960katrinap
Our team decided to do a bit of research into area activities prior to traveling to Lake Placid, NY and found a stable, yes, a stable that operates trail rides in the winter !I booked online for a time in the afternoon, as we noticed that the area had fluctuating weather conditions and temperatures.Travis was our very knowledgeable trail guide who made saddling, tacking and handling look like child's play.The horses were rockstars, literally. From Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra to Willy Nelson, their behavior and upkeep was impeccable.We then proceeded to the lesson which had given us pointers that we were previously unaware of. From riding tricks to what we may encounter during the ride ( deer, turkey, BEAR - no, kidding again) to horse behavior during wildlife encounters.After the lesson & personal review, we were fitted with protective helmets and snow gear (yes, one of our "troop members" did not dress for the expedition), then we underwent horse assignments. You'd think that horse assignments are simple - with questions about nervousness and a riding background, but no, these assignments are based more on scientific research. The trail guides ask you for your riding history, your athletic capacities, and of course, the level of your confidence (I would not even doubt they peek at the shape you are in too, so you better be in a good one !)In the end, their job is to determine how compatible you are with each horses' personality. It's like a marriage, someone has to be on the top and someone on the bottom - ha!!We mounted, and took off by walk. It was beautiful, it was around 24 degrees, the most perfect temperature for this type of activity. Adirondack Equine Center's horses were in fact, true & authentic rock stars . We hope to see them again, next year.PS: Where are Sinatra's infamous Blue Eyes ?
BrianneR_13
Dear Reviewer,Our company is not affiliated with any establishments that offer horse drawn sleigh rides in the area. We do however, cross advertise with local attractions but do not represent nor have control over their operations.In the future, please consider searching for the correct company before leaving a negative review as it directly affects the establishment's rating on TripAdvisor websites.Thank you.
jsuarez2014
was a great time for a first time on horse riding the instructor was very patient and taught myself and my husband exactly what needed to be done. Thank you for a great adventure for our anniversary
nazkar14
I actually felt the vibes from what once happened here when the Olympic opening ceremonies and closing happened on this site. The flame burns marks are still view able truly amazing after all these years. See if you get that feeling. Must see!
KBWanders
We were on the fence as to whether or not to try riding, as neither of us had any experience with horses. But during our recent trip to Lake Placid I felt drawn to at least go and see these animals who had all been rescued, and at least leave a donation. From the moment we met our guide, Joseph, I felt reassured we could do it with his help, and we ended up having so much fun we can't stop talking about it. What magnificent, powerful animals! And yet so gentle with us. Joseph was friendly and open, and just beamed knowledge and love for these horses, sharing their stories, personalities, and even their birthdates! He encouraged us continually along the quiet trail, and never lost patience even though he often had to repeat himself. We hope to find a similar place in CT where we can ride again, and if we visit Lake Placid again the Equine Center is at the top of our list. We hope Joseph (and George) are there too!
965AnthonyF
A nice short trail ride among the local mountains. Horses are mellow as are the wranglers. Reasonably priced.
markbV838DS
Our daughters have been sent off to horse camp in the area so we decided to try a bit of horseback riding ourselves. I couldn't imagine it this being so great and relaxing. Joe and Emily were outstanding at explaining us the details. Joe was our main guide, funny and friendly, showed us a lesson video and did a review of the skills we will absolutely needed before getting on the trail . It was well worth it. Plus, anything you pay at the door goes to their rescued horses which definitely warmed up my wife's heart. Thank you again, Adirondack Equine for making this such a pleasant experience !
KevinK12123
Great experience at Adirondack Equine Center. My wife and I took a trail ride recently while visiting Lake Placid. The experience was top notch from beginning to end. The ride was easy to reserve online. When we arrived we watched a safety video before boarding our horses for a scenic winter trail ride. Our guide was responsive and helpful! The facilities are great and the horses well cared for. Thanks for a great experience.
ConlinsandRobinson
Dear Reviewer,Thank you for your review !We take our safety regulations very seriously. For safety reasons we cannot guarantee that a child, that is riding a horse for the first time in her life, will be able to control a horse on her own.The difference between a lesson trail ride and lesson riding in a enclosed area, such as a riding ring, is that a horse may completely ignore the rider and make an otherwise pleasant experience, unpleasant - the animal may, for example, munch on grass and disregard the rider's direction to go forward, along with the rest of the group.When we assign horses during a formal lesson, we help ensure that these assignments are appropriate for the rider's age, experience and athletics.In the future, if you want to guarantee that your young child will ride on her/his when visiting an equestrian establishment, we would suggest to find a different lesson format where the child can get accustomed to the basics of riding, in a enclosed environment, without the aide of any other distractions such as - fresh grass, juicy leaves, new trails. Thank you for your input !
nounoun250
We had a great time horse back riding. Travis and natalia are very knowlegable and take great care od their horses.
T5433VNlauram
We had an excellent time horseback riding with Travis. He was highly patient and professional with safety being his first priority. He clearly has a love of horses and it shows by how well cared for his horses are and the farm that he and his wife keep- it is top notch. The trails were gorgeous, especially with the falling snow. We cannot wait to go back during the summer and experience Saddleback Farm in another setting. We highly recommend you visit Saddleback Farms with your family and friends. It is a beautiful experience.Laura Manning, NYC
larryw172
If you are into horses at all, you want to visit this site when the horse show is at full swing, which is usually around the July 4th weekend. I stopped by this week, although there is really no activity at this time of year. Still, the very scope of this facility is amazing, with acres upon acres of track, stables, show pavillions, jumping courses, and more. When the "big show" is on, this is filled to the brim with show horses and those who come to watch. The grounds also has places to purchase drinks and food, and it's possible to spend the entire day here. Have fun!
StreamsAndCities
My teen daughter and I enjoyed ourselves. I've been riding many times through the years and have never been shown a safety and training video, which was then followed by a personal review by the owner. The well-being of the horses comes before anything else, as it should be, followed closely by safety of the riders. We had the opportunity to do some trotting, which was nice.
490maggiep
We went on the "private ride" with guide Travis - he was great - very personable, friendly and caring of all the horses. Safety was of the utmost importance - the video before our ride was extremely helpful. We would highly recommend this experience.We will definitely go back - thank you again to Travis and his staff.
pangakat
My daughter (14), niece (13) and I tried it while boys went off doing something else. I gave it a 4 because along with video I would have wanted maybe 10 minutes practicing with horse before getting on the trail. And the other reason is I would have wanted to see something more than trees and horse manure during the ride. 50 minutes was plenty, we were all tired. The owner took good care of the horses-most of them are rescue horses-and we learned how to demonstrate respect for the horses. It was a good 1st time experience and we were glad we got to do it.