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Time to Sign up for Summer Camps!

Horseback Riding Camps in the Raleigh NC Area

Believe it or not, it's already that time - with just a few more months in the 2008-2009 school year to go, plans are in place for lots of great summertime activities.

So your son or daughter wants to spend the summer near horses?  Here are some great opportunities, along with all the details!

Durham County - Horseback Riding Summer Camps

Quail Roost Farm - Rougemont

Full-day coed programs include arts & crafts, general sports/games, horseback riding, and daily swimming.  Historic 800 acre farm in Northern Durham County.  Sessions from June to August, ages 5-16.  Call 919-477-8932. 

Orange County (Chapel Hill/Carrboro/Hillsborough) - Horseback Riding Summer Camps

Blue Skies of Mapleview LLC - Hillsborough

Full-day coed programs include arts & crafts, camping, hiking, horseback riding, swimming, and horsemanship skills.  Ages 7-17, call 919-933-1444. 

Chestnut Ridge Camp & Retreat Center - Efland

Full-day coed programs include archery, arts & crafts, basketball, boating, camping, hiking, drama, sports, challenge course, horseback riding, mountain biking, soccer, and swimming.  Sessions from June 10 to Aug 21, grades K-8.  Call 919-338-2820.

Rainbow Horse Farms - Hillsborough

Full and half-day programs include arts & crafts, horseback riding, and swimming.  Sessions from June 8-Aug 28th, track out sessions also available, ages 5-14.  Call 919-620-9313. 

Spence's Farm - Chapel Hill

Full-day programs include animal care, archery, arts & crafts, camping, hiking, cooking, field trips, gardening, sports, horseback riding, and swimming.  Ages 5-14.  Call 919-968-8581. 

Wake County (Raleigh/Cary/Morrisville/Holly Springs/Wake Forest) - Horseback Riding Summer Camps

Dead Broke Horse Farm - Raleigh

Full and half day programs include horseback riding, horse care, jungle gym, swimming, and nature walks.  Ages 5 and up.  Call 919-596-8975. 

Chatham County (Pittsboro/Jordan Lake/Chapel Hill) - Horseback Riding Summer Camps

Bright Horse Farm & Art Studio - Pittsboro

Full day coed programs include horseback riding and experiental learning with horses in the morning and art and ceramics in the afternoon.  Sessions June 8 to August 28th, ages 5-12, some year round programs available.  Call 919-929-1568.

Rosewood Farm - Mebane

Full and half-day programs include horseback riding and horse related activities.  Sessions offered June through August, in beginner and intermediate levels, for ages 6-18.  Call 919-304-3276. 

Get ready to enjoy the summer and show off some new skills! 

Want more information about horses in the Raleigh area?

How to Find Land for Horses in the Triangle Area of North Carolina

Homes for Horses in Raleigh, North Carolina - an Up Close and Personal Tour of Local Chatham County Horse Boarding Farms

Hickory Downs - Equestrian Community in Chatham County  

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Honey, I would love to move, but what about the horses? Do you think they will feel comfortable in North Carolina?

While there are all kinds of horse boarding advertisements out on the wonderful worldwide web, none of it really gave me that personal, objective feeling that I want when considering long-term arrangements for my equestrian friends.  If you're considering relocation to the Raleigh area, or moving cross town, come along with me on my tour of some of the local facilities. 

Homes for Horses - Highlights of Horse Boarders in the Apex/Chatham County area of the Raleigh Triangle 

It was a beautiful day and I had a few hours so I called a friend and we drove out to see just what our Chatham County horse boarders had to offer first-hand.

What I saw raised my eyebrows, made me laugh, and gave me a good snapshot of what's really out there.

We took a drive in the outskirts of Apex, because we've heard Chatham County is popular with horse owners, many of whom are enjoying the country life near Pittsboro, NC. 

The first place was beautiful! Buckhorn Farms is sprawled out on what looks to be hundreds of acres, but is probably smaller than that. We pulled the car onto a gravel parking area off Richardson Road (not too far from the intersection of Hwys 64 and 751) and I hopped out to see if I could rustle up the owner of the ranch. Without knowing too much about horses myself, I was anxious to learn the business and ask a few questions about pricing and services.

After 5 minutes of poking around, a group of friendly ranch-hands trickled into the huge indoor stable. They had just come back from haying the guests and were obviously looking for the owner as well.

After rapping on the upper level of the in-stable office, the tallest ranch-hand gave us a twinkly smile and headed out to go clean his boots. the owner popped her head out on a 2nd floor catwalk and said "Who's that smoking?" If anyone's smoking a cigarette in the barn, I'm gonna shoot ‘em."  The ranch-hands smiled and the culprit outside the barn door put out his cigarette. They joked around for a second before she noticed us. It's good to know that no horses at Buckhorn Farms in Apex will be feeling the effects of second-hand carcinogens.

"I usually don't threaten to shoot people." She smiled. "How can I help you folks?" I asked a few questions and although she had to leave to deliver a couple of horses, she was very cordial and promised to answer all of them properly if I could return another time.

We showed ourselves around a bit more and snapped photos of some beautiful animals who looked quite pampered.  Everything was clean and neat, Feeding bins were full and the property was beautiful.

It a pleasant start to our trip and a tough show to follow, especially for the next place.  We talked to someone over the phone at Farrington Woods Farm, but weren't able to find anyone to show us around once we got there. 

Rates are $500 per month, and the small glimpse we got didn't feel as polished.  I would probably only give it a second look if the other horse boarders were full.

Which ironically is what we ran into with the next boarder we visited.

Morgan Manor Farm is actually a charming farmhouse with fenced donkeys and horses, paved turnabout 1-lane driveways and a huge smoker out back adding a fantastic country scent to the fresh air.  

A knowledgeable young lady answered the door and we chatted for a moment about her boarding services. At $250 per horse/month and only 4 spots opened for boarders, it was no wonder she was full.

They keep 4 of their own horses alongside the guests and bring them in for the winter pack-snows. I learned that different kinds of snows impact the horses differently. The snow that packs, collects quickly in their hoofs making it hard for them to walk and the boarders bring them into the stables. The $250 also pays for food, and for such a good deal, it's amazing people aren't trying to scare off their current boarders to open up a spot. But then I noticed the muscle car in the garage with county sheriff paint and cop-lights ready to go. Those are probably the 8 safest horses in the county.

I asked about more small-time boarders, but the manager didn't know of any offhand and recommended me to a large ranch off hwy 79.  Maybe I'll save that for another trip...when I actually have a horse to board.

Here is full contact information for a variety of horse boarders in the west Raleigh/Chatham County area, convenient for folks living near Jordan Lake, Pittsboro, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Apex, and Raleigh.  With such beautiful country for horses (and their owners) to live, there are more options than I can list here!

Morgan Manor Farm 2092 Marthas Chapel Rd Apex, NC 919-362-6964 http://morganmanorfarm.com/ $250/month, feed only, snow packed hooves Full at this point, 8 horse limit

Farrington Woods Farm 3171 Farrington Rd Apex 919-362-9771 http://farringtonwoodsfarm.com/ $500/month, feed only

Buckhorn Farms 2301 Richardson Rd Apex 919-387-0097 Very pretty sight, many fenced areas, 30+ horses currently

Inverness Farms 1000 Hatley Rd Pittsboro, NC 919-929-9565 http://www.invernessfarms.com/

This map of the area pinpoints the horse boarding farms that we highlighted today. 

 
View Larger Map

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