Worth every penny. Terrific trainers. Gorgeous horses. Everything in tip-top shape. Plenty of space…read morewith both indoor and outdoor rings. Competitions on site. Located right inside of Mendon Ponds Park. Highly recommend for lessons.

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.

3 of us went horse riding at A Horse's Friend. We told them that one of us owned horses and another…read morehas ridden many time and taken English lessons. The whole ride on the trails was continuous having them correct us that we were a few centimeters off center on the saddle, sit up straight, lean forward, lean back. It was not enjoyable at all. None of us are overweight, no one over 150.

I booked a trail riding for a party of 5. We were greeting warmly and each paired with a horse that…read morefit our height and weight to my belief. We had about a 20 trail riding within a shelter just to make sure we all knew how to hold the reins and how to sit properly. Once everyone got a hang of it we went into our trail riding. It was extremely peaceful, with three instructors between our group making sure to remind us on holding the reins correctly, and to watch out for branches etc. the trail was beautiful between grass fields and into the woods. It was extremely affordable and not too far from downtown Rochester. My group and I will be going back soon. Only down side is they only accept cash, if they would get a arm on site that would make it easier for people who don't carry cash around

I rode here for years, and then became a horse owner. I kept him here for years as well. Jen and…read moreall the staff are excellent-they truly care about your horse like their own.

Disappointing Care and Poor Infrastructure Given the Cost…read more Convenience & Trails: The location is highly convenient--only one mile from my house--and provides great access to trails and rideable areas during nice weather. Hardworking Staff: The barn employees work very hard, though a language barrier (Spanish-speaking) can make direct communication about care adjustments challenging. Absent Owners: The barn owners (Jen and her mother Linda) are very hands off. I think I saw Linda 3 times? Jen is only there for lessons. I saw her lead horses in once between Nov '25 and Jun '26. I NEVER saw her help with barn chores. I was there every single day checking on my senior because text messages were often not responded to at all or took a while to get a response. I don't believe there was ever a night check since I was also there between 8-10pm many nights to feed my guy a third meal and there was no one ever there except maybe one other boarder who was also checking on their horse. Facility Condition & Safety: Driveway: The main driveway is in severe disrepair with deep potholes. Temporary stone fixes do not last. Driving even 2-4 mph causes extreme vehicle rocking. Property Grounds: The overall property is rough. It has a lot of potential but an old collapsed barn sits near the entrance. There are many trees and plants growing into some of the unused buildings such as the one that was a tack shop years ago under prior ownership. Feed & Hay Storage: Grain is stored in a wheelbarrow covered only by a bag, which attracts flies even though it's in a feed room. Hay bales are kept in a three-sided shed directly on the ground where the bottom layer absorbs moisture. New hay deliveries occasionally sit uncovered in the rain or snow for a day or two before being moved. Horse Care & Management: Feeding Issues: Basic board includes low-fat feed ($12/bag, 3% fat), which was insufficient for my senior horse. Upgrading to higher-quality Sentinel feed cost an extra $65/month. I frequently had to contact the owner regarding missed meals, missed supplements, or incorrect feedings. Winter Water: During this past severe winter, frozen water sources were broken only in the morning and quickly froze over again. Horses resorted to eating snow. I had to visit every afternoon to bring my horse inside to ensure he could drink water and eat hay. Blanketing: Blanketing is not included in the monthly board. Owners must manage all blanketing themselves, requiring constant weather tracking. Forage Quality & Weight Loss: Pasture grass was sparse in the pasture my horse spent time in during the day. Despite the board agreement stating hay would be provided, the hay left out was moldy. When I provided photographic proof of the moldy hay and asked for it to be removed, the owner ignored the messages. My senior horse began losing weight, forcing me to move him for his own health and safety. Final Verdict (As of June 2026):At $795 a month (plus extra feed fees), the cost does not align with the quality of care or facility maintenance. Adding trail access and proximity were great benefits, which makes moving a massive disappointment, but it was necessary for my horse's health. Side note: There appear to be 2 Yelp listings for this same horse facility.

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+++

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'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.

Excellent Barn. clean, well staffed, caring family business. Moved here last month and we are very…read morehappy here.