Amado, is a Costa Rican native, born and raised in the neighborhood, he is a key individual on our farm who greets us every morning with his friendly smile and helping hands.

Brenda and Elizabeth joined together in 2005 to create a very unique and special equine experience. Their combined interests have made it possible to offer a large variety of Equestrian Vacations that accommodate beginners as well as advanced riders.
Improve your riding skills with lessons, practicing in the ring and or enjoy a relaxing vacation riding the beautiful horses on their cozy farm, exploring the surrounding trails, all in the beautiful climate and relaxed culture of Costa Rica.

Volunteers are helpful to us.
If you'd like to work with the horses, and you are experienced at: Dressage, jumping, natural training. If you are a riding instructor of any of these practices we would love to have you!

If you are looking for a great travel experience, we have a half volunteer half pay position for six months to one year minimum. you will be paid for giving lessons and guiding trail rides.

Volunteer work includes:
Evening feed and stall cleanning,
Sunday morning feed, clean turnout and turnout sitting. keeping track of eqipment and riding the horses as nessesary.
You also may be called upon to help with hay and other deliveries that can arrive at random times during the day.
We provide you with a private room and all your meals.
We can also pick you up at the airport.

We appreciate good volunteers!


If you would like to be a volunteer with us , please email volunteers@establosanrafael.com
with information about yourself and your
experience with horses.

The great thing about our experience at Establo San Rafael, was the personal attention we received; all our lessons were one on one, and all were on really good horses that were appropriately responsive to what we were trying to learn.
Brenda is an excellent and very patient teacher: Raymond (8) who could ride very little and concentrate even less LOVED his lessons and learned a great deal; by the end of the holiday he was circling barrels, riding bareback, trotting with confidence and moving around the horses in the stable with calm knowledge. Brenda has several horses suitable for beginners and advanced beginners and allowed Raymond to quickly progress to Al, her 4 yr old pony, who Raymond absolutely loved. I had ridden quite a bit over the years but would have described myself as a beginner since I had no seat to speak of and no confidence: Brenda managed to give me both and, by letting me ride all her wonderfully responsive horses, made me understand how much more to riding there is than trying not to fall off!
The trail rides with Elizabeth in the afternoon certainly helped in this respect, and by the end of two weeks I was proud to realise I could now begin to think of myself as someone who could ride, with pleasure, over most terrains, and at all paces.
                                                         Juliette & Raymond

The things I liked most about this summer were 3 jumping lessons that were instructed by my mom brenda.
In all the lessons the students which included me rotated horses.
During the lessons I rode congo a 20 year old criollo, zorba a eight year old criollo and tarantino a five year old ibero americano. my favorite was tarantino
For his responsive change from walk to trot and for taking me strait over the jump. we jumped one caveleti and 2 crossrails. We worked hard on are jumping positions. During one lesson it rained but we kept riding. I liked the lessons because they were fun, the instruction was good, and it was great to be out there with all the other kids and horses.
                                                                                Charlie

Riding LLuvia was one of the most amazing horse experiences I've ever had.
For the first time I wasn't only staying on and controlling the speed. I actually had a connection with the horse.
It was so amazing!
                                                                                  Olivia