I am the proud mother of one of Mark's students Nichole Mesik. She's been with him for many years…read morenow. She is there pretty much every Saturday and even though she's an accomplished rider she continues to learn from his knowledge And all the people there are knowledgable, willing to share and just fun to be around I'm embarrassed to say that I've never been to the stables but plan to go soon. I just met Mark a few weeks ago at the Arabian Horse Show in Perry Ga! And it was such a pleasure to finally meet him and all the rest of the horse crazy people from his school. Just such a great adventure! if you're looking for a quality trainer, knowledgeable man who cares deeply for the horses and the students he is definitely your guy!

I have been riding here for the last 3 years. Mark and Pennie are fabulous owners and so attentive…read moreto the horses' care. They have turnout, training and otherwise great facilities. Mark specializes in Arabian and Half-Arabian training, so most of the horses here (including mine) are Arabians. Mark is a well-known and very respected trainer in the Arabian community. However, I have a friend who boards her warmblood mare here because Mark is so great at foaling out, and another person keeps their Friesian in training with Mark. Hey, a well behaved horse is a well-behaved horse! Mark is meticulous about cleaning and maintaining the property. You will NEVER find any unsafe footing, downed boards, broken fences, etc.- everything built here was well-planned out. For example, the barn has dirt floors, which Mark maintains very well, to help the horses walk (sometimes they slip on concrete). I was skeptical at first but it really is less nerve-wracking to handle a nervous horse on dirt than concrete. There are trails and an indoor arena with three round pens, but no outdoor arena.

recently started horseback riding lessons, and the experience has gone far beyond my expectations…read more The trainer was incredibly patient, friendly, and attentive--offering clear guidance on horse care, history, and how to build a true connection with the horses. I felt supported every step of the way, especially when choosing the horse that suited me best. Raven, the horse I connected with, completely stole my heart. The bond felt instant, like we'd known each other for a long time. I initially thought the stable was more for kids, but I was so wrong--this place is perfect for adults too. The owner is absolutely amazing--warm, personal, and genuinely passionate about what they do. I've found not just a new hobby, but a healing space that's truly helping me through my grief. I'm so grateful for this experience.

Tasha is so patient and loving with my 4 year old horse loving girl. She knows just when to…read morechallenge her to keep her improving. She lets her express independence by preparing the horse herself (after being properly taught of course), and my daughter recognizes that as mutual respect. My daughter is a tough nut to crack, but she warmed up to Tasha in no time. That alone speaks volumes. We love the folks here at Trinity Stables and would definitely recommend them to anyone interested in learning more about horses!

Bay Creek Farm is a great facility where the horses are happy and very well taken care of. Louise…read moreDitomaso is an awesome instructor in hunter, jumper, and equitation. Her students are frequently on the champions list at horse shows.

From the owner: Established in 1999, Bay Creek Farm is a modern, quiet, family owned boarding barn that offers…read moreriding lessons whether you are a beginner, casual rider wanting to better your riding skills or pursuing your dream of competing on the show circuit. We offer a safe environment for horse and rider

Last month, my daughter and I visited Little Creek hoping to see the horses. I didn't realize at…read morethe time that we had gone outside their official visiting hours. We went to the office and were met by the RUDEST person I have encountered in a long time and it turned out that she, Tamara, is the barn manager. Unbelievable to be treated in such a harsh and unfriendly manner, in front of my 7 year old daughter, at a COUNTY PARK. I am a DeKalb Co resident so my tax money is paying for this kind of behavior. I worry what the horses themselves must experience as well as her staff and anyone else who has to deal with her. A personality like that should not be in the position of dealing with the public. Unbelievable!

Every few months I hear about $5 pony rides here and never went.....until this weekend!…read more This 40 acre hideaway is across from the QT on Lawrenceville. Who knew that it was this big?!? They are usually closed to the public except for these events. They had a ton of volunteers wearing matching vests which was really helpful. You parked on a residential street and got to walk through the conservancy and look at horses in the field. Then came the fun part. Kids 4 and up could ride on a pony for $5. They did 2 huge round a outs in the corral. You sign a waiver, learn about the conservancy via a waiver, and wait in line to ride the horse. In the meantime they teamed up with DH high (I think) what was selling chicken biscuits and snacks as well as doing face painting. They had 7 horses in the corral that kids were riding in. We are not talking tiny little things either. They were huge! Afterwards, you got to walk by the area at that the horses stay in and could read about them and see any awards the won. They also had free arts and crafts projects setup like making horse puppets. They offer riding lessons, but I didn't tell my kids because I am nervous that they will want a horse.

Literally cannot say enough great things about Southern Cross Ranch. It has become kind of a…read moretradition for me to go on a trail ride for my birthday with my husband (who also shares my birthday) and my kiddo the last two years. Southern Cross is absolutely beautiful from the moment you pull in the drive you know it's a special place. We checked in at the main house and drove over to the barn where my family and I were able to meet all the horses love on them a little, meet the doggies and just take our time. When it was time for our ride we went and got the horses ourselves, brushed and loved on them, got them dressed and ready all by ourselves my kiddo was a beast picking up that saddle and carrying it she did fantastic!! The people guiding us were so nice letting us know what we needed to do and when but letting everyone do it mostly themselves. I loved it and ended up bonding so well with my horse, Borris. He was an absolute love bug and when I go back I hope I can ride him again he's the best! My kiddo had Troy and my husband had Amos who was gorgeous! We even got to see a mama and baby horse my daughter was smitten! We had such a great time and it was a relatively easy ride with no large drops or tight places. We rode through a creek which I thought was the best part of the whole ride hearing the horses hooves splashing through the water was so cool! Even my kiddo who has only gone riding one other time before loved it and is already planning her next trip back! Definitely THE place to go if you love trail riding and beautiful scenery. They cater to beginner, intermediate and advanced riders. If you love riding or want to try it for the first time this place is the best check it out!!

One of my favorite places on earth! I have been visiting the ranch for over 20 years and just got…read moreback from my 5th trip with my husband and our now 15-year old son, neither of whom are big into riding but just love being there for everything else it has to offer. As a lifelong rider, I appreciate how well trained and well cared for the horses are. Southern Cross Ranch is my absolute favorite place to ride, especially because it's hard to find good western riding up in the northeast where I live. And as a busy mom/professional, I very much look forward to not having to cook or clean or go grocery shopping or make any decisions whatsoever about food other than what delicious things from the buffet to put on my plate! The staff are wonderful and incredibly gracious; they really go out of their way to make the guests feel welcome and at home. We are already planning our next trip there!

This is an amazing place full of amazing people. They have many options from western to English…read moreriding and are great in both. They also do bareback. You find yourself becoming family with everyone and building friendships that will last forever.

From the owner: We provide group and individual rates...the summer is here and the perfect time to come on out and…read moreenjoy our beautiful horses and grounds. Just minutes from Atlanta.

Well, what can I say about Southside Riders they made me the best grandma ever I treated my family…read moreto Southside Riders. They had so much fun. The folks there were knowledgeable friendly the animals were friendly. It was a wonderful experience. Only thing I can say is that we will be making another reservation soon and in inviting More family to come. wonderful place to go horseback riding.!!!!!

So, boom, I went to visit my mama in GA back in August. She's outside of ATL and there isn't much…read moreto do in her neck of the woods. Before leaving NY, I searched for activities. Came across a couple of horseback riding places. That's been on my bucket list but leaped up a few spots after seeing the movie, Nope, lol. The other horse back riding spot was closer to my mama's home and cheaper but South Side Riders is Black-owned and operated so, no contest! I scheduled a ride for me and mama. The day we were scheduled to ride, it rained. We'd gotten a call from SSR to let us know that our ride would be rescheduled because of the inclement weather. Do you know what the lady said? She said, it's raining, it makes the trail slippery, "and the horses don't like it." That's bringing me to tears now as it did then! That told me so much about these beautiful people running this place. They put the horses first!!!!! They put the horses concerns first!!! I fell in LOVE with South Side Riders when she said that! A couple of days later, we'd arrived at SSR for our trail ride. We were greeted by the beautiful couple who runs the place. The vibe was cool, friendly and they put my mom and I, who have no experience riding horses, very much at ease. I saw the horses and got giddy. They're all so beautiful, calm and sweet and you can tell they're well taken care of. The two horses that my mother and I rode seemed to have a bond. It was precious watching them interact. This was my first time on a horse. They provided a step ladder to help me get up. I appreciated that. Before hitting the actual trail, they let us go around in the enclosed area where we mounted the horses. They gave us driving instructions... That's what it felt like, a driving lesson, lol. How to steer right, left, stop, go.... All very necessary and appreciated. They made sure moms and I were comfortable before we got started. The trail ride itself was so lovely. I was nervous but that didn't last long. Before I knew it, I was relaxed and wishing I was rich so I could stay and ride all day. I talk to animals like they're human, so at one point, I'm thanking the horse for taking it easy with me as it's my first time riding. And he neighs. Like, he understood every word I'd said, and he responded. A similar interaction was probably the inspiration for the TV show, Mr. Ed. So now we're having a full-on conversation and...just thinking about it is making my heart smile. Again. When the ride was over, I skipped my giddy, animal loving self over to the petting zoo while moms waited in the car. I didn't wanna leave! The babies are so cute and sweet. The donkeys...what's their I.Q.? I'm asking because they seem quite intelligent. Whenever I visit moms, I will definitely stop by South Side for a trail ride!