time of day we were to go on our ride, which wasn't a problem since I called and asked for directions ahead of time and caught the problem. However, when we realized the miscommunication, she immediately started slinging insults, refusing to let me talk or work with her, calling me a "flake" and saying she was tired of dealing with "people like me." All I wanted to do was reschedule for a day where my husband, who works nights, could watch our infant. But it was as if she only wanted make a problem out of the situation. She proceeded to hang up on me, only to call me back and tell me she was going to charge my credit card for a cancelled reservation. This was a terrible experience and a serious disappointment to my family who was visiting from the east coast. I would highly recommend going somewhere else, where the company knows something about treating customers with decency.
Written July 23, 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lynncaMassachusetts
massachusetts8 contributions
Mar 2012 • Solo
Owner stated during phone conversation that the beach ride for 1.5 hours and $85 would include cantering on beach. She ,specifically, questioned my riding ability. She said the other riders in the group were prepared to canter. I stated I would not be interested in a walk only ride as I am an experienced rider. We could only walk because the owner booked an inexperienced rider, so they could make more money. It was the most disappointing ride I have ever experienced in twenty years of taking public horseback rides. I am so upset that this business owner would lie to me and not care enough to provide the ride that they promised. I would not do business with this type of owner. This ruined my vacation. I have waited my entire life to canter on the beach.
Written April 12, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It is not our policy to misrepresent our business or the services we provide. As part of our reservation process, we ask certain questions regarding the expectations and abilities of the riders. We rely on the honesty of the callers to provide us with accurate information when booking the rides. Once the ride begins, safety is our first priority. The guide is responsible for conducting the ride in a safe manner. Your description of the attitude of the guides is very concerning and not something we have been told before. I will look into it at once.
Written March 3, 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lauralee C
Trinity, FL105 contributions
Jun 2011 • Solo
Of the reviews so far, nobody has been to their stables and seen how they care for their precious horses. Since I live around the corner from their stables and pass it every day walking or driving, thought I would share with you what I know.
I am guessing there is about "maybe" 40 horses there, maybe more. All the horses look so great, very well cared for & their large & shaded paddocks are nice and clean. They are NOT kept inside a little stalls. have a stall but also a door they can go in & out of into their own small paddock.
They do have one large operation and there's also large areas where folks work their horses with cows, riding techniques, etc etc. The stables are in a picture perfect setting in the valley of Prunedale, Ca. outside of Salinas... I commend the folks who keep up such a sizeable operation... I almost aways see folks out there cleaning, feeding, mowing, loading horses, working working working. Seems to me for what you pay to rent a horse to ride on the beach is one SWEET deal because they sure do ALOT behind the scenes.
iI's nice to read how everyones raving about their beach ride, how nice the guide & owner also is. I have not tried rented their horses yet...but I am totally planning on it.
I am guessing there is about "maybe" 40 horses there, maybe more. All the horses look so great, very well cared for & their large & shaded paddocks are nice and clean. They are NOT kept inside a little stalls. have a stall but also a door they can go in & out of into their own small paddock.
They do have one large operation and there's also large areas where folks work their horses with cows, riding techniques, etc etc. The stables are in a picture perfect setting in the valley of Prunedale, Ca. outside of Salinas... I commend the folks who keep up such a sizeable operation... I almost aways see folks out there cleaning, feeding, mowing, loading horses, working working working. Seems to me for what you pay to rent a horse to ride on the beach is one SWEET deal because they sure do ALOT behind the scenes.
iI's nice to read how everyones raving about their beach ride, how nice the guide & owner also is. I have not tried rented their horses yet...but I am totally planning on it.
Written June 14, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I know it's been a while but we are finally getting to our reviews. Thank you for your comments.
Written August 7, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Allen S
Sunnyvale, CA12 contributions
Jan 2014 • Couples
I've done numerous(10+) horseback riding activities before and this was my most disappointing experience by far!
The entire time, I was being barked at by the guide in the back. It was such a frustrating experience as I felt I was being yelled at the entire time, and the guides were in a bad mood. I know how to handle my horse (and we never went faster than a slow walk). There was no sense of letting the customer have an enjoyable ride. The atmosphere was very unpleasant as there was no freedom at all in the ride, and any slight deviation from her perceived path was met with yelling or stern reprimand. I completely understand safety, but this was just ridiculous.
Also, like other reviewers observed, if you are paired in a group with beginners, expect a very uneventful and slow ride. Do not expect any trotting, let alone cantering. And if the beginner makes any initial mistakes, expect everyone in the group to be in lock down.
I haven't had such a terrible experience in a long, long time.
The entire time, I was being barked at by the guide in the back. It was such a frustrating experience as I felt I was being yelled at the entire time, and the guides were in a bad mood. I know how to handle my horse (and we never went faster than a slow walk). There was no sense of letting the customer have an enjoyable ride. The atmosphere was very unpleasant as there was no freedom at all in the ride, and any slight deviation from her perceived path was met with yelling or stern reprimand. I completely understand safety, but this was just ridiculous.
Also, like other reviewers observed, if you are paired in a group with beginners, expect a very uneventful and slow ride. Do not expect any trotting, let alone cantering. And if the beginner makes any initial mistakes, expect everyone in the group to be in lock down.
I haven't had such a terrible experience in a long, long time.
Written January 22, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have read your review and it took me by surprise. We always try to give great customer service and do not misrepresent the services we provide. Because we make our reservations by phone, we rely on the honesty of the callers to give accurate information regarding their expectations and riding abilities. Once the ride begins, it's the responsibility of the guides to conduct the ride in a safe manner. If, during the ride, someone is not comfortable, the guide must do what they can to allow the ride to progress at a safe pace. The comment regarding the attitude of the guides is as unique as well as concerning. I will look into it at once.
Written March 3, 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
wesleyursh
Sacramento, California
What are the prices and different rides to choose ?
Written November 14, 2017
wesleyursh
Sacramento, California
Is there a weight limit for people who ride ?
Written November 14, 2017
Yes, they said it depends on the height and weight of each rider for the safety of both the rider and of the horse. It would be best to give them a call to discuss.
What they told me is they can go up to 250 pounds for someone who is relatively taller and can safely ride a larger horse. They match the horse and saddle with the rider.
Written November 14, 2017
Pricing and length of ride? Do you need to make reservations very far ahead?
Written August 28, 2016
most people make reservations a few days or more in advance. please call during business hours any day.
Written August 31, 2016
Do they do walk-ins? If not, what is the cacellation policy like?
Written July 5, 2016
We don't take walk-ins. All reservations must be made over the phone. Our cancellation policy is 24 hours. If you cancel outside the 24 hours, there is no charge. If not, we must charge in full.
Written July 6, 2016
The prices are on the website. If you want the best service, call us tomorrow after nine in the morning. I am using Google translator because I have minimal ability speaking Spanish.
Written August 7, 2015
The one-hour ride is $75/person and the 1.5 hour ride is $85/person.
Written June 15, 2015
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