We love our horses; they are a big part of what we do here. We are always happy to provide our guests with the opportunity to meet and greet them during feeding time, especially if we know you are keen to do so. With your safety in mind, we kindly ask you to NOT interact with horses in the field, and to NOT feed the horses except during supervised barn activities. If it has a mouth, it can bite; if it has feet, it can kick!
For guests who really want to get their hands on the herd, we offer “horse spa” sessions. Spend an extra hour with us after barn chores and help us groom a horse or two or three. We’ll talk about horse care and safety, different breed attributes, and fun facts about horses. Being with these amazing creatures is therapeutic. Put your nose right up to the neck of a horse and breathe deeply! $50 per family. Always best to book in advance so we can pull horses in from the field and have them at the barn ready for their spa day.
Want to ride? While we’re not a riding stable open to the public, we do offer our guests guided custom trail rides and/or riding lessons. We charge $50 per horse per ride for a 45 minute walk through forest, field, and stream, or a lesson in the arena. Because we need to arrange our schedules for horse activity, please let us know your interests days in advance, and be prepared for the sad fact that we sometimes just can’t make it happen. If we can’t accommodate you, we’ll be happy to refer you to other riding barns in the High Country.
We specialize in a “kid’s first ride” where wranglers will either lead horses or walk alongside to offer instruction and assistance. Parents are welcome to walk along with riders. For young, timid riders we’ll stay close to the farmyard, while we’ll take the more adventurous along our mountain trails.
For older, experienced riders a more extensive ride on the mountain may be possible. We’ll give you a little time with your horse in the arena to make sure you and your horse are communicating clearly before setting out. Our horses are not the “dead broke” horses typically found walking head-to-tail on hourly rides at commercial barns, so riding them actually requires you to engage as a rider, not just someone travelling along on the back of an auto-pilot horse. One guest described the experience as “a real horse ride.” We sometimes discover that your time is better spent just training in the arena, learning how to communicate with your horse. Such a riding lesson may prove more gratifying than a trail ride.
Live locally and want to ride? We do offer “Riding Club” subscriptions. Buy 6 hours of guided riding for $300. Inquire for more information.
All equine activities involve inherent life-threatening risks. People frequently get hurt and even killed by riding and being around horses. If you participate in any equine activity we offer, you are doing so at your own risk.
