Rio Vista Farm & Tack Shop

Wow... I have been taking lessons as a beginner adult rider for one year at Rio Vista and my experience has been completely the opposite of the last reviewer. All of the trainers (Hailey, Natalie and Amy) have always been respectful, professional and helpful. I have accomplished so much more than I could have dreamed of in the last year. No, the owner, Susan doesn't have a meet and greet every day at the lessons. She seems really busy working with the higher level riders to help them and their horses compete at their best. I've had several occasions when I''ve needed to talk to Susan one on one. She has always been professional and thorough and I certainly have never felt cheated. \r The barn has had my email address for a year and I receive one email from them per month... Their newsletter which is informative and available for anyone to view on their website. \r The whole facility is neat as a pin... There is a small army of workers constantly cleaning stalls, feeding, putting horses out to exercise and whatever else needs to be done. The horses are so happy and friendly...i think it is the care they receive shining through.\r The kids at Rio Vista are super happy and are some of the nicest young people I've ever been around. Respectful behavior is expected there and it shows.\r I have found my riding home and plan to be there a long time\r I'm sorry the previous reviewer had such an unsatisfactory experience and hopefully she will be able to find a place I love as much as Rio Vista! more

Horrible barn, bad trainer for beginner students. She was a clock watcher. Would talk to other parents during my lesson time. On her iphone, I felt cheated. The owner is dishonest and unprofessional too.\r \r Two words: Stay away. \r \r I rode here for 2 months andlearned nothing. The beginner trainer had me walk in circles, walk 10 steps, trot 5 walk 10 trot 5 for 2 and a 1/2 months. \r Their lesson horses are old broken down and desensitized. One had to keep kicking, no response to leg or hand aids. Their tack for lesson horses is old, dirty and broken down too. They don't care about lesson students and it shows. \r If you want to waste your money, go to Rio Vista Farm or send your child there. \r \r There are many nice barns in Austin where they take real pride in their work and help their students grow. Rio Vista Farm is not one of those places. \r Stay away. more

i cannot say enough positive things about Rio Vista and Susan and Bill (the owners). I started riding at Rio Vista about 3 years or so ago after being very disapointed with an unprofessional and dishonest trainer at a different barn. One of the great things about Rio Vista is that Susan and Bill are exquisite riders and can take you to any level that you advance to. I began showing at 'A rated' shows at my previous barn but I must say that going to shows with Rio Vista involved so much less stress and helped with my show nerves. I sold my show horse with Susan and she was very professional as always (this may sound minor but when you get in to the horse show business you will learn that a trainer needing money can easily cheat you out of your money by lying about what the buyers are paying,etc ). Rio Vista has a strong reputation amongst barns not only in the area but also across the country. The convenience of having an on-site tackshop cannot be overlooked! Also for parents the Rio Vista van/shuttle can save you hours! If you drive further down the driveway Rio Vista has a breeding farm with extremely large pastures. Rio Vista has anything and everything horse lovers are looking for. Whether you are looking for a place to start riding, changing barns because of dissatisfaction or a move I am confident that you will love Rio Vista as much as I do. Pros: professional trainers, lovely facility, well established more

Rio Vista is bar none the best barn in the Austin area. All 10 turn out pastures have lush grass, the arenas are well taken care of, well lighted and 24 hours after heavy rain are ridable. I ride in the lesson program and I love all the horses, they are well taken care of and are grouped in small numbers and kept in large lush pastures. Every horse gets personal care even if the owner is unable to do so, the horses are all incredibly well taken care of. Everyone is so professional and even the summer camp is really fun. There is always something fun to do, and the counselors are so nice and patient with everyone, from new to experienced riders. The monthly newsletter is very helpful in keeping me up with whats what and who's who. I LOVE THIS BARN!! Pros: 500+ acres, everything is perfect! Cons: NONE! more

My daughter has shown in the Texas Schooling Show Assoc. and at Cen-Tex. Whenever Rio Vista is hosting the shows, we make sure to travel to Austin to attend. The facilities are beautiful--three outdoor jumping arenas, lovely landscape, large oak trees, paved pathways for people, good footing in the arenas. The stalls and wash racks are always clean, and the people are wonderful! It's been my experience that not all ""horse barn"" people are polite or even honest, but the owners here are both--based on my experience and what I've heard from others. I overpaid for a show once without realizing it, and someone at Rio Vista caught my mistake after the show was over and I had left town. I received a refund in the mail! Pros: facilities, expertise, horse-training, lessons, shows, arenas, appearance, cleanliness, efficiency, people, Cons: paddocks but no stalls available for out of town show horses. more

Rio Vista Farm is so beautiful; my daughter became interested in horses again after a week of their summer camp. After the Switch Willo Farms summer camp I was left thinking there were no nice barns in Austin, (I just moved here from LA) though when a friend recommended Rio Vista I figured it was worth a try. I was very right, the barn its self is about 6 miles past the Austin Airport, but get this, they offer a VAN service which picks up and drops off in the Westlake area near Steinmart, and Michaels! At the end of the week, like most summer camps there is a show for the parents in which the kids perform what they have learned that week. My daughter who had only one other week of riding in which she learned nothing at all, had learned how to post and even jumped some little jumps called cross rails! Every child receives ribbons and a golden painted horseshoe award! The trainer is a lovely lady who obviously loves horses and kids, and shows shes probably got the patience of a Saint. Once you see this barn you will never want to go anywhere else. They grow their own hay, they sit on the Colorado River, and have all beautiful healthy horses, and even a few imported from Germany! The rings were big and somehow their sand doesnt create hardily any dust at all. I am so glad I found this barn; I highly suggest sending your children there to enjoy and encourage their love of horses. Pros: Beautiful barn, kind, friendly staff Cons: price was almost unresonable, but the smile on your childs face makes it ok more

My daughter rode in the summer camp program, every day as we picked her up from the convenient Van pickup she would nonstop chatter about what she learned that day. Rio Vista hosts a week end show for the campers, awards and ribbons are given to everyone. Obviously this is a great program, not to mention the stunning scenery!!! Pros: good prices, van service, horses horses horses! more

this is basically the best barn in town for beginners and day camp. however it is very popular. more