Looking to take my horses on vacation with me this fall! Please read...

[Nevada10]

Hi! This fall, I’m looking to take my 2 horses and mom for a long weekend of trail riding, somewhere with nice fall scenery, like the Blue Ridge Mountains in VA, or anywhere within a 4 hour drive of central Maryland. However, we don’t want to camp (and my horses won’t camp), so I need to find a place nearby to board my horses for a few days (all they need is a field with safe fencing and water, but stalls are fine too). Anyone have any suggestions for places to ride, places to stay, and places to board? Any other tips/suggestions would be great too!

Thank you.

[katarine]

horseandmuletrails.com

[Arab_Mare]

Can you do a “horse camp”? Such as a place to camp with pre-set up outdoor stalls and water?

[Simbalism]

I love Penmerryl Farm near Lexington Va. Lots of trails on the farm, not far from Lexington if you want to go to the Horse Center or Dover(right across the street).They have lots of stalls, cabins with kitchens(all utensils stocked) or just rooms with small refrigerators. They have an indoor, a dressage ring, jumping ring, and a cross country course.

[SharonA]

I’m looking for the same sort of thing in New England, if anyone has any ideas…

[2tempe]

This should give both of you and lots of others some fun “shopping”…:yes::yes:

http://www.horseandtravel.com/states/bed_and_breakfast.html

[stanza]

For New England, I suggest High Pocket in Mass. I went there in 2009 and had a great time. Miles and miles of trails, but be warned, they are very hilly. They have four stalls and pasture for turnout.

http://www.highpocket.com

[Nevada10]

Arab Mare - I’m intrigued! I’ve never heard of such a thing, but I think that would work fine. Can you tell me any more about “horse camping”?

Thanks for the other suggestions

[callidorre]

Artillary Ridge campground in Gettysburg, PA is set up like that. They have the options of stalls or paddocks.

http://www.artilleryridge.com/horsefacility.htm

And Happy Hills Campground off of the C and O canal also has horse facilities. I’ve never been there though. Just heard about them through word of mouth.

http://www.happyhillscampground-md.net/Blank.html

Just giving you some examples. Getttysburg is in my local area and I can tell that the battlefield isn’t a huge area to ride but there are some other local trails not too far away- Michaux State Forest and Codorus State Park to start with.

[brightskyfarm]

Gettysburg or Swatara State Park

Artillery Ridge Campground – for you and your horse.
http://www.artilleryridge.com/ >you dont need to camp there with your horses if you want to stay elsewhere.
For great eats and a bit of history … the Dobbin House
which is also a B&B
http://www.dobbinhouse.com/

       At the Eternal Light is where Dedication Day is held each year (nov 19th). On this site is where Lincoln delivered the famous Gettysburg Address -- which he wrote on the train; that stil exists and offers rides! In 1963, President Kennedy was asked to speak at Dedication Day but declined as he had a previous engagement in Dallas (nov 23rd, 1963).

http://www.gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/Other/Peace.php
the riding trail goes to this monument
http://www.gettysburgdaily.com/?p=1482

– it also crosses the fields of Picketts Charge!
http://www.brotherswar.com/Gettysburg-3c.htm
There you’ll be with Gen Meade to your north, and Gen Lee on your south ! Gen Meade was relieved of his command after this battle. It had rained a good bit, the creeks rose, and kept Lee from crossing into Md for 3 days. Meade did not pursue.
The horse trail will also take you through the Round Tops. At the Little Round Top is a spot where Col Chamberlain stood each year until his death in 1913 at ae 91.
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0091791/quotes

     And of course, you cant resist taking a Ghost Tour!

Many to choose from … even one through Artillery Ridge.

    To the west is the Michaux State Forest. just west out rt. 30..

(pic> view from gettysburg) > there are 3 state parks in this forest/ caledonia, pine grove furnance and mont alto. > http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/stateforests/michaux/index.htm (lots of maps for trails)
In the past; a 25mi ectra ride and a 50mi aerc ride were held each year; so plenty of trails!
heres are pictures of 2 trails].
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1482481696442.2066981.1065826240&type=3#!/photo.php?fbid=1482482856471&set=a.1482481696442.2066981.1065826240&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1482510897172.2066984.1065826240&type=3#!/photo.php?fbid=1482510977174&set=a.1482510897172.2066984.1065826240&type=3&theater

     There is a pool at the Caledonia State Park,

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/caledonia/index.htm
plus many other activites. Thaddeus Stevens Blacksmith Shop (this fellow as simply fascinating!) and the author of the free public education system. He is buried in nearby Lancaster, Pa.
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USASstevens.htm

 At the other end of the Michaux is the Pine Grove Furnance State Park. 2 lakes, Laurel Lake (has boat rentals) and Fuller Lake. The Appalachian Trails mid-point is at this section of the park/ between the 2 lakes.  Excellent for swimming! Open until the last day of Sept.

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/pinegrovefurnace/index.htm
And a must do while there is climbing the Pole Steeple Trail. It overlooks 7 mountains to the north.
(pic) http://www.summitpost.org/pole-steeple/153439

There are stalls to lease in the Harrisburg area too.
Nearby are many parks in easy driving distance…
5 miles to stoney valley… several trails> the Horseshoe trail, Rattling Run (29mi)and the rail bed (20mi)
http://www.stonyvalley.com/

10 miles to >the Swatara State Park/Stoney Valley rail trail,(from the other end at Gold Mine). Lickdale, Pa. just off exit 90 of rt. 81N (x’s rt 72/ 443)http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/swatara/index.htm
about a 30 min drive is > Gov. Dick park in Lebanon, Pa.
http://parkatgovernordick.org/dnn/
45 min drive is the Gifford Pinchot.
gettysburg is an hour south of harrisburg.

[kdow]

Omg, that list almost makes me want to get a horse just to run over to Gettysburg for a vacation.

(No, I would not really buy a horse for that reason. But if at some point I have a horse and I’m looking for a horsey vacation, for sure.)

[JollyBadger]

[QUOTE=Nevada10;6504689]
Arab Mare - I’m intrigued! I’ve never heard of such a thing, but I think that would work fine. Can you tell me any more about “horse camping”?

Thanks for the other suggestions :)[/QUOTE]

There are quite a few horseman’s campgrounds like what Arab Mare described, all throughout the US. The sites like horsetraildirectory.com have links to those kinds of campgrounds, as well as some reviews from people who have visited. The TV show Best of America by Horseback visits a lot of horseman’s camps as well - I know they have a Facebook page and it may be a good resource for finding places in the region where you live.

Some camps have “deluxe” cabins or bunkhouses, stocked with pretty much all the supplies/bedding/dishes, kitchen, bathroom, heat/air conditioning, etc.

Others don’t have any form of “housing” for people - you’d have to bring a camper/trailer with living quarters for yourself, or tent-camp - but they do have basic stalls for the horses if you don’t want to do a high-line or hitching rail. I do like having a stall. . .it’s a little bit extra (usually about $10 a night, per stall at the places I’ve stayed) but it’s nice to know the horses are warm and dry at night if it gets chilly, or if it starts raining.

Many of these places offer organized rides throughout the year, either for a full week or just a weekend. They’re usually more expensive than “open camping” times, but meals are provided and they often have other activities like fun shows, clinics, live music, and dances during the event.

It’s always good to find out from the campground owner exactly how much trail access they actually have directly from their site.

I’ve stayed in some very pretty, well-maintained camps with all kinds of amenities. . .but with only a day or two worth of trail riding before you “ride the place out.” Or the trails are just crap. . .poorly kept, poorly marked, or whatever.

Or, you’d have to ride the same trail for 45 minutes out and back just to get to any of the other trailheads. Or you have to load and haul your horse out by trailer every day just to get to the actual trailhead.

Having said all that - taking the horses “to camp” makes for a great vacation.

Happy trails!

[brightskyfarm]

[QUOTE=kdow;6505169]
Omg, that list almost makes me want to get a horse just to run over to Gettysburg for a vacation.

(No, I would not really buy a horse for that reason. But if at some point I have a horse and I’m looking for a horsey vacation, for sure.)[/QUOTE]

        Artillery Ridge rents horses too!

The fellow who owns the campground is quite unique. Hes a retired mounted officer who patrolled Harlem, NY. Originally there were 3 of them that bought the camp for their retirement – Ray is the only one left there. He collects old cavalry saddles (and almost anything else).
I met him through our hunt club cause when his trail leaders wouldnt show up … we’d pitch in. So, there I am at the back of the string on my hunt mare who is just going nuts!! walk??? she wasnt too pleased with that.
Meanwhile, I have the headphones on listening to the ranger tell the battle stories and Im mesmerized!
After about 2 weeks, the mare was falling asleep on our rides, and that gave me a better chance to study the park.
To ride on that hallowed ground – especially when you know the history – just wow.
ps: I live in the Michaux so visiting was easy and often.

[kdow]

[QUOTE=brightskyfarm;6505810]
Artillery Ridge rents horses too!
The fellow who owns the campground is quite unique. Hes a retired mounted officer who patrolled Harlem, NY. Originally there were 3 of them that bought the camp for their retirement – Ray is the only one left there. He collects old cavalry saddles (and almost anything else).
I met him through our hunt club cause when his trail leaders wouldnt show up … we’d pitch in. So, there I am at the back of the string on my hunt mare who is just going nuts!! walk??? she wasnt too pleased with that.
Meanwhile, I have the headphones on listening to the ranger tell the battle stories and Im mesmerized!
After about 2 weeks, the mare was falling asleep on our rides, and that gave me a better chance to study the park.
To ride on that hallowed ground – especially when you know the history – just wow.
ps: I live in the Michaux so visiting was easy and often.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I have family who was at Gettysburg so it was interesting to visit, but I think it’d be bonus interesting to visit on horseback. And my mom has work in the Harrisburg area not infrequently and I go with her, so if you can rent horses… I could have an interesting and educational day!

(My mom has cancer and some of her medications make her more prone to falling and things of that nature, particularly when she’s tired, so I go as a care giver but when she’s at work during the day she’s okay so I have nothing to do usually unless I happen to have something I can take with me that needs to be done, like when I was in college.)

[brightskyfarm]

whats to do in Harrisburg? lots!

Kdow, visit the state archives… look up Gettysburg.
http://explorepahistory.com/search.php?keywords=gettysburg

Plus lots of other topics to explore:
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/archival_research_topics/3162

The State Museum is fun to visit too.
http://www.statemuseumpa.org/
check listing for the Planetarium shows, >they’re super!

20 miles of the Greenbelt for hiking around Harrisburg. The section along the river is just beautiufl!
http://www.caga.org/

Hershey! this would take weeks to get through…
the gardens, the park, the zoo!
http://www.hersheypa.com/things_to_do/index.php
http://www.zooamerica.com/
http://www.hersheygardens.org/

behind the Hershey Hotel is the Sand Beach Landing along the Swatara Creek (sand beach road)-- one of the access points along this 60 mile waterway. great for swimming !picnic tables.
Rent a canoe/kayak >Union Canal Canoe Rentals. At Halloween, there’s even a haunted trail. (717) 838-9580.

Indian Echo Caverns is a large underground display of geology created by dripping water and the region's limestone deposits where the Susquehannock Indians once lived and hunted - visited by settlers as early as 1783. Located three miles west of Hershey off U.S. Route 322 near Hummelstown, the cave is open for tours.

(717) 566-8131

M&H (Middletown & Hummelstown) Railroad, an historic steam engine train, provides a ride parallel to Swatara Creek. Great fun. For more information, call (717) 944-4435, 136 Brown Street, Middletown. (which is the oldest town in Dauphin County/est1755)

Grab a bag breakfast and visit Penn National to watch morning training (its free!) .. track opens at 6am til 11am / picnic tables at the finish line -- you'll be able to watch gate training too! (casino is there/ yes, 24hrs). You can also watch from the SkyBox inside the Casino ..fantastic view!

[MMacallister]

I stayed here
http://www.horsetraildirectory.com/Feb03_Select_one_trail_detail.asp?ID=1046

last year and loved it! The horses had a 2 acre pasture with run in. The woman who runs it was awesome and she is a masseus (sp?) for the Greenbrier so you can get some spa treatments while you are there. The trails are great and the accomodations were rustic but clean and nice. She also gave us a map of the trails in the area which really did help.

[g8dgirls]

Biltmore ;). Hands down my favorite place to visit in the fall. I don’t know about the drive time but it would be worth it. We drive down from Ohio at least once a year because it’s so beautiful.

http://www.biltmore.com/equestrian/default.asp

[HoofaSchmigetty]

PENMERRYL FARM…You’ll be sleeping just 50 feet from your horses. Wonderful people and a home cooked breakfast that is out of this world is included in the lodging fee.

[Liberty]

I’ve ridden the trails from Fort Valley Ranch (on their horses back when they let you go out without a guide), and they were fabulous, although rocky since they’re mountain trails. You can bring your own horse and either camp or stay in one of their cabins:
http://www.fortvalleystable.com/

Friends of mine camped there recently with their horses and loved it.

Lots more places to choose from here:
http://www.horseandmuletrails.com/

[SuckerForHorses]

[QUOTE=SharonA;6501099]
I’m looking for the same sort of thing in New England, if anyone has any ideas…[/QUOTE]

The Bunkhouse is located in Central Vermont. You can bring your horses, there are paddocks with run-ins or use of stalls. Great trails, great people. Very quiet & secluded. The Bunkhouse is awesome.

http://www.thebunkhousevermont.com/