Horseback Trail Rides

About: Enjoy a relaxing guided horseback ride through one of Lancaster County’s hidden treasures—the Ironstone Ranch at Stone Gables Estate. You and your horse will travel through shady forest trails and trek across open pastures. Trails may pass through the iconic Star Barn Village, ride over the original railroad bed where Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train and the Liberty Bell once traversed, or pass the fully restored Herr’s Mill Covered Bridge on your peaceful journey over 275 acres of forests & fields.

Trail experience may not be the same every time due to Estate events.

Rates: Monday-Friday $69/rider, Saturday $79/rider

Riders must be 8 years or older and weigh less than 225lbs.

Date Night Trail Rides $179.00 per couple Monday-Friday 5:30p.m. - 6:30 p.m. (call to book)

Saddle Club 2023 - August 8th & 10th. $150/child. 9:00am - 12:00pm

Available Times:

Monday through Saturday

10:00 am, 11:30 am, 2:00 pm, 3:30 pm

Date Night Trail Rides Monday-Friday 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. (Please call to book Date Night Trail Ride bookings) This experience typically takes 60 min and includes a safety briefing and mounting.

What to Wear: Long Pants, Closed-Toed Shoes, Weather Appropriate Attire

Check-In Information: Please arrive promptly 20 minutes before your ride's start time to check in. Detailed directions will be included in your confirmation email.

General Rules: When riding, we require all guests to wear closed-toe shoes. Boots & sneakers are fine. We do not allow flip-flops, sandals, or other open-toed shoes.

We only walk our horses through the 275 acres of wooded farmland on the ranch. For your own safety and the safety of the horses, we do not trot or gallop through the trails.

Tips are appreciated by your trail guides.

No experience is necessary. However, children must be 8 years or older.

Let us know in advance if there are any riders with special needs.

Helmets are required for anyone under 18 years old. Adults may choose to wear a helmet if they want. We offer sizes: S, M, and L

Our maximum weight limit is 225 pounds. Larger horses are used for riders who weigh between 180-225. We suggest long pants for comfort and protection from bushes & thorns. However, shorts or capris are allowed. Because we are also an events venue, trail riding guests are requested to stay around the Hitching Post or restroom area and not walk around the property. (There might be private events going on.)

Even though pre-scheduled trail rides are available on Mondays, please note that the office is closed. Sunday and Monday phone messages will be responded to on Tuesday.

We still ride when there are spotty or light showers, so come prepared with appropriate gear. However, we will call you to reschedule if the rain is heavy, continuous, or stormy.

Arrive 20 minutes early. This will allow time for signing waivers, restroom breaks, etc. Also, this gives our trail guide time to start our demonstration.

We do have a supply of Ironstone Ranch t-shirts & hoodies that we sell. We also sell water bottles.

Rescheduling / Cancellation: Please carefully read our cancellation policy: (This cancellation policy has been created because our trail rides are very desired and fill quickly. We do have to turn other guests away that would have wanted to ride.)

Phone call messages will be returned within 24 hours. We can’t always call you right back since our staff is out doing trail rides or caring for the property animals. (Please remember that our office is closed on Sundays and Mondays.)

Cancellations made 4 days or more in advance of the trail ride will receive a 100% refund.

Cancellations made within 2-3 days will receive a 70% refund.

Cancellations made within 24 hours will receive a 50% refund.

If a rider shows up on the day of the ride and chooses not to ride, a 50% refund will be processed for that rider.

If a rider shows up and is clearly not within the weight restriction or seems unfit to ride, a 50% refund will be processed. This is for the safety of our riders and horses.

If you show up for your ride with fewer riders, a 50% refund will be processed for the rider(s) who did not show up.

If a rider shows up wearing open-toed shoes, they will not be able to ride and you will receive a 50% refund.

If you arrive late and the trail ride has to start without you, a 50% refund will be processed for your group. This is because we need to keep our rides on schedule for the rest of the day and to keep our other guests happy.

If we contact you to cancel the ride because of severe weather or circumstances out of our control, you will receive a 100% refund.

Since our office is closed on Sundays & Mondays, and if you need to cancel for the upcoming Monday, please email tracey@stonegablesestate.com as soon as possible to cancel.

Stone Gables Estate will initiate the refund within 48 hours of cancellation. Financial institutions may take several additional days to complete the process.