Palina's Ponies Richmond - Richmond, Texas

Erin Tang

My daughter started riding at Palina’s Ponies at age 5. I really appreciated the programs setup by the owner and staff at this facility. Their way of teaching and training provides a balanced approach of ground work and riding.

Riding horses and ponies can be inherently dangerous. It’s obvious that some parents clearly have never spent time around horses and have unrealistic expectations. These animals are living creatures. They should be treated with respect for the safety of everyone. In the lower level classes it is common for the ponies to be on a lead or lunge line. It’s potentially dangerous to allow an inexperienced student who can’t control an animal, loose in the ring. They could easily harm themselves or others. Some of the negative comments I’ve seen are probably only from one or two people (and then subsequently their friends/family with fake reviews) who are upset that their child didn’t take to riding and want to blame someone.

The ponies at Palina’s ponies are very well trained and selected to teach the classes appropriate for them. My daughter never felt afraid when she rode here. The staff does a good job of evaluating the child’s abilities and pairing each student with the appropriate horse/pony.

We had to move from Texas, but my daughter still talks very fondly of her experience at Palina’s and continues to ride in our new state. I thank Palina’s Ponies for taking the time to develop a great program for the youngest of riders that have the opportunity to fall in love with the sport. My last video posted is of my daughter’s progress now, and I thank Palina’s Ponies for giving her a good foundation.

If you are thinking of getting your young one into riding, I highly recommend starting at Palina’s. It’s a great class for young riders.

Sandra Macedo

I felt compelled to share my thoughts after seeing some negative reviews, which seem quite surprising to me. Our daughter has been attending Palina's since the summer of 2023, and we've only seen improvements in both the facilities and the overall customer experience. All the trainers are wonderful, with Mr. Dan, the manager, being very attentive when needed. Ms. Caroline and Ms. Alex consistently teach us new things, and the rest of the young ladies are extremely sweet, playful, and attentive with our daughter!

As with all sports, parents must be aware of their child's readiness for certain activities. For this particular sport, children must be ready to listen and follow directions. If your child struggles with following directions or isn't developmentally ready, it's our responsibility as parents to take that into account when making decisions. Also, for younger children, you must be prepared to be actively engaged with your child, especially in the beginning when familiarizing with the facilities and the process.

Thank you Palina's team for your patience, care, and kindness towards our daughter and we look forward to riding in the fall weather!

Allen Zhang

Very nice place, been taking classes for over a year, trainers are nice and taught me a lot of things. I still can’t believe people make bad reviews just because they or their child fell off a horse, falling is a natural, and I dare say helpful part of riding, when you fall off, you must understand what you did wrong, not blame the horse. Now I understand that sometimes the horse is just being a pain, but 99.9% of the time it is the rider’s fault. You can’t possibly blame anyone but yourself when you fall, otherwise you will never improve.

maddy laster

Our family LOVES palinas ponies! The facilities are clean, organized and very well run. The staff is so kind and goes above and beyond to ensure your kids have a wonderful and safe experience! The owners and manager have extensive experience with horses and training students of all ages. The owners genuinely care about each student and this is proven by all the smiling happy kids! There is truly no other place in the greater Houston area better than palinas ponies for kids to learn how to ride and develop a love for horses! I would not take my kids anywhere else!

Harrison Williams

The staff at palinas ponies are so patient and kind! They provide a safe and welcoming environment for young kids to grow and learn about horses and much more! The ponies there are adorable and we have loved our time spent here the last 9 months.

Semih Yildiz

I really wish I had taken the time to read the reviews before sending my kids to Palinas Ponies Richmond. If I had, I would have never let them near this place. Thanks to this horrible experience, my children went from being excited about animals to wanting nothing to do with them. The workers are not just cold and unfriendly, they’re downright rude. This should be a place that makes kids feel comfortable and happy, but all we got was misery. The worst part? After we took them here, it took us two whole months just to convince our kids to try another stable. When we tried to address these issues with the staff, we were met with the same awful attitude from the owner and the manager. Looking back, my biggest regret is not reading the reviews. If I had seen them—and especially their responses to those reviews—I would’ve stayed far away. The way they blame the reviewers just shows how little they care about improving. Honestly, if there were an award for bad customer service, this place would win it over and over again.

Mehmet Akin

I recently had an unsettling experience at Palina’s Ponies, and I feel compelled to share it with fellow parents. During a recent visit, a situation arose that was entirely unnecessary and upsetting.

One of the parents drove a bit fast in the driveway, and a worker named Den started yelling at her. Despite her immediate apologies, Den continued to shout at her, creating a scene in front of all the children, including my own. She repeatedly said she was sorry, but he didn’t seem to listen and kept escalating his anger.

I tried to step in, explaining that she had already apologized and there was no need for further shouting. Unfortunately, Den ignored me and continued his tirade until I raised my voice back at him. Only then did he stop, suggesting he found it easier to berate a woman who wasn't standing up to him. It was clear this incident should never have escalated the way it did.

Everyone makes mistakes, and the mother in question acknowledged hers right away. However, Den’s aggressive response, especially in front of children, was entirely inappropriate. My own daughter was frightened by the commotion, and I had to remove her from her class as she and the other kids were too distracted by the yelling.

I have since emailed the management and canceled our membership. I cannot leave my child under the supervision of someone who handles situations with such aggression. To make matters worse, Den even kicked the apologetic mother out of the paid class, telling her to leave and come back later. This is supposed to be a safe and supportive environment for children, and his actions were far from that.

Parents, I urge you to consider this experience when choosing a riding school. Our children deserve a nurturing and respectful atmosphere, and unfortunately, Palina’s Ponies did not provide that for us.

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The management replied and has fully supported the action of the staff, and I’ve already paid for an additional month as per our agreement. I consider this money well spent, as it allowed me to uncover their true character and protect my daughter from them.

Brandi Blagg

I absolutely love this stable for our daughter. As a brand new rider who is 4 years old; she can be a handful. Caroline is amazing; she has been so incredibly patient and kind with her ! Our daughter has learned so much in the month or so we have been here. They focus on learning how to ride but also making it fun and encouraging her love for ponies and horses. You won’t be disappointed if you choose this stable !