How 'Soft Is Strong' Author Zachary Leyden Is Reshaping Rider Training on the Peninsula
Daly City, United States - July 11, 2026 / Ocean View Stables LLC /
Ocean View Stables, a full-service equestrian facility in Daly City, is launching three programs simultaneously this week, marking a significant expansion of its offerings to the San Francisco Peninsula horse community.
The stable is opening enrollment for Leyden Horsemanship, a structured lesson and clinic program led by Zachary Leyden, author of Soft Is Strong. At the same time, Ocean View Stables is accepting outside horses for boarding for the first time, and introducing a string of lease horses available to students who want to develop their skills without purchasing a horse. The three offerings together position the facility as a comprehensive resource for riders and horse owners at every stage of experience.
The common thread running through all three is the philosophy behind Leyden Horsemanship, which centers on communication over force. The approach emphasizes reading the horse, asking with clarity, applying pressure with intention, and consistently rewarding even the smallest try. The method is designed to produce a calmer horse and a more confident rider, both on the ground and in the saddle.
"People think a difficult horse needs a firmer hand. Almost always, it needs a clearer one," said Zachary Leyden, founder of Leyden Horsemanship and author of Soft Is Strong. "When you get clear and consistent, the horse lets its guard down, and the rider does too. That's the whole game. It's a calm that has structure to it, and it works just as well for a nervous eight-year-old on a first lesson as it does for a lifelong owner whose horse picked up a habit they can't fix."
The Leyden Horsemanship program includes private lessons, small-group sessions, and weekend clinics focused on the practical challenges horse owners encounter most - groundwork and desensitizing, trail and spook confidence, and developing a horse that responds willingly. No prior experience is required, and the program is open to both youth and adult riders.
The boarding program extends the stable's daily care and facilities to horses from across the community, available to outside owners regardless of whether they participate in lessons. For students not yet ready to own a horse, the lease program addresses a longstanding barrier in the sport: developing genuine horsemanship requires consistent access to a horse. The lease horses on offer provide exactly that.
Enrollment, boarding inquiries, and lease information are available now. To reserve a lesson, arrange a facility tour, or ask about stall availability, contact Ocean View Stables at (415) 969-1223 or tony@oceanviewstables.com.
About Leyden Horsemanship
Leyden Horsemanship offers natural-horsemanship lessons and clinics built on clear communication, thoughtful pressure and release, and the principle that softness - not force - produces the most reliable results. The program is led by Zachary Leyden, author of Soft Is Strong, a book that details his approach to desensitizing, trail confidence, spook handling, and building trust from the ground up.
About Ocean View Stables
Ocean View Stables is a full-service boarding and training facility in Daly City, serving the San Francisco Peninsula equestrian community. The stable offers horse boarding for outside owners, lessons and clinics through its Leyden Horsemanship program, and lease horses for enrolled students, welcoming riders and horse owners of every experience level.
Media Contact
Zachary Leyden
Founder, Ocean View Stables / Leyden Horsemanship
(650) 555-0142
Contact Information:
Ocean View Stables LLC
2152 olympic way
Daly City, CA 94015
United States
Tony Kasaris
+1-415-969-1223
https://www.oceanviewstables.com
