Maria Liverett, founder of Ria’s Ranch prepares to exercise her horse, a stud named “Eighty-6.” Photo by Khushi Salgia

RIO LINDA, CA (MPG) — While much of Sacramento has become commercialized since its humble Gold Rush days, there are few pockets of the county that maintain its “wild, wild West” charm. Rio Linda, a rural census-designated area north of Sacramento, is one of these places. From luscious green pastures to quaint family farms where dogs and chickens roam on long stretches of narrow roads, Rio Linda remains connected to its roots as Northern California’s fruit orchard and poultry farming hub. 

Rio Linda is one of the few areas in Sacramento County that is zoned specifically for Agricultural-Residential (AR) use, a rarity for a region so close to a major metropolitan center. This entails most properties being half-acre to two-acre lots (or larger), designed specifically to accommodate horse stalls and pastures and protect one’s right to own horses and other livestock. Essentially, its goal is to “retain the rural character of its communities.” 

Many Rio Lindans have their own horses, either as hobbyists or for equine businesses. The Rio Linda-Elverta area has the highest concentration of horse-related facilities in Sacramento County and a vibrant equestrian culture. A representative from River Valley Feed and Pet Supply in Rio Linda said the horse supplies are “pretty popular” with three dedicated aisles. According to her, sales for horse supplies have been increasing lately due to the weather getting warmer. 

“Everyone has their own discipline,” said Maria Liverett, owner of Ria’s Ranch, a boutique boarding stable and family-owned business in Rio Linda. “Everyone has their own thing that they do, it’s kinda fun.” 

There are many disciplines when it comes to horseback riding and training. Liverett’s primary domain is reining, a sport where riders guide horses through precise, fast-paced patterns of circles, spins and sliding stops. Some other popular equestrian sports in Rio Linda are cutting — which demonstrates the horse's ability to separate a single cow from a herd and control its movements — and equitation — which judges the rider’s form and effectiveness while jumping. Liverett also breeds horses based on their athletic qualities and sells them to those who participate in these sports. For reference, Liverett charges $8,500 for the semen for one of the studs, and $20,000 for the egg of one of the mares. Horses generally cost tens of thousands of dollars, with the most prestigious breeds costing six figures, according to FarmKeep. 

“Purchasing the horse is the cheapest part,” said Kelli Anderson, a boarder at Ria’s Ranch. 

According to Anderson, there are lots of additional costs outside of the horse itself such as pet insurance, veterinarian fees, medication, boarding fees and equipment, to name a few. A surprisingly high expense is the hay to feed the horse.  

“Hay prices are like fuel prices,” Anderson said. 

According to FarmKeep, hay prices and gas prices are directly correlated. Higher gas prices raise the expense of operating machinery for cutting, baling and transporting hay, which producers pass on to buyers. Additionally, high fuel prices increase transportation surcharges for shipping hay. With the gas prices at an all-time high, owning a horse has never been more expensive. Despite the cost, many people continue to keep horses and report practical benefits.

Rio Linda has many venues for equine therapy which uses horses to promote physical, occupational, and emotional growth in individuals with special needs, trauma, or mental health challenges. It includes therapeutic riding, grooming, and ground-based activities to enhance confidence, emotional regulation and physical coordination. Liverett works with children with special needs, helping them build connections with their horses that support emotional regulation and responsibility. All heartbeats produce electromagnetic activity, and because a horse’s heart is larger than a human’s, a person’s heart rate may sync with the horse’s, lowering their heart rate, promoting calm and relaxation.

“Every horse knows when you like or love them and they can tell when you don’t,” said Liverett. 

Body language is also how horses communicate with humans. Like many other types of pets, horses also have distinct personalities which can either complement or conflict with that of their rider. It’s a largely intuitive relationship, and as a result, the connection between a person and their horse is usually instantaneous.  

“Horses are always a love at first sight to me,” Anderson said. “Once you connect with a horse, you will always have a thirst to be around one.” 

Anderson has been riding horses since she was three and got her first personal horse when she was in fifth grade. Liverett also got her first horse when she was around the same age. 

“It teaches young people responsibility,” Liverett said. “It’s a very wholesome sport. People that have horses usually have a strong family connection.” 

In Rio Linda, the equestrian lifestyle is built into the family. Both Liverett and Anderson say their kids grew up taking care of and bonding with the family horses from a young age. When they were at circuits and competitions, they felt comfortable letting their kids roam around and interact with all the people and horses there. 

“Everybody watches everybody’s kids,” Liverett said. “I couldn’t imagine living in a community that didn’t have a lot of horse lovers.” 

There are perks to living in a community of people that share the same equestrian lifestyle. It’s not just Rio Linda homes that are zoned for horses, but businesses as well. Both the Starbucks and the McDonald’s in Rio Linda not only allow people to ride their horse into the drive-thru but also have designated horse parking areas. However, there is still room for improvement. 

“I think that we should have more trails for our horses,” said Liverett.  

Currently, Rio Linda residential areas lack sidewalks and horse trails meaning cars, pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders all share the same strip of road — a potential for accidents. One project already underway is a renovation at Dry Creek Parkway, a road near Rio Linda that is a popular horseback riding area and a historic district.

“The Dry Creek Parkway will extend this corridor through northern Sacramento County to the Placer County line,” said the Sacramento County Parks team in an email statement. “It is anticipated that this greenbelt will be continued easterly through Placer County and the City of Roseville to the City of Folsom and link up with the eastern end of the American River Parkway.” 

According to the statement, this 70-mile trail will have enough space for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians and is estimated to start construction in late 2027. Despite its small-town status, Rio Linda has grown in recent decades and has taken into account the equestrian lifestyles of its residents, with plans to continue doing so.

“I have faith in Rio Linda,” said Liverett.