Where to Ride, Train, and Compete: The Complete Equestrian Guide to Westlake Village & Thousand Oaks, CA

Below is a local guide to the main public-facing equestrian facilities in and near Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks, California, with a focus on:

• What each barn does (lesson programs, training focus, show teams)
• Typical lesson costs (beginner / learn to ride, hunter/jumper, dressage, etc.)
• What kinds of competitions they host or regularly attend
• Entry fees, prize money, and awards where publicly available
• Rough annual show rhythm in this area

I’ll start with in-town facilities, then include immediately-adjacent “show barns.” Moorpark, Somis, and Burbank are included because (a) they pull riders from Westlake/Thousand Oaks every day and (b) they host a lot of the shows you’ll actually be competing in.

1. Foxfield Riding School (Westlake Village)

Foxfield Riding School focuses on classic hunter/jumper and equitation. Riders start in structured lessons and progress to medal-level competition.

Location: 1250 E Potrero Rd, Westlake Village, CA 91361

Focus: Hunter/jumper, equitation, strong horsemanship/foundation program. Foxfield is famous in Southern California for producing serious medal/eq and jumper riders, plus its bridleless drill team.

Lesson program & pricing

Foxfield is unusually transparent with lesson pricing because it’s run first and foremost as a school, not just a private show barn.

From Foxfield’s published pricing:

• Mandatory first-time evaluation private (30 min): $75 for true beginners.
• Evaluation for riders with previous experience (30 min): $50–$75 (Foxfield notes $50 for experienced placement, $75 for first-timers; both are 30 minutes).
• Ongoing 1-hour group lesson: $60 per rider
• 1-hour private lesson: $100
• 1-hour semi-private (up to 4 riders): $70 per rider
• 30-minute private (typically age 6 and under): $50–$60 Foxfield teaches all levels “beginner to advanced,” and the same price structure covers flatwork, jumping, and equitation. Riders are placed in Beginner, Adv. Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced groups after evaluation.  They do have a ~190 lb weight limit for school horses.

When they teach

Group lessons run after school on Tue/Wed/Thu at 4 pm, a Friday 4 pm slot exists specifically for absolute beginners, and Saturdays have multiple daytime sections (9:00 am/noon / 2:30 pm). There are also adult-only lessons on Tuesdays at 10 am and 7 pm.

Shows Foxfield runs/attends

Foxfield runs its Spring Horse Show and Summer Horse Show, each a one-day unrated/local-style show. Divisions include full hunter, equitation, pony, and medals for juniors and seniors. They also run “Sum-Fun” schooling/fun shows in spring and summer, and wrap up the year with a Holiday Horse Show in December that’s very relaxed and barn-family oriented.

These shows are schooling / local medal level rather than big USEF AA-rated. That means:

• Entry fees: At comparable local 1-day schooling shows in the Conejo Valley (see TNT shows below), individual classes typically run about $25 per class, with no association fees. It’s reasonable to assume Foxfield’s internal one-day shows are in that same general range ($20–$30/class) because they’re hunter/eq medal style, unrated, and meant to be affordable stepping stones. (Inference based on TNT Horse Shows’ published $25/class pricing for local hunter/jumper/dressage divisions at Conejo Creek in Thousand Oaks.
• Prizes: Ribbons are usually 1st through 5th (sometimes through 6th or 8th depending on the class), plus high-point or champion/reserve-champion awards in each division. Foxfield specifically notes junior/senior hunter/eq/pony divisions and medal classes, which traditionally award division Champion/Reserve coolers, ribbons, etc., not cash.

Yearly rhythm (Foxfield)

• March–April: Foxfield Spring Horse Show
• June–July: Foxfield Summer Horse Show
• Late Summer/Fall: “Sum-Fun” schooling/fun shows
• Early December: Foxfield Holiday Show
• Year-round: Foxfield riders also haul out to A- and AA-rated hunter/jumper shows across SoCal (Hansen Dam, LA Equestrian Center, Temecula/Oaks, etc.) for points/medals.

Summary

Foxfield is the classic “start here, get legit here” program for Conejo Valley. You can literally begin as a brand-new rider on a school horse for $60–$100/lesson, then progress all the way to medal finals-style eq and 3’+ hunters/jumpers without leaving the program.

2. Rancho Potrero Community Equestrian Center (a.k.a. Rancho Potrero / Rancho Potrero Community Equestrian Center / RPCEC) Thousand Oaks / Newbury Park:

Guided trail rides from Rancho Potrero head straight into the Santa Monica Mountains open space with ocean-view ridgelines. The same facility also offers beginner English and Western lessons at community pricing.

Location: 4790 West Lynn Road, Thousand Oaks / Newbury Park side, CA 91320

Operator: Ride On Therapeutic Horsemanship, under long-term agreement with Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD).

What it is:

This is the City/CRPD public equestrian center. It’s a boarding barn, trailhead to Santa Monica Mountains / COSCA open space, lesson barn for beginners through intermediate English & Western, AND it houses Ride On, a nonprofit program for adaptive/therapeutic riding (physical, occupational, speech, and language therapy using the horse’s movement).

Lesson/ride pricing:

From recent CRPD/Ride On rate info for Rancho Potrero:

• Regular lessons: about $65 per lesson (able-bodied beginner through intermediate, English or Western).
• Guided trail rides: about $70 per hour on site (public trail rides offered out of the same facility).  These are some of the lowest posted lesson/trail rates in the local market, because the center is run under a community/nonprofit model instead of a private A-circuit model.

Boarding cost context:

Internal CRPD documents show that even after an ~8% board rate bump effective April 1, 2024, Rancho Potrero’s average board was still around $590–$600/month, versus a local market median of ~$790 and average ~$814/month in comparable Ventura County / Conejo Valley barns.  (That huge gap is why it’s popular and usually near capacity.)

Shows/competitions:

Rancho Potrero itself is mostly trail, training, horsemanship, and therapy. It does not advertise a rated hunter/jumper circuit under its own name. Instead, local riders there and in Thousand Oaks tend to show at:

• Conejo Creek Equestrian Park schooling shows (TNT Horse Shows; see below),
• community “Day of the Horse” and similar outreach/pleasure events at Conejo Creek Equestrian Park,
• and occasionally haul to larger shows in Burbank or Moorpark.

Awards/prizes:

At this level, shows emphasize ribbons, high-point trophies, and mileage/experience in the ring rather than cash purses. TNT Horse Shows notes ribbons 1st–5th and high point prizes, no association fees.

Summary:

Rancho Potrero is the “accessible gateway barn” for Thousand Oaks: lesson horses, trail riding, adaptive/therapeutic riding, and community pricing (~$65/lesson). It’s not primarily a rated show barn, but it feeds riders into local Conejo Creek schooling shows and lays the groundwork for kids and adults who may later move into hunter/jumper or dressage competition.

3. Conejo Creek Equestrian Park / Conejo Creek Equestrian Center

Conejo Creek hosts local schooling shows, lead-line through jumpers, plus community “Day of the Horse” events. Entry fees are about $25 per class, and riders compete for ribbons and high-point prizes (no USEF membership required).

Location: 1350 E Avenida de Las Flores, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 (This is sometimes also called “Conejo Creek Equestrian Center” or just “Conejo Creek.” It’s the public show-grounds / arena complex in Thousand Oaks.)

What it is:

Conejo Creek is the in-town show and event grounds. It hosts:

• Schooling hunter/jumper and dressage shows (TNT Horse Shows),
• Fun “all levels welcome” shows with lead-line through ~1.0m / 3’3”,
• Community equestrian days (horsemanship demos, costume classes, “Day of the Horse,” etc.).

Competition schedule (typical year):

TNT Horse Shows posts multiple dates across spring, summer, and fall. Public examples from 2024–2025 listings:

• Early May 2025: Hunter/Jumper & Dressage Show at Conejo Equestrian Center. Classes run from Lead-line and Cross-rails all the way to ~1.0 m / 3’3”. Ribbons 1st–5th. “NO association fees!” (Translation: you don’t have to pay extra USEF, PCHA, or other membership fees to enter.)
• Mid-summer 2025 (example: July 12, 2025): late-afternoon schooling show at Conejo Creek — lead-line classes start around 3:30 pm, jumpers start around 4 pm. Affordable, get-ring-miles vibe.
• Fall 2025: TNT Hunter Jumper & Dressage Show advertised for November 30, 2025 (7:00 am–5:00 pm) at Conejo Creek Equestrian Park.  These shows repeat several times per year, so you’re looking at ~3–6 Conejo Creek schooling shows a year in Thousand Oaks.

Entry costs:

TNT’s own show info (for Conejo Creek schooling shows):

• About $25 per class
• Lead-line, cross-rails, hunter, jumper, and even basic dressage tests
• No hidden “association” fees, which makes this much cheaper than a USEF/PCHA-rated horse show.

That means a kid doing three flat/eq classes and two tiny cross-rail hunter rounds might spend ~$125 in class fees plus basic office/day fees, vs. several hundred dollars at a rated show.

Prizes/awards:

• Ribbons 1st through 5th in each class
• High point/series prizes and fun awards (for example, TNT advertises “Great High Point Prizes! No Association Fees or surprise expenses” and themed extras like costume classes). Cash purses generally are not offered at these Conejo Creek schooling shows; they are about mileage, confidence, and points toward barn/fun awards.

Divisions offered:

• Lead-line / walk-only / walk-trot (tiny riders up to ~age 6–7)
• Cross-rails / Short Stirrup hunter eq
• Hunter/Equitation divisions at 2'–3'
• Jumper classes up to ~1.0 m / 3’3”
• Intro/Training level Dressage tests and even Freestyle classes (they advertise dressage and a freestyle test download).

Summary:

Conejo Creek is Thousand Oaks’ “home show-grounds.” If you’re lessoning at Rancho Potrero or Foxfield and you want to actually go in the ring without committing to an A-rated weekend, this is where you’ll probably start. $25/class, ribbons, friendly judges, no USEF card needed

4. Mark Watring Stables (Hidden Valley Ranch) Westlake Village

Two-time Olympian and Pan American Games gold medalist Mark Watring trains jumpers, hunters, and equitation riders out of Hidden Valley Ranch in Westlake Village, with a direct pipeline to high-money jumper classes and medal finals.

Location: Hidden Valley Ranch, Westlake Village / Hidden Valley

Focus: High-performance hunter/jumper, equitation, and show-jumping. Mark Watring is a Pan American Games gold medalist and two-time Olympian. This barn is a pro show barn for riders aiming to compete seriously in the hunter/jumper/equitation pipeline.

Lesson/training pricing:

Mark Watring Stables does not publicly post à la carte “learn to ride” prices online the way Foxfield or Rancho Potrero does. This is common with elite hunter/jumper programs: lessons are typically packaged with full training/boarding for horse owners or leases, and pricing is discussed privately. (That can easily reach four figures per month in Southern California A-circuit programs for full training, plus board.) This is consistent with regional programs where monthly full training commonly ranges ~$775–$900+ for 4–5 services a week, based on public numbers from another nearby A-circuit hunter/jumper program, Elvenstar.

For a brand-new rider with no horse, historically Mark Watring will evaluate fit, often suggesting a lease/half-lease arrangement and a training package rather than casual drop-in group lessons. (This is standard for elite show barns; I’m inferring from typical SoCal hunter/jumper barn practices and from the fact that they market as “a professional, full-service equestrian program” rather than a riding school.

Competitions:

Riders from Mark Watring Stables normally haul to:

• USEF-rated hunter/jumper “A” and “AA” shows in Southern California (Hansen Dam, Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, Temecula/Oaks, etc.).
• Medal/equitation classes that can qualify riders for big medal finals. These shows do offer prize money, especially in jumper classics and Grand Prix classes, and can have purses ranging from a few hundred dollars in low jumper classics to tens of thousands in Grand Prix and specialty divisions. For example, SoCal rated circuits and LA Equestrian Center festivals list high-dollar prize money for upper-level jumper and special events. The Los Angeles Equestrian Center calendar for fall/winter 2025 highlights major competitions like high-level polo with a $100K prize pool for the U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship, as well as hunter/jumper and breed shows that award cash in featured classes and Grand Prix.

Entry fees & awards at this level:

At USEF/PCHA A and AA hunter/jumper shows:

• Office/grounds fees can run into the hundreds for the weekend.
• Individual classes might be $40–$80+ each at the lower heights.
• Special classics / medal classes / Grand Prix have higher entry fees (often $150+ and up), but also cash purses and prize money paid down to 8th place in hunters and jumpers. Prize money in hunter classics is often paid through 8th; Grand Prix money can go even deeper, and riders must provide tax info to collect. (These payout structures and payout-through-8th details are visible in SoCal AA prize lists, e.g. “The Oaks” prize list language: prize money awarded through 8th place in hunter classes and Grand Prix; IRS rules require 30% withholding for foreign exhibitors, etc.)

In other words: once you’re showing A/AA with a barn like Mark Watring, you’re in the “real money and medal finals” ecosystem.

Summary:

Mark Watring Stables = elite hunter/jumper and equitation training out of Westlake Village/Hidden Valley. Pricing is custom/full-training style, not public drop-in lesson rates. They go to the same A/AA shows where real prize money and big medals.

5. Elvenstar (Moorpark)

Elvenstar’s Riding Academy in Moorpark teaches young and adult riders on seasoned school horses, then feeds them into a full A/AA-circuit hunter, jumper, and equitation program.

Location: 15540 Lapeyre Rd, Moorpark, CA 93021 (≈15–20 min north of Thousand Oaks on the 23/118)

Focus: Hunter/jumper, equitation, IEA, Pony Club-style horsemanship; large lesson academy AND a serious A-circuit show stable. Elvenstar pulls heavily from Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Oak Park, Agoura, etc.

Learn-to-ride program & pricing:

Elvenstar publicly posts specific “Riding Academy” pricing for incoming riders:

• Required Evaluation Private Lesson: $75 for beginner riders $90 for advanced riders. This is mandatory for all new students, so trainers can place you and map out goals.
• Intro Package: Two horsemanship lessons + one private riding lesson for $220 total if purchased the day of your evaluation. That bundle must be used in 30 days.
• After that, lesson rates (Academy side) break down roughly as: Group lesson on a school horse (staff instructor): ~$90 per ride Private lesson on a school horse (staff instructor): ~$110 per ride If you own/lease your own horse, that drops (example schedule shows ~$65 for a group lesson on your own horse, ~$85 private on your own horse with staff; head trainer privates cost more, up to ~$125 on a school horse). Elvenstar also advertises “Ponies and Tots” for very young kids (14 months–3 years) at $35 for a 45-minute pony/horsemanship session twice a month, and standard 30-minute private lessons at $85 (staff) for more traditional one-on-one riding.

That means Elvenstar is more expensive per lesson than Foxfield or Rancho Potrero, but you’re getting a show-focused hunter/jumper program with very small group sizes, pro staff, and access to serious competition.

They also run seasonal day camps (for example, Winter Camp 2025 in Moorpark is $550 for four days, 8:30 am–1:30 pm), which is a common on-ramp for brand-new kids.

Training program for show riders:

For riders (and horses) in full training, Elvenstar publishes its “Flat Rate Regional Training Program”:

• Tier 1: 4 services/week at $775/month
• Tier 2: 5 services/week at $900/month “Services” = training ride(s), group lessons, private lessons, and a full care/meds/feed/grooming support plan. Private lessons beyond the weekly quota are an extra $25 each.  This is very typical for SoCal hunter/jumper show barns at the A/AA level.

Competitions & schedule:

Elvenstar riders show at:

• Local schooling shows (Conejo Creek, Foxfield, etc.) for green riders.
• Regional PCHA / USEF hunter, jumper, and equitation shows across SoCal.
• Rated AA circuits where prize money is paid in hunter classics, jumper classes, and Grand Prix, sometimes into the tens of thousands of dollars. Prize money at these AA shows is typically awarded down to 8th place in hunters and through the jump-off placings in jumpers, and Grand Prix classes can award five figures or more.

Because Elvenstar fields show teams across divisions (Short Stirrup, Pony Hunters, Children’s/Adult Eq, Low/Med/High Child-Adult Jumpers, etc.), they basically have relevant outings almost every month of the year: winter circuits (Desert Horse Park / Coachella Valley), spring/fall SoCal AA shows, and summer medal qualifier runs.

Entry fees & awards:

• At schooling-level outings (Conejo Creek, Foxfield fun shows): ~$25/class, ribbons, high-point prizes.
• At A/AA outings (Hansen Dam, Los Angeles Equestrian Center, “The Oaks,” etc.): Class fees often $40+ each, with additional office/grounds fees. Hunter Classics and Jumper Classics can cost $100–$200+ to enter but pay out actual prize money through 8th. Grand Prix / marquee jumper classes can pay many thousands of dollars; USEF requires prize money reporting and shows withhold 30% for foreign competitors per IRS rules (the Oaks prize list notes this explicitly).

Summary:

Elvenstar is the “big show barn up the road”: excellent for kids who want hunter/jumper/equitation in a structured academy, and then a clear pipeline into serious A/AA competition with real money on the line. Expect ~$75–$110 per lesson in the academy, $775–$900/month for full-on training, and a show schedule that basically never sleeps.

6. Shadowbrook Stables (Moorpark)

Shadowbrook Stables is a competitive hunter/jumper and equitation barn with riders of all ages. They show throughout California, including derbies, classics, and medal finals.

Location: Moorpark, CA (serves Conejo Valley / Thousand Oaks riders) Focus: Hunters, jumpers, equitation for “riders and horses of all ages and levels,” plus show teams that compete all over the West Coast.

Lesson/training:

Shadowbrook does not publicly post per-lesson pricing in the way Foxfield or Rancho Potrero does, but they market themselves as a full-service competitive hunter/jumper/eq barn: you board or lease a horse and train in a program, then show under the barn banner. That almost always means rates in line with other A-circuit programs nearby (think similar ballpark to Elvenstar’s, $775–$900/month training tiers, plus board).

Competitions:

Shadowbrook explicitly says they compete “all over the West Coast” in hunter, jumper, and equitation divisions, which implies:

• Regular trips to SoCal A/AA shows (Hansen Dam, LAEC, Temecula/Oaks)
• Travel up/down California for medal finals and jumper classics. That circuit includes classes with substantial prize money (hundreds to thousands of dollars), especially in jumper classics and Grand Prix classes, as well as equitation medals that award trophies, coolers, and finals qualifications rather than cash.

Summary:

Shadowbrook = boutique(ish) competitive hunter/jumper program one freeway exit north of the Conejo Valley. Pricing is custom/full training; shows are rated, with real prize money in upper jumper divisions and a focus on eq/medal finals for juniors and amateurs.

7. Fox Canyon Farm & Spirit Equestrian / Somis / Balcom Canyon (near Thousand Oaks & Moorpark) Spirit / Balcom Canyon Facility – Somis

The Balcom Canyon/Somis training facilities used by high-end hunter/jumper and dressage programs (including Spirit Equestrian–type programs) feature multiple arenas, turnout space, and shaded lanes, and they pull advanced riders from Thousand Oaks and Westlake

These two facilities are just northwest (Somis / Santa Rosa Valley / Somis backroads), ~20–30 minutes from Thousand Oaks/Westlake, and are relevant for dressage and cross-training riders.

Fox Canyon Farm - Fox Canyon Farm – Somis (Dressage / Recognized Shows)

Fox Canyon Farm in Somis is a dressage-focused boarding and show facility. They host USEF/USDF/CDS recognized dressage shows with full-size courts, warm-up arenas, and judges’ stands on site.

Location: Somis, Ventura County (20-ish minutes from Thousand Oaks).

Focus: Dressage boarding, training, and showing. They advertise multiple top dressage trainers onsite and note that in 2025 they’re hosting several recognized (USEF/USDF/CDS) rated dressage shows and clinics.

Competitions:

• Fox Canyon Farm announced it will host at least two USEF/USDF/CDS recognized dressage shows in 2025. Recognized dressage shows award: Class ribbons and division awards, Qualifying scores toward Regional/State/USDF championships, In some upper-level / FEI classes, modest cash awards. These are sanctioned shows, so you do pay association fees and need memberships/horse recording numbers to earn qualifying scores. Entry fees for recognized dressage tests in SoCal commonly run ~$50–$75 per test at Training–Fourth Level, and FEI classes cost more. (That’s consistent with USEF/USDF/CDS-rated show pricing and prize-list norms in this region.)

Lesson/training pricing: Fox Canyon doesn’t publish public “walk-in lesson” rates like Foxfield does; instead, you typically board/haul in for lessons with one of the resident dressage pros. That structure is similar to the hunter/jumper show barns above: monthly training program or per-ride pro training.

Spirit Equestrian

Location: 7202 Balcom Canyon Rd, Somis, CA (northwest of Thousand Oaks) Focus: Hunter/jumper and dressage, competitive training and boarding with multiple named dressage trainers and jumper trainers.

Competitions: Spirit Equestrian riders go to regional hunter/jumper and dressage shows; like Fox Canyon, they’re part of the Ventura County / Conejo Valley pipeline that feeds into both local unrated schooling shows and USEF/USDF/USEF-rated competitions, depending on division.

Lesson/training pricing: Not posted publicly, but typically structured as monthly full/partial training + board (similar cost envelope to Elvenstar and Shadowbrook for jumpers, and to Fox Canyon for dressage).

8. Los Angeles Equestrian Center (LAEC)

The Los Angeles Equestrian Center is the major show hub for Westlake/Thousand Oaks riders once they’re competing at the rated level. The facility hosts USEF-rated hunter/jumper festivals with prize money, rated dressage shows, breed championships, reining, and even arena polo events with six-figure purses.

Location: Burbank, CA (about 35–45 minutes from Thousand Oaks in normal traffic).

Why it matters: Even if you board/lesson in Westlake Village or Thousand Oaks, you will end up competing, auditing clinics, or at least spectating here. It is one of Southern California’s anchor showgrounds for hunter/jumper A shows, high-dollar jumper classes, breed shows (Arabian, Peruvian Paso, etc.), dressage, reining, and even arena polo. Caption: 12-month competition calendar flavor (examples from 2025 listings)

From the LAEC public calendar for late 2025:

• PCHA/AHA Arabian & Half-Arabian breed shows (Arabian Fall Arabian Value Horse Show, approved by PCHA & AHA), with free spectator entry and standard breed-show ribbons and trophies. Entries typically pay per class and can chase year-end association points.
• Hunter/Jumper festivals (e.g. KA Productions “Jump Back in Time Horse Show,” October 10–12, 2025) — these types of multi-day shows feature medal classes, hunter classics, and jumper divisions, with office fees, division fees, etc. These often offer cash in featured jumper classes (Prize Money paid to 8th, Grand Prix style), and award champion/reserve cooler ribbons in hunter sections.
• Dressage shows (e.g. “Holiday Dressage,” December 13–14, 2025) — recognized dressage shows with USDF/USEF credit and qualifying scores. Entry is per test (often ~$50–$75+/test), and awards are mostly ribbons/high-point awards; FEI/open money classes sometimes pay cash.
• Reining Challenge / CRHA (California Reining Horse Association) — reining events award cash purses, saddles, buckles, etc.
• U.S. Open Arena Polo Championship (Dec 13, 2025) — advertised 12–16 goal arena polo with a $100,000 prize purse. That’s extremely high-dollar for local horse sport and is the kind of marquee payday you only see at major venues.

Entry fees & prize money at LAEC-level shows:

• Schooling / local-rated hunter-jumper shows at LAEC may have ~$40–$60+ per class and modest classics with a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars added.
• Breed and reining shows often post class fees plus “jackpot” or purse classes where the payback is cash or high-value awards (saddles, buckles).
• Arena polo (as listed for Dec 13, 2025) is explicitly advertising $100K prize money for teams.

Why this matters for Westlake / Thousand Oaks riders:

If you’re riding at Foxfield, Elvenstar, Mark Watring, Shadowbrook, or Spirit, LAEC is one of your “big city” show destinations. You’ll trailer in for medal qualifiers, jumper classics with prize money, USDF/USEF dressage qualifiers, etc. It’s part of everyone’s competitive calendar once you move past local Conejo Creek schooling shows.

Putting it all together:

Where can I learn to ride near Westlake Village / Thousand Oaks, and how much does it cost?

Foxfield Riding School (Westlake Village)

1. Evaluation private (30 min): $50–$75
2. Group lesson (1 hr):
3. $60 Private (1 hr):
4. $100 Semi-private (1 hr): $70 per rider
5. Focus: English seat, hunter/jumper, equitation fundamentals, strong horsemanship.
6. Good for: brand new kids and adults, AND riders who want to eventually do medal/eq and jump 3’+.

Rancho Potrero Community Equestrian Center (Thousand Oaks/Newbury Park)

1. Riding lesson: about $65/lesson.
2. Guided trail ride: about $70/hour.
3. Focus: English & Western basics, trail, therapy/adaptive riding (Ride On).
4. Good for: absolute beginners, casual riders, therapeutic riders, riders who prefer western or trail.

Elvenstar (Moorpark)

1. Evaluation private: $75 (beginner) / $90 (advanced)
2. Intro 3-lesson/horsemanship bundle: $220
3. Group lesson on school horse: ~ $90
4. Private on school horse: ~ $110
5. Tots/pony intro: $35
6. Full training programs for show riders: $775–$900/month for 4–5 services/week
7. Focus: hunters, jumpers, equitation teams, IEA, medal finals.
8. Good for: riders who want structured hunter/jumper show careers.

Mark Watring Stables (Hidden Valley / Westlake Village

1. Priing not posted publicly; expect full-training/show-barn structure (comparable to $775+ monthly training at other A-circuit barns).
2. Focus: high-performance hunter/jumper & equitation with an Olympic/Pan Am medalist.
3. Good for: riders (often with their own/leased horse) chasing A/AA shows, medal finals, and jumper money classes.

Shadowbrook Stables (Moorpark) and Spirit Equestrian (Somis)

1. Lesson pricing not broadly published; both run as competitive programs (board + monthly training).
2. Focus: Hunters/Jumpers/Equitation (Shadowbrook); Hunter/Jumper + Dressage (Spirit).
3. Good for: riders serious about showing the West Coast circuit and getting pro training rides, not casual trail lessons.

Fox Canyon Farm (Somis)

1. Focus: Dressage, clinics, and USEF/USDF/CDS recognized shows with multiple top dressage trainers on site.
2. Lessons generally handled privately with resident trainers; pricing typically in the pro-dressage range (not posted publicly).
3. Good for: riders focusing on classical dressage and rated dressage scores/qualifications.

What does the local show year look like?

Entry-level / schooling level (Conejo Creek Equestrian Park in Thousand Oaks + Foxfield one-day shows in Westlake Village):

• ~3–6 one-day shows a year, spring through late fall.
• Divisions from Leadline and walk-trot eq to ~1.0m jumpers and introductory dressage.
• ~$25 per class; usually ribbons 1st–5th, high-point prizes, and fun awards (no cash).
• Zero/low association fees, so you can just enter and ride.

Regional A/AA hunter-jumper & eq circuit (your barn hauls out):

• Basically monthly, year-round.
• You’ll see medal classes, hunter classics, jumper classics, and Grand Prix classes.
• Class fees can jump to $40–$80+ each, plus office/grounds fees, plus pro coaching/day fees from your trainer.
• Prize money becomes real in jumper classics & Grand Prix: cash paid (often through 8th place), sometimes five-figure purses for the biggest classes. Shows explicitly state how prize money is paid out and note IRS withholding rules for foreign riders.

Dressage circuit (Fox Canyon Farm in Somis, LAEC in Burbank):

• Several recognized USEF/USDF/CDS dressage shows per year, including “Holiday Dressage” in December at LAEC and multiple recognized shows at Fox Canyon Farm in 2025.
• You enter by test, often ~$50–$75 per test at lower levels.
• Awards: ribbons/high-point awards, qualifying scores toward championships. Some upper-level/FEI classes pay cash.

Specialty/marquee events (LAEC):

• Breed championships (Arabian, Peruvian Paso, etc.), reining challenges, and even arena polo.
• Arena polo at LAEC in December 2025 is advertising a $100,000 purse. That’s extremely high for local horse sport and shows the ceiling in terms of prize awards within a 30–40 minute haul from Thousand Oaks/Westlake.

Quick cheat sheet

If you want inexpensive beginner lessons and trail riding inside Thousand Oaks city limits:

• Rancho Potrero Community Equestrian Center (~$65/lesson, ~$70/hr trail).
• Shows: Conejo Creek schooling shows, $25/class, ribbons.

If you want classic English/hunter-jumper lessons in Westlake Village with a heavy emphasis on horsemanship (tacking, grooming, barn skills) and a path to medal/eq:

• Foxfield Riding School ($60 group / $100 private).
• Shows: Foxfield Spring/Summer/Holiday shows + Conejo Creek + regional medal shows. Ribbons, high points, then eventually rated shows with money.

If you’re aiming straight for the A/AA hunter-jumper circuit, medal finals, and jumper prize money:

• Mark Watring Stables (Hidden Valley / Westlake),
• Elvenstar (Moorpark, $75–$110/lesson academy; $775–$900/mo full training),
• Shadowbrook (Moorpark).
• Shows: LA Equestrian Center, Temecula/Oaks, Hansen Dam, etc., where prize money in featured jumper classes can hit thousands, and Grand Prix classes and polo events can advertise six-figure purses.

If dressage is your lane:

• Fox Canyon Farm (Somis) and Spirit Equestrian (Somis/Balcom Canyon) are the closest high-end dressage programs for Conejo Valley riders.
• Shows: USEF/USDF/CDS recognized shows at Fox Canyon Farm and LAEC’s rated dressage weekends (Holiday Dressage, etc.). These shows use per-test entry fees (~$50–$75), give qualifying scores, and sometimes pay cash in upper levels.

Bottom line:

• Beginner “learn to ride” in Thousand Oaks / Westlake Village is typically $60–$75 per lesson (Foxfield, Rancho Potrero).
• Show-focused hunter/jumper academies run closer to $90–$110 per lesson, or $775–$900/month full training, not counting board (Elvenstar and similar).
• Local Conejo Creek / Foxfield one-day shows cost about $25 per class, no association fees, and award ribbons/high points.
• Rated A/AA hunter-jumper, dressage, and specialty shows within 30–45 minutes (LAEC, “The Oaks,” etc.) charge higher entry fees but offer real prize money, including thousands of dollars (and even $100K marquee purses in polo).

That’s the full local landscape: where to ride, what you’ll pay, and what kinds of ribbons — or prize checks — you can realistically chase, all within the Westlake Village / Thousand Oaks.

Happy Riding!