Courtship Ranch caters to the hands-on, active horse owner. We are located in the equestrian community of Shadow Hills/Lake View Terrace area, only half a mile from the Wheatland Avenue exit from the 210 freeway. Convenient to northern Los Angeles, we are minutes away from Pasadena, Burbank, Hollywood, La Canada, and San Fernando.

With over 80 stalls, three lighted arenas, and a half dozen turnouts, we offer a wide variety of stabling options. Your horse can stay either in an enclosed barn, partially sheltered pipe stalls, or pasture board. Horses are fed twice daily, and automatic waterers provide continuous fresh water.

We are fully perimeter fenced, behind a code-accessed electric gate, and have round the clock on-premises owner and ranch foreman. We are proud to have several horse instructors and trainers working here.

Courtship Ranch has been a continuous boarding operation since the 1970's. Jack and Barbara Thompson originally built the facility in Lake View Terrace at the base of Oliver Canyon, between Little Tujunga and Big Tujunga . At that time the J-Bar Ranch, as it was called, was known for breeding quality Quarter Horses and golden retrievers. Marc and Royan Herman bought the Ranch in 2003 to run in conjunction with their property, Peacock Hill.

Spring 2012

Pony Boy from Nicole Madau on Vimeo.

We are so pleased to have the arena cover finished and the new footing in place! The finishing touches are still going on but we are actively using the arena and loving it. No more worrying about the rain or the brutally hot sun for us! Click on the video to see one of our boarders enjoying a ride with her son.

I was lucky enough to find a really wonderful horse for myself that hopefully Dane will be showing this year. Thank you Tania Bennett and Mustang Spirit for making this happen!

Fall 2011

After two years of wrangling we finally got our permit for the arena cover! Construction started this month. Go to Latest News for photos and more information.

We are so proud that Eddie received the 2011 Good Sportmanship Throphy awarded by ETI Corral 38. Way to go Eddie! He might not have always been in the ribbons but he just kept on smiling. He is pictured here with his trainer Matt Walsh.

Fall 2010

It is hard to believe that we have been here for a year now, the time has gone so quickly. We had a rollicking good time with a cookout and playday to celebrate the anniversary of our purchase of the ranch. Thank you to our trainers who entertained us with a demonstration of their equestrian abilities by doing dressage movements on our mule pony, Jessica Simpson, and by demonstrating vaulting moves off of Shane the cow. Click on the video to see how we let our hair down around here!

Summer 2010

Courtship Ranch is pleased to join Willow Crest Dressage in sponsoring Hanoverian stallion, Bailador de Amor, Reserve Champion 4-Year-Old Stallion at the 2010 World Championship for Young Horses in Verden, Germany. Bailador de Amor, aka “Bob," will be one of the select horses representing the Hanoverian breed at the 2010 Bundeschampionate – Germany’s invitation-only national competition – in early September. Bob is bred and owned by Southern California native Cheryl Wyllie, an accomplished FEI-level dressage instructor and competitor, and daughter of James Wyllie, equestrian expert and director of the Equestrian Education Center at Malibu’s Pepperdine University for 30 years. Cheryl is a longtime friend of Dane's and of the students of Willow Crest Dressage. Join us in cheering on this hometown gal and her horse as they take on Germany’s best!

Spring 2010

Courtship Ranch is proud to be chosen to offer stableing to Lipizzans being evaluated by Mr Atjan Hop of the Netherlands while he is in the Los Angeles area on behalf of the American Lipizzan Breeders Association (ALBA) For more information please see our section titled Clinics.

We are fortunate to have access to so many miles of trails. April and May in the Angeles National Forrest is lovely with all sorts of things in bloom. Thank you Leslie for taking these photographs of the trails up to "The Mushroom".

The trails aren't the only place where things have turned green. We have also repainted all the barns and ranch structures that color. Boy, does it make the flowers really pop out! Check out the new terraced lunch area overlooking the south hill. It is a lovely spot to eat lunch or hang out after riding. Thank you to all the boarders who helped with planting suggestions. More then 40 trees were added over the winter including some good sized fruit trees. Wonder how long before the first peaches are ready to eat?

View photos here >>