4.3
53 Reviews
1K+
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About
Chaparral Ranch

The spirit of the West meets Silicon Valley at Chaparral Ranch. Surrounded by natural trails and open space preserves, the ranch overlooks stunning Bay views.

A hub of Western and English lessons, trail and adventure rides, with an atmosphere all its own, Chaparral boasts a rich community of equestrians and outdoor lovers. People visit Chaparral from all reaches of the Bay Area. The flavor and people of this place offer an outstanding Northern California experience.

Our Staff

Shawn Mott, Master Horseman and CEO. Shawn trained his first mustang when he was ten years old. Since then, he has truly lived the life of a cowboy. As an eagle scout, he was mentored by a 70-year-old half-Cherokee horseman, who shared his secrets in the ways of the horse. Together, they taught groups of boy scouts trail riding, rodeo and other horsemanship disciplines. As a young man, Shawn raised and raced his own horses. He then built Hillcrest Ranch in Sunol, started the Sunol park pack station, founded Sunset Riding Academy in Sunol and ran the Head to Tail feed store.  Shawn has also contracted with Wente Winery, was one of the mounted police for Shoreline amphitheater, and worked with the Fame charter schools. Shawn continues to teach all levels of western riding at Chaparral Ranch in Milpitas. 

Tax ID (EIN): 27-0939720
Locations (2)
Contact Chaparral Ranch
Reviews
4.3 (53)
(Summer Horse Riding Camp)
July 14, 2025 - Janna Matsuoka
Verified Purchase
Fun activities and great hands on experience with the horses.
(Summer Horse Riding Camp)
July 14, 2024 - Shuhui Zhang
Verified Purchase
My daughter love this horse riding camp so much. The horses are very friendly.
(Summer Horse Riding Camp)
April 1, 2024 - Ww
Verified Purchase
This camp is extremely unreliable. I applied for the spring break camp from April 1st to April 5th. Chaparral Ranch sent me a cancellation email at 9 p.m. on March 31st, and I saw the email at midnight. I believe parents can understand my feelings right now, anger and shock. I had to start looking for a new camp for my child in the middle of the night. Chaparral Ranch's extremely irresponsible behavior makes it difficult for people to trust that they will be responsible for teaching children how to ride horses.
Susan Pennell
April 1, 2024
Thank you for sharing your concerns with us. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by the cancellation of the spring break camp your child was enrolled in. We understand how frustrating and disruptive this experience must have been for you and your family.

Our intention is always to provide a reliable and enjoyable experience for all participants, and we regret that we fell short of your expectations in this instance. Please know that your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are taking steps to ensure that such situations are minimized in the future.

While we regret the need to cancel the camp at your preferred location, we would like to offer you the option to join us at either our Milpitas or Woodside locations. Additionally, we understand the urgency in finding alternative arrangements for your child, and we are more than happy to assist you with a refund, if possible.

We understand the importance of trust and reliability when it comes to entrusting us with the care and education of your child. We assure you that we are committed to regaining your trust and providing a positive experience for you and your family in the future.

Please feel free to reach out to us directly if you would like to discuss your concerns further or if there is anything else we can do to assist you.

Thank you for your understanding, and we hope to have the opportunity to serve you again under more favorable circumstances.
FAQ's
Is Chaparral Ranch worth it?
Parents recommend Chaparral Ranch and the average rating is 4.3 out of 5. Overall, the reviews indicate that Chaparral Ranch provides engaging and enjoyable experiences for children.
What ages can go to Chaparral Ranch?
Chaparral Ranch has camps and birthday parties for children ages 3 to 17. Age-appropriate activities are designed to engage and inspire children at different developmental stages.
Questions & Answers
What is the riding style taught here? English or Western? (Junior Camp Leader Program) -
asked on May 05, 2023
May 08, 2023 - Susan Pennell
Verified Purchase
We focus only on Western riding for camp. -
How many kids in one camp? (Summer Horse Riding Camp) -
asked on Aug 10, 2021
May 08, 2023 - Susan Pennell
Verified Purchase
40 kids max for our summer camps in Woodside, San Francisco and Marina. 25 to 30 kids for Milpitas -
Are you offering single day options throughout the week? (Winter Break Horse Camp) -
asked on Feb 12, 2021
Will there be shade and other activities? (making sure the negative reviews are not accurate!) (Summer Horse Riding Camp)
asked on Jun 07, 2020