Equestrian Center at Shenandoah Crossing
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Description
We are an equestrian facility that offers trail riding, horse drawn carriage rides, pony rides and more. The farm is home to friendly barnyard animals, and the backdrop of rolling hills is complemented throughout the year by seasonal flowers. Membership is not required, but reservations are! Non-members should call (540) 832-9571 to book through staff.
Reviews
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The staff did a great job while we were there for our horse and buggy ride and our horse trail ride. We had a great time learning about some of the history of the resort and seeing the beautiful grounds. Definitely a must do if your going to visit the resort.
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Amazing for families
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Absolutely loved it...
the beautiful horses...
And the extra cuteness with all the other animals around.
The staff, was very nice too -
The staff is knowledgeable, the horses are well taken care of. The trail is present to ride. It's not too expensive.
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We love riding here! Such a beautiful resort with tons of smiling faces!
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There were several problems I witnessed during this riding experience. You are asked to arrive thirty minutes prior to your appointment time. Upon arrival, all the horses were tied to fence posts with no tack (riding gear) on. They checked us in and provided helmets, but by the time that was done, not all of the horses were ready and still needed to be tacked up. At this point, it was already past our scheduled start time, taking away from the 90-minute ride. While waiting, several horses broke free from where they were tied and wandered around a non-fenced area. The staff didn’t notice until the horses had been loose for a while. Once the horses were finally ready, they went over a brief orientation and assigned us our mounts. I was the first to get on. Shockingly, they had me mount my horse while it was still tied to the fence. For anyone unfamiliar with horses, that is extremely dangerous. Another rider next to me was also asked to mount while the horse was tied. When the third rider mounted, her horse pulled back so hard it broke free, lost its balance, and fell backward on top of her. The horse got up and walked away, but the rider was left on the ground, curled up in pain and sobbing. The person in charge came out of the office and asked the woman—who could barely speak—if she wanted her to call 911. Even if the rider didn’t have any sever injuries, given how severe that fall was, staff should have immediately called for an ambulance to have her checked. Even as this unfolded, the other workers did not have us dismount, move out of the way, or put the horses back in the pasture to make room for emergency responders. Instead, they continued acting as if this was routine, proceeding to mount more riders while the horses remained tied. We were not given the option to stop the ride or dismount, and they rushed us onto the trail—likely so we wouldn’t witness the ambulance arriving. During the ride, our guide’s horse was acting up, and she had trouble controlling it. She eventually had to switch horses and, while waiting, admitted to another worker that all the horses had been misbehaving that morning and were difficult to handle when pulled from the field. If they knew the horses were acting up, why use them for trail rides? Our guide also had a negative attitude throughout the experience, which made it clear she didn’t want to be there (and honestly, given the horses’ behavior, I can’t blame her). The ride itself was stressful. Swarms of horseflies attacked the horses. While that isn’t the facility’s fault, it added more anxiety because we were constantly worried about the horses reacting to the bites. As an experienced rider, I was able to manage my horse, but most of the others were beginners who struggled since they weren’t given clear instructions on how to use the reins. I spent the entire ride tense and on edge. After the ride, one of the participants asked the staff about the injured rider, and they casually brushed it off, saying her leg was “a little hurt.” I understand they didn’t want to alarm anyone, but as someone with lifelong horse experience, I can say with confidence her injuries were likely much worse. I saw the saddle horn driven into her chest under the full weight of a horse, easily 1,000 pounds. Most people in accidents like that don’t walk away unharmed. I sincerely pray she is okay. That accident could have been 100% avoided if they had not required riders to mount while the horses were tied. The facility needs to seriously reevaluate its practices and put safety first.
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Instructors were very clear and friendly
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87 Lunker Lane, Gordonsville, VA 22942 — Get Directions