Stables to go horseback riding, take lessons on Long Island
Deep Hollow Ranch, just east of Montauk, has been offering rides that include sandy stretches for decades. Credit: Newsday/Rebecca Cooney
Horseback riding lessons and trail rides have returned at many stables as Long Island reopens from coronavirus shutdowns.
NASSAU
Equestrian volunteer Renalda Franks leads Walter and Linda Sabolboro and their son Blake, 9, on a trail ride offered by the Bethpage Equestrian Center in Old Bethpage. Credit: Howard Simmons
BETHPAGE EQUESTRIAN CENTER, 499 Winding Rd., Old Bethpage, 516-845-1000. Trail rides and lessons with advance reservations. Features 3 lighted rings, indoor ring, trail rides through Bethpage State Park, boarding, horse leasing and sales, summer camp, pony rides, parties. Private, semiprivate and group lessons.
CEDAR VALLEY FARM, Route 25A, Old Brookville, 516-318-3235 Features Show-quality horses. Leases available. Available to travel for lessons.
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP RANCH, 369 Split Rock Rd., Syosset, 516-922-7712, christianfellowshiphouse.com Features 10 horses, boarding and horse leasing. Fee $45 per half-hour, $75 per full hour (private); $35 half-hour, $55 an hour (group); $850 boarding per month.
GOLD COAST EQUESTRIAN CENTER, 62 Hegemans Lane, Old Brookville, 516-801-2152, goldcoastequestrian.com Features 65 stalls on 19 acres. Offering private beginner through advanced riding lessons, pony kids program. Indoor and lighted arena, outdoor arena (lighted), summer and school holiday camp programs.
JUMPER’S CREEK FARM, 33 Lloyd Harbor Rd., Lloyd Harbor, 631-487-2269, facebook.com/JumpersCreekFarm Features Full-service hunter-jumper riding and show facility for riders of all ages and abilities, indoor/outdoor ring. Miles of trails and cross country field.
NASSAU EQUESTRIAN CENTER, 62 Rte. 106, Jericho, 516-342-1771, nassauequestriancenter.com Features 42 acres next to Muttontown Preserve, multiple rings, stadium lighting, indoor lighted ring, 10 school horses, boarding accommodations available. Private, semiprivate and group lessons available from beginner to advanced. Summer camp program. Group, organizations, Scouts and camps welcome, birthday parties and pony rides.
NORTH SHORE EQUESTRIAN CENTER, LIU Post campus, Northern Boulevard, Brookville, 516-626-9714, northshoreequestriancenter.com Features 35 lesson horses, indoor arena, 2 lighted rings, boarding available. Summer camp programs available, call for information. Fee Private lessons $140 an hour, $75 half-hour; minimum age 6.
SUFFOLK
Kayla Diaz, 18, gets her photo taken by her mom Evelyn Diaz of Nassau County just after a trail ride at Babylon Riding Center in West Babylon. Credit: Michael Owens
BABYLON RIDING CENTER, 1500 Peconic Ave., West Babylon, 631-587-7778, babylonridingcenter.com Features 45 horses, 12,000-square-foot indoor arena, 3 stadium-lighted rings, 10 round-pen turnout paddocks, heated viewing area, lounge with fireplace, camps, tack shop, leasing, boarding, sales; access to 14-mile state park bridle path; summer camp riding program.
Polo player Rob Ceparano of Medford practices at Country Farms Equestrian Center in Medford. Credit: Jim McIsaac
COUNTRY FARMS EQUESTRIAN CENTER, 200 Bellport Ave., Medford, 631-345-9585, country-farms.com Features 14 acres, full-service equestrian facility, riding lessons and polo lessons all year. Children’s summer camp July-Aug.
DDR FARM, 412 Sweet Hollow Rd., Melville, 631-616-9656, ddrfarm.com Farm within the 1,000-acre West Hills County Park offers hourlong trail rides for ages 8 and up by appointment, private and group lessons, boarding and summer/school break camp
Riders access the beach by following a system of trails through Montauk County Park. Credit: John Paraskevas
DEEP HOLLOW RANCH, Montauk County Park, Montauk Highway, Montauk, 631-668-2744, deephollowranch.com Features Site of the nation’s oldest cattle ranch, 50 horses, trail and pony rides only, trail rides on beach and through 4,000 acres in Montauk County Park, beach and trail rides. reservations recommended. Riding lessons, boarding, training.
DIAMOND HEDGE, 95 Washington Ave., Holtsville, 631-948-0090 Features Beginner-through-advanced lessons, boarding.
EAST END STABLES, Oakview Highway, East Hampton, 631-324-9578 Features 45 horses, indoor arena, boarding, summer camp. Fee Private lessons, $115 an hour, $85 half-hour; $100 an hour for 2 people; group $85 semiprivate; minimum age 3.
GOOD SHEPHERD FARM, German Boulevard, Yaphank, 631-924-4670, goodshepherdfarm.org Features 8 horses, cross-country course, boarding, summer programs, horse shows, lessons. Interscholastic Equestrian Association teams. Fee Private lessons $90 an hour, $50 half-hour; group rate $40 an hour; minimum age 5.
GREAT STRIDES LONG ISLAND, 41 Coram Swezeytown Rd., Middle Island, greatstridesli.org, 631-786-9708 Features Private and semiprivate lessons. Weeklong summer programs and other specialty group programs, birthday parties. Veterans’ program. Certified therapeutic riding instructors. Heated indoor arena, 3 outdoor rings.
A rider circles one of the barrels while spectators look on during a barrel racing competition at Hidden Pond Stables in Manorville. Credit: Daniel Brennan
HIDDEN POND STABLES, 197 North St., Manorville, 631-369-8325, hiddenpondstableli.com Features 35-acre complete equine facility, 25 paddocks, 2 lighted arenas, 2 hunt courses, a cross-country course, ½-mile exercise track, 4 indoor wash stalls with hot water; 2 round pens and summer pony camp for children, pony rides, lessons for beginners to expert, Girl Scout and Boy Scouts welcome, birthday parties. Middle school and high school IEA team.
ISLAND HILLS STABLE, 26 Rocky Point Rd., Middle Island, 631-924-4046, islandhillsstable.com Features Lessons, boarding, pony camp, birthday parties; horse safety and horse care classes for new riders; indoor and outdoor facilities; U.S. Equestrian Federation-rated horse show series in the spring; indoor arena and 3 outdoor, lighted riding rings; grandstand area; lounge. Fee Private, semiprivate and group lessons; 30- and 60-minutes sessions; classes available 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m. daily, rain or shine.
ISLIP HORSEMEN’S ASSOCIATION MOUNTED DRILL TEAM THE SPIRIT OF LONG ISLAND, East Islip, 631-445-4754, isliphorsemensassociation.com Features Coed riding group performs precision riding to patriotic music, all ages welcome, must have own mount, membership fee includes uniform, all riding disciplines, performs at parades, fairs, competitions, demonstrations at schools, charity events, Belmont and Saratoga racetracks. Show schedule 2021: Dressage Series Dates: June 13, July 18, Aug. 22, Rain Date Oct. 10; English Series Dates: June 27, July 25, Rain date Sept. 12; Gymkhana Series Dates: June 6, Aug. 8, Rain date is Aug. 15; Jackpot Dates: May 23, June 20, Sept 26; Western Series Dates: July 11, Aug. 1, Sept. 19, Rain date is Oct. 3.
KNOLL FARM RIDING SCHOOL, 849 Suffolk Ave., Brentwood, 631-435-1880, knollfarm.com Features Easy access along LIRR routes. 17 acres, 18 school horses, 50 boarder accommodations, full board services, training lesson package, heated tack rooms, heated lounge, 20,000-square-foot indoor arena, 3 outdoor rings, 2 jumping ring, 1 flat ring, open fields.
LLOYD HARBOR EQUESTRIAN CENTER, 33 Lloyd Harbor Rd., Caumsett State Historic Park, Lloyd Harbor, 631-427-6105 Features Indoor arenas, cross-country, miles of trails.
MINIERI’S PARKVIEW RIDING CENTER, 989 Connetquot Ave., Central Islip, 631-581-9477, parkviewridingcenter.com Features 25 horses, indoor arena, lighted ring, summer camp, pony rides, trail rides. Fee Private lessons $80 an hour; $60 half-hour; semiprivate (3 people) $60 an hour; group (4 or more) $50 an hour; minimum age 5, $60 trail rides.
OLDE TOWNE EQUESTRIAN CENTER, 471 Boyle Rd., Selden, 631-513-0261 oldetowneequestriancenter.net Features 35 horses, lighted ring, summer camp, grass hunt course, 2 sand rings. Fee Private and group lessons, $85 an hour, $60 half-hour; semiprivate $70; group $60; minimum age 2.
PAL-O-MINE EQUESTRIAN, 829 Old Nichols Road, Islandia, 631-348-1389, pal-o-mine.org Features Adaptive, recreational and competitive horseback riding programs; comprehensive adaptive equine learning programs; Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Natural Horsemanship for individuals with disabilities and able-bodied students.
SAGAMORE HILL STABLES, 929 Fort Salonga Rd., Huntington, 631-549-9178, sagamorehillstables.com Features 25 acres; 40 horses, 1 indoor and 3 outdoor rings; lessons for all levels by appointment Tue.-Sat., school horses are all former show horses and compete at all local shows, as well as the Hampton Classic. Fee $70 half-hour private lesson, $650 for 10 lessons
STONY HILL STABLES, 268 Town Lane, Amagansett, 631-267-3203, stonyhillstables.com Features Stable for horseback riding and horse boarding, includes training and private lessons, summer camp.
THOMAS SCHOOL OF HORSEMANSHIP, 250 Round Swamp Rd., Melville, 631-692-6840, tshcamp.com Features Summer day camp (ages 3-15) combines complete horsemanship program with traditional day camp program, American Red Cross swimming, team sports (includes gymnastics and archery), arts (performing arts), Boy and Girl Scout badge trips, birthday parties, class trips and more; 23 acres, indoor arena, 9 rings (4 lighted), outside course, 2 pools, lessons, half leases, boarding, equine studies. Fee Birthday parties: $450 up to 14 children; $35 each additional child, with a maximum of 18; camp and ride school.
WINDWOOD FARMS, 188 Bellport Ave., Medford, 631-398-4873 Features Horse boarding, indoor arena, 2 lighted rings, hunt course. Private lessons for beginners to advanced; minimum age 4.
