Beach and trail rides · Daly City
Horseback riding on the beach near San Francisco, 15 minutes from downtown
A guided ride on the coastal trail at Ocean View Stables, down onto the sand when the tide allows. It starts on the ground, with your horse and a safety orientation. No experience needed.
Booking opens on leydenhorsemanship.com, our booking site. Same barn, same team.
At a glance
Before you book
Time
Plan for 75 to 90 minutes, including check-in and a safety orientation.
Ages
8 and up. A child under 8 cannot ride double with a parent.
Riders
240 lbs or less, able to mount and dismount with minimal assistance.
Experience
None needed. Every ride starts on the ground.
The booking calendar only offers the times that work on the day you pick.
The current price shows on the booking page. To see all four rides side by side, compare the rides.
How the ride works
Groundwork first. Then the coast.
01 · At the barn
Check in 20 minutes early
Give yourself 20 minutes before your start time. Check in at the barn office, get fitted for a helmet and finish your paperwork. Every rider signs the participant agreement before any hands-on time with a horse; a parent or guardian signs for anyone under 18.
02 · Groundwork
A lesson on the ground
Your guide starts on the ground with a hands-on introduction to horse behavior and safety: how horses think, how to approach and handle one, and how to stay safe around it. Then riding instruction under close supervision. The group heads out only when the team sees every rider is ready.
03 · The bluff trail and the beach
Along the bluffs, and onto the sand when the tide allows
Your guide stays with you the whole ride. The route can vary with tides and conditions, and we make that call on the day, for safety. When the tide allows, the trail drops off the bluff to the sand; beach access is never guaranteed. Then back to the barn.
The last ride of the day always gets back before dark, so the latest start moves with the sunset through the year.
Before you come
What to wear and bring
Long pants.
Closed-toe shoes or boots with a slight heel; the heel stops a foot sliding through the stirrup. No sandals.
Layers; it is often cooler and windier at the beach than inland.
Water and sunscreen. Fog is not shade.
Helmets: ASTM-certified helmets are provided, and riders under 18 must wear one.
Bring your phone. Keep it in a zipped pocket while you ride, and take your pictures when the guide says it is a good moment, or hand it over and the guide will take them. The one thing we ask is that nobody rides with a phone in their hand while the horses are moving.
After you book, a five-minute Beach Ride Prep briefing arrives by email. Read it any time
Other ways to ride
Private, at sunset, or as a group
Private
Private VIP Equestrian Experience
Just your party and your guide, on the same bluff trail and down to the sand when the tide allows.
From January 2027
Sunset Ride and Cowboy Cookout
An evening beach ride, then the Cowboy Cookout BBQ dinner at the barn. Friday and Saturday evenings, two-rider minimum, book at least 48 hours ahead.
Ages 3 and up
Arena pony rides
Two laps of the arena on a full-sized horse, hand-led the whole way. A parent or guardian stays and signs for each child.
Groups
Parties, teams and stays
Birthdays at the barn, days for your team and pods on the bluff.
Good to know
Veterans, weather and changes
Veterans ride free
If you served, your own beach ride is free. The free ride belongs to the veteran personally and does not extend to family members or anyone booking on a veteran’s behalf. Proof of service is required. A $5 holding fee is charged when you book, to hold your spot. If you don’t show up and don’t call ahead, the full price of the ride is charged.
Plans change
Weather, surf, tide and the welfare of a horse are our call, and we make it for safety. Rescheduling and cancelling are set out in Section 8 of our Terms.
Do I need riding experience?
No. Riders with no experience are welcome, and every ride starts on the ground with a hands-on introduction to horse behavior and safety. We match each rider to a suitable horse from the herd, and the group heads out only when the team sees everyone is ready.
How long does it take?
Plan for 75 to 90 minutes, including check-in and a safety orientation. Arrive 20 minutes before your start time to check in, fit a helmet and complete paperwork.
Who can ride?
Riders 8 and up, 240 lbs or less, who can mount and dismount with minimal assistance. A child under 8 cannot ride double with a parent. For younger children, arena pony rides and lessons start at age 3.
Will we ride on the beach?
When the tide allows. Beach access depends on the tide and is not guaranteed on any given ride, and the exact route can vary with tides and conditions. We make that call on the day, for safety.
Why can’t I see a later start time?
The last ride of the day always gets back before dark, so the latest start moves with the sunset through the year. The booking calendar only offers the times that work on the day you pick. If a later time is missing, the reason is the light.
Can I cancel or reschedule?
Rescheduling and cancelling are set out in Section 8 of our Terms. Read Section 8 of our Terms
Pick your day on the coast
The booking calendar only offers the times that work on the day you pick.
Questions first? Send us a message.