Pennsylvania Equestrian Horse Farms Open House

Free, Self Guided Event Allows Public to Visit Horse Farms April 24 & 25, 2010

The Horse Farms Open House, held one weekend each year, gives horse enthusiasts and families with an interest in horses an opportunity to visit professional stables normally off limits to the public. The event is free and visitors travel from farm to farm in their own vehicle and at their own pace. Participating farms will be open to visitors Saturday, April 24 from 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday, April 25 from 11 am to 4 pm and will offer activities such as demonstrations, refreshments, pony rides, sample riding lessons, vendors and horses for sale.

The Pennsylvania Equestrian Horse Farms Open House returns in 2010 after a six year break. For twelve years, from 1993 to 2004, the Horse Farms Open House was an annual outing for thousands of horse enthusiasts. The event began as a way to showcase quality stables that offered services to the public, and to make it easy for non-riders to get involved in horse sports. It grew into an annual event that was as popular with horse owners as non-riders. Thousands of people took advantage of the opportunity to visit participating stables and learn more about what goes on behind their barn doors.

Quality stables that offer services such as boarding, lessons, training, sales and breeding to the public are invited to participate. For more information email or phone (717) 509-9800. Or click here to download registration forms. Deadline is March 12.

The following farms will participate in the 2010Pennsylvania Equestrian Horse Farms Open House:

Bucks County, PA

■ Rainbow Ridge Farm Equestrian Center, Pipersville, Bucks County,PA. Rainbow Ridge Farm offers training, boarding, and lessons in dressage, hunter/jumper and eventing along with some western pleasure and trail riding. The emphasis is on safe, fun and family-oriented activities with horses. A summer camp is offered and the farm will hold monthly horse shows beginning in May. The farm includes 7 pastures, 2 rings, and a round pen. The 22-stall barn features a heated kitchen and bathrooms with washer and dryer, tack room and grooming and wash stalls. Full, partial, self care and pasture board are all available. Rainbow Ridge also has a therapeutic riding program for students with special needs. Lessons are offered seven days a week between 8 am and 8 pm. All instructors train horses as well as riders, and they can work with horses in all stages of training, from the show ring to those with trailer loading issues or in need of training in basic manners.

Rainbow Ridge Farm Equestrian Center

4841 Applebutter Rd., Pipersville, PA 18947

(215) 766-9357

■ Last Chance Ranch Animal Rescue, Quakertown, Bucks County, PA. Last Chance Ranch is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization which rescues and rehabilitates equine, companion, and small farm animals, educates the public to humane and responsible treatment of equines and other domestic animals and provides a safe and secure refuge for abused, unwanted or neglected animals. LCR rehabilitates their physical and psychological issues and places them into new homes, where a follow-up program ensures their continued well being. Last Chance Ranch has many horses from mini's to drafts, suitable for riding, driving or companions, available for adoption.To learn more contact Judy , call (215) 538-2510 or view available horses at

Last Chance Ranch Animal Rescue

9 Beck Rd., Quakertown, PA 18951

(215) 528-2510

Chester County, PA

Gateway Stables, Kennett Square, Chester County. In addition to trail rides in the gorgeous Brandywine Valley, Gateway offers a comprehensive lesson program for all ages in both English and Western disciplines, successful holiday and summer camps program, family rides, ponyridesand parties, boarding, leasing, educational horse clinics, and seasonal special events..

Gateway Stables, Inc.

949 Merrybell Lane, Kennett Square, PA 19348

(610) 444-1255

Lancaster County, PA

■ Flintrock Stables, Lititz, Lancaster County. Flintrock Stables is a top-quality hunter/jumper show barn, providing an extensive variety of equestrian services, including lessons, boarding,training, sales/investment horses,winning at rated and schooling horse shows, and more.The farm features two barns with a total of 40 stalls, over a dozen paddocks, an indoor arena, two large outdoor arenas, and many other amenities for both horse and rider. “R” hunter judge Scott Burkhart is the head trainer; his focus and that of his staff is making sure clients achieve their show goals while maintaining a team camaraderie and focusing on the progression of horse and rider. To that end, 2009 was a banner year – the farm’s horses and riders were awarded five Reserve Championships and numerous other high score awards by CPJHSA, EPPHA, and PHSA. Riders qualified for Zone II finals and Gittings finals and won high point awards at local show series and ribbons in the locals division of the Pennsylvania National Horse Show.

Flintrock Stables

16 E Brubaker Valley Rd., Lititz, PA 17543

(717) 627-4269

■ Greystone Manor Therapeutic Riding Center, Lancaster, Lancaster County. GreystoneManorTherapeuticRidingCenter is a non-profit organization that has been providing quality equine programs for children and adults with disabilities since 1981 under the name of Lancaster County Therapeutic Riding. The historic stable has 20 stalls, indoor arena, outdoor riding ring and turnout. During the Open House Greystone Manor will celebrate its grand opening, as the organization assumed management and sole occupancy of the former Greystone Manor Stables on January 1. The facility is now a fully dedicated therapeutic riding center, the only program in Lancaster County to have this distinction.

Greystone Manor Therapeutic Riding Center

1063 Hartman Station Rd., Lancaster, PA 17601

(717) 615-9222

Perry County, PA

■ Outlaw Stable, New Bloomfield, Perry County, PA. Perry County's premier equestrian facility, Outlaw Stable is located in a scenic and beautiful location surrounded by countryside and farms. Centrally located, with miles of trails, it is just a scenic 30 minute drive from Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg or Carlisle. Outlaw Stables offers boarding, training, shows, horses for sale and clinics. Three instructors--Tara Dawn Hazen, Lindsay Vulich and Julie Ely--provide hunter, equitation and jumper lessons. Outlaw Stables is also home to the Perry County Schooling Show Series.

Outlaw Stable

2420 Cold Storage Rd., New Bloomfield, PA 17068

(717) 582-8221

York County, PA

■ Oakridge Stables, Dover, York County, PA. Oakridge Stable is a boarding facility providing a serene, safe and enjoyable atmosphere for training and trail riding. Owners Glenn and Bonny Myers provide friendly, reliable care at reasonable rates. The 110 acre farm has numerous trails traversing the scenic farmland and woodlands, and scheduled group trail rides, moonlight rides and snow rides are favorites among boarders. Facilities include two barns with a total of 32 stalls, a large 100 by 300 foot outdoor arena, round pen, and hot and cold wash stalls.

Oakridge Stables

4214 Davidsburg Rd., Dover, PA 17315

(717) 292-3412

■ Shady Dell Stables, Thomasville, York County. Hunter/jumpers, eventing, dressage, trail, western pleasure, barrel racing and showmanship are the wide variety of disciplines practiced by boarders and students at Shady Dell Stables. A team of experienced equestrian professionals works together to ensure exceptional care and an enjoyable, safe, relaxed environment in which to enjoy horses. The world-class facility features a brand new 20 stall barn with large 12’ by 12’ stalls, tack rooms and wash stall, large indoor and outdoor arenas, ample green pastures with automatic waterers, and easy access to miles of trails. Lessons focus on balanced and centered riding to enhance confidence and skills.

Shady Dell Stables

373 Shady Dell Rd., Thomasville, PA 17364

(717) 739-5154