Bay Area/ San Francisco/ Parks & Nature
Published on October 31, 2019
After 18 years, Golden Gate Park's horse program rides againImage via Chaparral Ranch

Starting this Saturday, November 2, Golden Gate Park's Bercut Equitation Field will be home to a regular equestrian program for the first time since 2001.

Operated by Chaparral Ranch, which also runs stables in Woodside, Milpitas, and Camp Mather, the program will include riding lessons, trail rides, horse camp, and pony rides for children.

Chaparral Ranch will provide "free visits for San Francisco public schools and under-served communities," and will "make its facility available to local organizations such as therapeutic riding programs for disabled and disadvantaged youth," according to a statement by Rec & Park spokesperson Tamara Aparton.

This isn't the first time Golden Gate Park has had an active equestrian program, but the park's public stables were shuttered in 2001 for financial reasons, and a full restoration never took place.

In 2017, Rec & Park hosted a temporary, exploratory pilot program with Pot A Gold Adventures, but the program was only scheduled to last two months. (The horses also briefly escaped immediately before the pilot program ended.)

For now the field will be open for services 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, with plans to expand availability in the future.

Trail rides and lessons are $40 per 30 minutes, or $80 per hour.

The program is slated for a six month run, after which it will be reviewed and potentially extended, according to Rec & Park.

You can book rides and lessons through Chaparral Ranch's website.