Horseback Riding Experiences

Go horseback riding on the farm, through the woods, over the hills, and along the Chiques Creek.

We provide instruction to all riders on safety rules and practices. We give refresher

information for experienced riders who haven't ridden for a while.

For beginning riders, we will teach you about how a horse thinks, how to control the horse, and safe practices while riding. We take the time to answer your questions and to help you become a better rider. We supervise safety practices, and we guide every ride so that safe practices are followed at all times.

In the area, we are best known for our skills in helping riders increase their knowledge about horses, from the traditional Pa Dutch horsemanship tradition. Our horses are well trained, and we will help you learn how to control the horse, and to create the working partnership with the horse that makes riding so much fun.

Learn how to ride on one of our well-trained lesson horses, get additional training on Western Pleasure riding, and learn the skills of trail riding with safety. We are careful to match the right horse with each student, so that your ride is safe and a fun experience, that is also highly educational and fulfilling.

Experienced riders will enjoy riding one of our well-trained lesson and trail horses. Ride in our training areas, around our fields, across country hills and meadows, and along the picturesque Chiques Creek.

For a pleasant riding experience on your vacation, we can provide an hour and a half riding experience, with training necessary for a safe ride. We will begin with getting to know your horse, grooming the horse, a lesson on control and riding, and when you mount the horse, we will begin by riding with you in our training area.

When we see that you have good control of the horse, we will go out onto the trails, and ride around the farm and woodlands here along the Chiques Creek.

Each ride is accompanied by a trail boss, an experienced guide who will make sure you don't get lost, and who will make the decisions to keep the ride safe. The fee for an hour and a half experience is $35 per person. Family rates are available.

We start these short rides at 9:00 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 3:00 pm, or 5 pm. Each ride is tailored to the age and experience level of the rider. If some of the group is more advanced, we can split the group, to guarantee a fun riding experience for all!

If you would like to experience an extended ride, we can provide a half-day riding experience, with training necessary for a safe ride. A trail boss will accompany each ride. The fee for a half-day experience is $65 per person.

We start the half-day rides at 9 am or at 1 pm. Each experience is three hours long, and is tailored to your experience level. Even the experienced riders should be comfortably sore by the end of the ride!

We ask that you inform us of your riding experience and skills. If you have children who want to ride, we need to know what their experiences have been also. We have provided many beginning riding lessons to inexperienced families who wanted to do something more than a nose-to-tail ride that some amusement companies provide: and they have LOVED it and come back later for more rides.

If you and your family are experienced riders, desire a challenging ride, and want to ride all day, we will schedule you for a ride in the morning, take a break for lunch, and have another ride in the afternoon. The cost per person for an all-day experience is $115.

Group rides We can accommodate groups; however, we need time to make the arrangements, and to schedule staff and horses for your needs.

The daily riding schedule begins each morning at 9 am. After your day of riding, you might just want to tag along while we feed and care for the horses! You are welcome to help with the farm chores if you would like.

Before any rider goes out on a ride, each person must be checked out for riding competency. The day's activities for each rider will be determined by his skill. In no circumstances do we allow uncontrolled riding. We often do fast trotting and cantering on the rides, if the riders are competent, but if there is a loss of control, the pace WILL SLOW DOWN until control is re-established. We insist on every rider maintaining control of their horse at all times. These are guided rides, and the guide is responsible for safety, and like a trail boss, what he or she says is "the Law."

Gaming activities at speed are only done with experienced riders, and special horses. Our trail horses may not be used for gaming, as it makes the horses too competitive, and therefore they become unsafe for beginners.

Activities in the evening can be arranged, such as a hay ride, enjoying a relaxing bonfire with the farm staff talking about horses, farming, the Pa Dutch, or just solving the world's problems! During the day, we can provide special horsemanship demonstrations if you would like.

DIRECTIONS: From Lancaster, go west on Rt 30 about 8 miles. Exit at Columbia onto 441 north. Go 1 mile, make a right onto Old Chickies Hill Rd. Go about 1/4 mile, and as the road begins a turn uphill to the right, continue ahead slightly to the left onto Kames Hill Rd. Follow this down the hill, and around the turn about a half mile, to the farm buildings on the left. The farm also fronts on the Marietta Pike, known as Rt. 23.

If you have your own horse, and just need a place to relax and ride, without much intervention from us, for a reasonable fee, call us to make arrangements. You can use our farm trails, plus we will supply you with a map of the local roads for riding in the rural countryside. If we are taking out a group, you can ride with us for company if you would like.

If you would like lessons to refine your riding skill with your own horse, we charge $30 per hour for private lessons.

Special Note on the Golden Rule of Horsemanship:

We see people from all areas, disciplines, training, and practices.

We respect what you know, and how you do things. We ask that you respect us and others, the same way.

If we are to ride together and have fun together, we must show toleration for each other.