Heather Hill Riding Center
Serving Bay Area Novice Riders with Exceptional Horsemanship Since 1997
About Heather Hill
It all starts here. Heather Hill Riding Center is dedicated to putting novice students on the right path for a lifetime of enjoyable, fulfilling riding.
Since 1997, Laura Stevens’ exceptional riding center has been the Bay Area’s premier destination for new riders. Heather Hill Riding Center is committed to excellence in horsemanship, a close-knit community, and personalized care for both horse and rider.
Our philosophy centers on respect for the individual nature of each horse and student. Our highly personalized approach draws on a variety of teaching practices, and students work across disciplines to build confidence and skill.
Excellence Personalization Community
Excellence Personalization Community
What We Do
Heather Hill Riding Center is a small, community-oriented barn in Atherton, known for its kind, steady Welsh ponies and Cobs. Our private pastures, all-weather indoor and outdoor arenas, and nearby trails create a peaceful, supportive environment for riders who want to build a real relationship with our horses.
Our program is highly individualized. We focus on well-rounded horsemanship, thoughtful riding, and understanding a horse’s body language. We are the right fit for young riders, beginners, and adults returning to the saddle. We teach English and Western riding as well as carriage driving.
Riding Club
Most riders begin with four introductory private lessons. These give students a chance to get to know us, learn our approach, and meet our ponies.
After the introductory lessons, riders can join The Riding Club, our ongoing program. Riding Club members:
ride once a week or more,
work consistently with the same horse,
experience indoor arena sessions, outdoor riding, trail rides,
and participate in a mix of mounted lessons and groundwork.
This steady, relationship-based approach helps riders build confidence, skills, and a real partnership with their horse.
We are intentionally small and have limited space, but we always welcome inquiries and new riders who feel aligned with our philosophy.
Retirements & Layups
We offer a small number of full-care spots for retired horses or horses recovering from injury. With careful monitoring, individualized feed plans, and appropriate turnout, our senior and layup horses thrive in our quiet setting.
Come Say Hello
We love meeting new people and introducing them to our ponies. If you’d like to learn more about lessons, the Riding Club, or retirement care, we’re happy to talk and show you around.
“There are horse trainers, horse traders and horse whisperers. There are show men, show boaters and show offs. [...] But then there are true Horsemen and Horsewomen, and these are harder to find and sometimes even harder to recognize because they are often tucked away in quiet hidden places, working slowly and silently without national recognition or appreciation. ”
— Becky Hanson
Contact Us
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you! Fill out the form or use our email & phone number below.
email: heatherhillridingcenter@gmail.com
call: 650.465.4083