Sky Ranch Stables

Happy horses, great riding trails, supportive environment. No fancy white fences, just good people and a happy herd.
In the summer of 2014 a friend that boards her horses there invited my daughter to come along for a ride. She loved it. We heard great things about the trainer so before long my daughter started taking lessons. We started leasing a horse after 4 months of lessons. Several months later, the owner of Sky Ranch Stables helped us buy a great horse for a great price. It wasn’t long before my younger kids took an interest in horses also. After spending most of the Summer and Fall walking, I recently bought a 2^nd horse for myself. Fred recently sold Sky Ranch Stables and the new owners are very nice people, dedicated to preserving and improving Sky Ranch Stables.
This is a place that is very supportive for both new riders and experienced horse people. We are looking forward to many years of riding at this gem of a horse facility so close to Portland. At around 140 acres tucked away off Skyline Road, Sky Ranch is like a private slice of Forest Park, ready for you and your horse to enjoy.

This is one of those barns where I gave my 30 days notice and paid in full for the last month of board, per the contract, I then moved my horse just a few days into the month and paid board at another barn. Paying a month of board to both barns was worth it to ensure my horse’s safety and wellbeing… This is actually the only barn where I’ve found this to be necessary.

My horse is so happy at sky ranch stables! There are miles of trails right behind the barn! Great arena, and the other boarders are welcoming!

During our time at Sky Ranch Stables we have had a wonderful time, with the miles of trails, the indoor arena, and huge pasture turn outs for the horses. The property is separated into two sections, one for the mares and one for the geldings. Working with the owner Fred Hall is an easy task if you communicate your needs with him. We have had a great experience at this barn and he always goes out of his way to help us during the show season as we are trailering in and out for different events. Meaghan Dunn, the onsite trainer, is a delight and a extremely knowledgeable. She has helped me take my jumping to the next level and improved the collection of my horse. The barn may not sparkle, but my horses health and happiness always come first, and I am thrilled that my horse has a chance to be turned out ²⁴⁄₇ for at least 5 months out of the year.

This barn is incredible. Over 70 acres of trails, excellent footing in the indoor. The owner Fred is caring and extremely horse savvy. The turnout is incredible, your horses will be on acres of grass daily. ALL the horses are happy and fat. The horses range from upper level sport horses to 30 something’s. the hay available is TOP NOTCH! Can’t say enough nice things.

Sky Ranch Stables is owned by Fred Hall. He has operated his boarding stable for the past 30 years. The setting of the stable is lovely with onsite access to a good network of trails. There are two barns; one for mares; one for geldings. Horses are turned out in large pastures. Fred has devised an efficient and cleaver way of turning the horses in and out. He simply opens the doors to the barn and the horses put themselves into their own stalls; quite an elegant thing to watch.
Horses are fed alfalfa hay and a lower grade of «chewing» hay. In spring and summer they have access to fresh pasture grass. Fred does not provide grain for horses. Owners are provided with space to store their own grain and must feed it themselves; Fred will not do it for them. The pastures are fenced with barb wire. Both my geldings went through the barb wire when they first arrived. One was seriously cut up requiring a vet call and a regimen of antibiotics.
The barn is 40 years old. Nothing fancy, but it is functional with good storage for tack. The roof leaks in several places. Stalls have dirt floors. The arena is 50×180 feet, but 40 feet is used for hay storage. No lighting over the stalls but the arena has adequate lighting for riding. Stalls open to the arena so arena riding can be a challenge as horses, wheel barrows, and people can walk in front of you at any time and frequently do.
I moved into Sky Ranch Stables with my four 4 horses in May 2012. I was attracted to the stables because they are close to home, there are miles of riding trails and board is only $ 250/​horse per month (not including stall cleanings or grain). My only hesitations concerned the fact that Fred did not grain horses, and that they were left outside day and night from May — October. (Horses are put in stalls only during the rainy months of November — April) As it turns out, the large pastures and ²⁴⁄₇ turnout proved good for my horses. They were happy in the more natural herd environment and their temperaments became calmer.
Now for the not-​so-​good part. Fred has a reputation for being difficult. The reputation is well deserved and recognized by every boarder I spoke to. For me, the relationship was challenging. Fred has no written barn rules and is unwilling to put any rules in writing. The sole exception is a faded sign in the tack-​up area that reads «Keep doors and gates shut». Instead of providing written rules, Fred prefers to observe his boarders activities and give verbal and often confrontational corrections when he sees something he doesn’t like. For example, he did not inform us that only he could feed hay to the horses, so when I fed hay to my horses as a treat after a long trail ride he accused me of stealing his hay. This was just days after I wrote him a $ 1,000 check to pay for hay.
A few confrontations in any stable are going to happen from time-​to-​time; however Fred’s barn became a constant state of apprehension for my family. We were afraid to speak with him when we needed something or had a question and for the most part did our best to avoid him. Still, as the November rains hit, I decided to request a meeting with Fred to make 3 simple requests which included: fixing a rain leak in the roof that was soaking my expensive tack, arranging for stall cleanings 3 days per week, and installing lighting over our horribly dark stalls. I offered to pay for the stall cleanings and the cost of installing lighting.
Fred said no to all of these requests so independently I solved my needs as follows: I found someone else to clean my stalls, I purchased headlamps to wear while tacking my horses, and I put covers over my tack to protect it from dripping rain water. I then moved on and considered the issues resolved.
Unfortunately Fred resented my requests, especially to install improved lighting. 4 weeks after our meeting, he decided to interrupt my family as we were about to enjoy a quiet evening of riding for the apparent sole purpose of having a confrontation. He ranted about a number of issues including the fact that I had turned on the lights in the arena. He seemed to think I should ride my horses in the dark, but I stood my ground and said that I needed the lights on. He raged out of the barn then returned to tell me I had 30 days to get out. Happily, it took me only 5 days to find a new barn with lovely sane owners. I left behind 3 weeks of paid board with Fred just to get away from him as soon as possible.
Fred took a special disliking to me and felt it necessary to take out his aggression on my kids and I on a regular basis. While there are boarders at the barn who seem to be able to tolerate him, the sizable number of empty stalls and the steady turnover of his boarders probably speaks for itself. I myself have moved on to a new stable with sane owners who deliver a much higher level of service and allow my family and I the peaceful enjoyment of our horses.