An old-fashioned sleigh with seating for 4 and cozy blankets; a valiant steed adorned in jingle…read morebells; an elegant coachman with top hat and collared overcoat; magical snow flakes and the silence of a snow-covered landscape...these are the makings of an amazing winter sleigh-ride outing with the lovely people at Heberle Stables! I've been wanting to go on a sleigh ride for years, ever since the first time I saw a horse-drawn sleigh in Ellison while xc skiing there. But our fluky winters have made it hard to plan for a weekend with enough snow for the sleigh; when there's not enough snow, you can take a carriage ride, which is just like a sleigh but with wheels. But we really wanted to experience the sleigh. So, over this past weekend, my hubby and I, and another couple friends, finally did it, and it was everything we had hoped for - tons of snow on the ground which made the sleigh ride possible, gently falling flakes which made the experience magical, and the kindness and friendliness of the family that owns the stables, taking care of everything including a bonfire for warming up before and after, and a cocoa station. Heberle (pronounced 'heh-ber-lee') stables are a family run operation. They have numerous horses, an indoor riding ring for winter riding, and sleighs and carriages for Ellison park trips. The family has been working on this piece of land bordering Ellison Park (right at the corner of Browncroft and Landing Roads) for over 100 years. They love what they do and you can tell because every generation is involved and they all seemed genuinely enthusiastic to share their horses and history with us. On the day of our ride, we showed up a few minutes early and parked. Got out and went to the bonfire and started chatting with the patriarch (Bill?) and owner, who was friendly, funny, and full of great historic information about the stables, which allowed our waiting time to pass really quickly. When our sleigh arrived, the seats were brushed clear of snow and we were seated with us facing our friends (so no one has to face the backs of the other's heads), and then Bill put some heavy blankets on us (it was 17F and we had also brought our own blankets but their's were fine.) Our coachman, Jake, one of Bill's sons, was elegantly attired and gave us instructions, explained about the horse pulling our sleigh (named Buddy), and was generally friendly and conversational answering all our questions. The ride went so fast - they are only 30 min - and then we were deposited back by the bonfire where we had been picked up. In all we were there over an hour, between the ride and the conversation, and we all agreed this is the kind of thing we'd love to do every winter! I can highly recommend this place and experience, and I encourage you to check their web page and sign up online. They have 2 horses/2 sleighs and they each do 7 trips per day, so there are lots of options. My only advice would be to watch the weather and if you can get lucky with a snowy day, that's the best!

I rode at this stable since I was 15 years old. I hen I got my horse I rode the trails on my own…read more Great experience.

I recently began taking lessons at Evergreen and I couldn't be happier. To get on a horse at the…read moreage of 56 is not done without some trepidation, but Jennifer's instruction has gotten me past that and I am on my way to learning even more. She is extremely diligent in matching the horse to the experience of the rider. The barn is in great shape and the horses are extremely well cared for. I would highly recommend Evergreen to anyone interested in learning how to ride or who is looking for a place to board their horse.

From the owner: We specialize in beginner students, those who have never been on a horse before. Come try it, and…read moreyou'll become addicted! Along with beginners we also teach more advanced students, helping them grow with the horses and learning new skills. Riding is not just for the young! Come as adults and enjoy it more!

Heres the good, main instructor knows what he is doing for the most part…read more Heres the bad not always the friendliest environment. The way leaders in this sport set the example for other in this sport is important. I don't think every kid deserves a participation trophy but I will echo a previous review the coach there is tough you need thick skin to deal with him. Not a place where the kiddos can build self esteem in the saddle. Horses are cared for moderately well. But overall as a teen who road here I had good foundation and I thank him for that but the trainer really at times was petty and unkind but much of this area suffers from drama and unprofessionalism it is profoundly sad to me the nonsense that goes on. My recommendation is he is good with the horses and not always the people.

would not recommend. The instructors were very unprofessional and put down the kids. The horses…read morebite, and it is not a safe environment.

Overall an incredible experience. We got to ride the beautiful horses "Star" & "Duncan", whom Dyna…read morematched with our personalities perfectly. Dyna was very helpful with instructions and even took photos for us! Will be back again!!

If is soo fun and the experience was so worth it for the price that I paid I think I had a really…read moregood time

Very enjoyable ride for my family. Easy trail ride, even if you're not an experienced rider. The…read moreproperty and trail was beautiful. Staff was friendly and made this a safe and enjoyable activity.

We loved our experience at D & K ranch! The attention to detail from wearing masks, paperwork,…read moretraining our group (2 adults, 13 and 10 year olds) and encouragement through were fantastic. Our Cowboy and Cowgirl guides were personable and great to work with. We will definitely plan to come back again in the future and possibly check out one of the cabins!

I can't recommend a nicer facility in the area. The indoor is amazing. It's a great size, regularly…read moredragged, and has beautiful natural light and a nice breeze and if you use the lights, incredibly well lit. There are wooded trails as well as fields and a service road to drive or ride down that are truly beautiful and really make you happy that you have a horse to share the experience with. There is also an outdoor ring a short little ride away from the barn that is also regularly dragged and has great footing for driving or riding. The barn itself is always immaculate, I have a really hard time even reading the other reviews because I've been here for almost 2 years and it has honestly been the nicest barn I've ever been in and I used to attend one of the most well-known equestrian colleges in New York State and the level of cleanliness and care that Debbie and Greg work towards for their own place equals that. They treat me and my horse incredibly well. He is a mini and they accommodated him greatly when we first arrived by adding to their fencing and building him a door that he can see out of, and regularly ask if I am happy with his weight as they are knowledgeable enough to know that these guys can have weight issues pretty easily. They are quick to answer any questions and always make sure to greet with a smile. I always feel welcome here. I feel like they truly care about my horse and I deeply appreciate that. The stalls always have fresh shavings, clean buckets, and are cleaned regularly. The barn aisle is always clean, the wash stall is always ready to be used, with a well lit overhead light, water, and vacuum ready, and the tack room is always welcoming and tidy. The stalls are 12x12 so they are actually nice for larger horses and pretty graciously sized for ponies, and is practically a condo for my mini. It is quiet and enjoyable for me because a lot of places don't know how to handle a mini, let alone a mini that drives -- so I also have to mention that it is incredibly easy to store my cart there and they also have very handy lockers to put other equipment in. I really can't say enough about this place as it is really a place I wish I could have as my own and I've never had to worry about my horse, I always know he's in good hands.

I like this stable very much. The owners are kind and very easy to work with. The care of the…read morehorses is fantastic. Good turn out, excellent barn and stalls. The facility is wonderful. They have lots of nice trails that are kept mowed and clear.The arena is great and is dragged twice a week. There is plenty of parking. They are very attentive to the needs of each horse and boarder. Horses always have plenty of water available. I highly recommend Northland.

I'm in love with this stable! I've been trail riding all over for years and Painted Bar Stables…read morewins the Blue Ribbon! Here's why: Erika, the owner, takes the time to learn about each prospective rider before you come so she can pair you with the perfect horse. So be sure and take the time to let them know in the online questionnaire how you are with horses and riding. I'm a confident rider and got a great horse for me where my husband isn't as confident rider and he was paired with a sweet easy going horse, Faye. Actually all the horses are sweet and wonderful. We did a one hour trail ride. The trail was fun - not too challenging and we even got to stop by a beautiful creek so the horses could take a drink. It's absolutely magical & no better way to see the beauty of this region. Now the horses: They are all beautiful, very healthy and thus happy. You can get to know them on the Painted Bar Stables website! Many are rescued and have been revitalized by being in this wonderful place. I can't wait to return.

This was absolutely one of the best things we did on our trip to the Finger Lakes…read more Our tour guide was amazing, kind, and I loved learning about the horses. She had a wealth of knowledge and several degrees in horses related fields. We went on a one hour trail ride and now knowing what I know, I would definitely have upgraded to the 1.5-hour trail ride. It was such a fun experience! I hadn't been on a horse in years and had only ridden a horse maybe three times in my life, so you don't have to be a knowledgeable rider by any means. The horses were so gentle and already knew the route they were taking. If I lived closer, I would have loved to sign up for classes here. I highly recommend this is a great activity to anyone traveling this way. We loved it.

An absolutely wonderful experience. This friendly, family run business was the perfect fit for us…read more The rider-horse match up was spot on, the trails were beautiful and varied and the owners were so accommodating, especially for our special needs kid who needed a little more help but ended up singing cowboy songs with his guides. A great feature of our vacation!

We (family of 4) really enjoyed our horseback riding here. The owner was very friendly, but it was…read moreher daughter who lead us out into the relaxing woods. She was incredibly friendly. We were given some tips prior to riding and her instructions were perfect. This was the perfect activity for the family and if we ever visit the area again, we will definitely be back. A+++