Eastern Pennsylvania/Philadelphia region - farms that do trail rides for the public?

[ptshco]

Hi all!

I'm hoping to get some tips on farms in the greater Philly region (e.g., Chester, Montgomery, Delaware, Berks, Bucks Cos, or nearby in NJ or DE) that do trail riding. A friend's birthday is coming up and a group of us want to go on a trail ride. Experience levels of the group (probably only 4 of us or so) vary but no absolute greenies - myself and one friend are very experienced, the other two have been on horses a handful of times but no formal training.

I've found some names of places from searching online but I'm hoping someone can give me some insight into a place that's got nice horses and does a nice job.

Your help is appreciated! Happy riding!
:D

[JetsBuddy]

These are the ones that I know of:

Red Buffalo Ranch, Collegeville area (ride in Evansburg State Park)
http://redbuffaloranch.com/

Skyline Stables in the Topton Area (Berks County)
http://skylinestables.com/

Gateway Stables, Kennett Square
http://www.gatewaystables.com/

Sheeder Mill Farm, Spring City
http://www.smfhorses.com/

[Traum]

I believe the barn that's in Ridley Creek State park does them also. It's right near Radnor hunt, I"m not sure which town claims the park though :)

[lcw579]

I know some people who went out on a trail on Icelandic ponies. They said it was very different but loads of fun. All were riders, some better than others. If this interests you, I can find out where they went and send you the information.

[Showponymom Aefvue Mid Atlantic Division]

I don't think Ridley Park does the trail rides anymore but I know Gateway still does. Not many do them anymore due to the liability costs.

[furlong47]

Here's my personal list for the Tri-State area. Not sure on the status of all of these places (some may no longer be open or offering public rides)

Susquehanna Valley/Lehigh Valley/Central Pennsylvania
Skyline Stables (http://www.skylinestables.com/) (near Allentown)
Plantation Estates Stables (http://www.horseloversb-b.com/) (York County)
Artillery Ridge (http://www.artilleryridge.com/) (Gettysburg & battlefield rides)
Hidden Valley Horse Farm (http://www.hiddenvalleyhorsefarm.com/) (Ridley Creek SP, near Philadelphia)
Red Buffalo Ranch (http://www.freewebs.com/redbuffaloranch/) (Evansburg SP, Collegeville)
Camp Hebron's Meadowview Stables (http://www.camphebron.org/) (near Harrisburg, Sat. only)

Poconos
Triple W Stables (http://www.triplewstable.com/page2.html) and the Double W Ranch Bed and Breakfast (http://www.triplewstable.com/page7.html)
Phone: (570) 226-2620
1-800-540-2620
triplew@ptd.net
RR 2, Box 2433, Honesdale, PA 18431

Mountain Creek Stable (http://www.mtcreekstable.com/)
Phone us at:
(570) 839-8725
questions@MTCreekStable.Com
Mountain Creek Riding Stable
R.R. #1 Box 499
Cresco, PA 18326

Pocono Adventures (http://pocono.org/ride.html)
570-839-6333
Administration Office
Pocono Adventures, Inc.
HC 2, Box 2010
Jim Thorpe, PA 18229

Sugar Mountain
98 C West Sugar Mountain Road, Bushkill, PA 18324
570-588-3063

Mountain Laurel Riding Stable
HC1 Box 25 Rt 903, Albrightsville, PA
570-443-5000

Pocono Manor Stables (http://www.800poconos.com/Members/poconomanorstables/)
570-839-0925

Maryland
Fair Winds Stables (http://www.fairwindsstables.com/) (Fair Hill)

Delaware
Sunset Stables (http://www.sunsetstable.com/) (Bear, DE - Lum's Pond SP)

[furlong47]

I know some people who went out on a trail on Icelandic ponies. They said it was very different but loads of fun. All were riders, some better than others. If this interests you, I can find out where they went and send you the information.

I've done this twice, at Valley Forge and at Hibernia Park in Chester Co. This is the outfit: Viking Horse. (http://www.vikinghorse.com/) She doesn't take complete beginners though. It is tons of fun!

[Pat]

I *think* Mountain Laurel is out of business. I know that the folks who where there decided to retire and sold out. They got sucker punched by an out of control Animal Control Officer that almost single handedly ran them out of business. (they didn't deserve it, she is a psycho) Now that doesn't mean that somebody else didn't move in. The actual stable was in White Haven, BTW, that had to be a mailing addy for the folks running it. FWIW, these folks *did* take awesome care of the horses.

Also in White Haven, "Deer Path". Uh, um. Well.... Ok, I used to rent the farm and it has nothing more than a cheesy loop thru the woods. Might not be fun for 'riders', OK for nubes. Maybe it would be more interesting to someone who didn't live there and could do the loops blindfolded. Man who runs it is very nice and I'm sure takes good care of the horses.

"Pocono Adventure". EEEK. Mules. I guess mules are just fine if you are on a nicely broke "sport mule" in well cared for tack. gulp. We went there because they had a tractor and a horse trailer for sale. My word. I'm not *that* much of a hunter princess but I couldn't leave fast enough. Typical "riding stable"; mules standing about tacked up and tied all day long. Atleast they were tied to filled hay racks. I won't lie and say I saw anything cruel or dangerous and the animals did all have hay available. But it IS a mud hole, and I've been there more than once. I will say due to thier location I think they have a longer and more interesting loop in the woods. It is actually located in Mount Pocono.

If you Google and get a stable called "Carsons" dont bother. Went out of business about 2 years ago or so. It was incidently *right* next to the mule people.

NJ?? Not much of that available in NJ any more. There is a County owned stable in Union County that would accomodate you on a Sunday only this time of year. Week days after school and Saturdays are full to the teeth with group lessons right now. Email me for more info. If you can prove satisfactorily that you have a clue, they may accomodate a "faster" ride than the average trail ride place. Nice trails with varied terrain, not cheesy loops. I'm biased because I grew up there, but the horses are broke and well cared for.

[furlong47]

Off of my own list I've only ever ridden at Fair Hill, Skyline Stables, and Artillery Ridge. Can't vouch for quality on the others. Mainly I looked up a bunch of addresses to give to people who asked me if I could take them on a ride, since that seems to happen often enough. :uhoh: No I can't, here's a list of public places to try :lol:

[Dispatcher]

On Beaver Valley Road in Wilmington DE area. All I know is the owner's name is Rosie. She has signs on the property advertising gift certificates, boarding and trail rides. It may be, or used to be called Woodlawn stables--I think! Sorry, not much help--but I can get the number this weekend.

The trails in the area are just wonderful. Lots of views of a duPont mansion, fields, great wooded trails.

[vxf111]

Gateway is your best bet. I went with my boyfriend who is pretty much a newbie to riding. They put him on a very calm, safe draft cross. They knew I rode so they gave me a more interesting, slightly up TB. The trail leader was a really nice guy, knew a lot about OTTBs and chatted with us the whole way. It wasn't the world's most exciting trail but it was SAFE and the horses seemed well cared for. The barn owner will talk your ear off. ;)

[Dispatcher]

I agree about Gateway. Marie Jakubaskas is the owner. Her daughter Laurie has a hunter/jumper stable nearby.

I have a friend who is a trail guide there on the weekends. She is a very experienced rider and will give you a safe, fun ride.

[SBT]

What about Haycock Stables in Perkasie? http://www.haycockstables.com

[BigHorseLittleHorse]

My information may be out of date, but as of summer 2007, Hidden Valley in Ridley Creek was still doing trail rides. I've never done one with them, but I've heard good things about them, and their facility was immaculate and horses happy and healthy when I visited.

[CoopsZippo]

There is also Allimax Farm in Columbia, PA Lancaster County

Allimax Farm

4606 Marietta Ave, Columbia, PA 17512

(717) 669-2042

[ruffiannyc]

ptshco, did you ever try out a place? Would you recommend them? Just curious because I'm looking for a similar ride for a visit to the SE PA/Philly area and would like something a little more stimulating than a slow, boring ride :)

[Susan P]

I can recommend Fair Hill Stables for a safe and fun ride and on site facilities on over 5000 acres. They are more reasonably priced than one that was mentioned and safer than another, no names but I am familiar with some other local barns. Not that you can't have a great ride but for value, fun and safety I would recommend Fair Hill Stables right at the park. Nice people, most of them do this because they love it and many employees have other jobs to make money. They are there during off work hours too. I know these people, they are fun but take your safety seriously, the horses are sane and they know their temperments and abilities well. They've been rescued mostly from New Holland auction and tested over a few years on trails.

[Penthilisea]

I had a great ride last fall at Windmill Farm outside Easton Pa.
http://www.windmillhorsefarm.com/
Our trail guide was a COTH'er, and the horses were nice suitable animals.
Helmets were required, etc.

I was NOT impressed with my recent ride at Watchung Stables in Union County NJ- the trails were beautiful, the horses were scary at best, no helmets, etc.