When we found out that horseback riding would be available to us at 2018’s TBEX in New York’s Finger Lakes region I, for one, lost my mind. Even better, as I started researching Watkins Glen and Seneca Lake horseback riding, I found that Painted Bar Stables, the partner we’d have the pleasure of working with, is perhaps THE premier (and best reviewed) stable in the area.
Boyfriend Perspective: I, for one, did not lose my mind. Horseback riding kills my knees, so I defer to Meagan on this one. She did end up with a selfie-taking horse, though, so that’s pretty cool.
To Luke’s point, as a couple who travels together, we do 90% of everything together on the road. But it’s also useful to note that, because we have vastly different interests sometimes, we do occasionally follow our passions separately when we travel. In this case, horseback riding is my travel passion. So below you’ll find my wonderful, Luke-less interaction and experience with Painted Bar Stables, in Burdett, NY.
Well-treated horses, amazing staff, and beautiful scenery: Painted Bar Stables offers the perfect Seneca Lake horseback riding
One of the first things we look for when participating in any tourist activity involving animals is the treatment of those animals: do they live in excellent conditions? Are they treated ethically? Are tourists also encouraged to treat them ethically? In this case, the answer to all these questions is a resounding YES. Erika, the owner of Painted Bar, clearly loves each and every one of her horses. She knows their personalities, and advocates for them. In fact, her entire talk before each ride begins revolves around the right way to treat and communicate with horses. And speaking of horses, all 14 horses we saw have bright, shiny coats and both look and behave healthy and strong.
While Painted Bar has been around for awhile, Erika Eckstrom acquired the stable and surrounding farmland in 2008. While Erika stuck near the middle of the herd on our ride, the lead guide talked with us about the revitalized community and business Erika has built in the last 10 years. She said she’s worked with horses for much of her life, but is beyond proud to be a part of Erika’s community, which says a lot. Erika has also worked hard to revitalize the farmland associated with Painted Bar, and to create a symbiotic relationship with other community partners. To ride here is to feel part of something.
Offering everything from riding lessons, to one hour beginner trail rides to more advanced rides to overnight pack trips, Painted Bar has something for every level of rider.
Our fabulous back country trail ride with Painted Bar Stables
When we walked into the barn, the ponies for our ride were all lined up, dressed, and tethered against the walls. A room full of horses? Count me IN.
Erika gathered us around gave us a quick’n’dirty rundown of all the things to expect on our ride, and how we should communicate with our horses. “Quick’n’dirty,” because she can provide the highly entertaining and informative PG-13 version, or a more conservative version of her rundown. It all depends on her audience. (I recommend the PG-13 one!) She covered everything from the way we should handle our reins to how the horses can perceive our head movements and direction.
Then, she paired us off with our ponies. As she chatted with us about our horsey experience, I told her I was confident but not cocky, and her response was “I know. I’ve got you.” 😲 She immediately paired me off with Panda. He’s a stunning Appaloosa gelding she described as a big goober who can be a bit of a showboater and shit-disturber. As we came to see, Erika is never wrong, guys. It appears that, if you can read horses, you can read people, too.
After everyone was paired off, we untied and led our partners outside to one of the training rings for final gear checks and mounting. Then, off we went, on a relatively gentle trail crossing Erika’s farmland and into the nearby woods. We got lessons in traversing steep uphills and downhills and in crossing water. We also learned to remind our horses not to push us as riders into prickly bushes and trees, which is easier said than done when some of our hooved friends got picky about stepping in mud 🙄 A couple of the horses decided to act a little dramatic by booping and spooking each other, but Erika always seemed to teleport to anyone who needed her. More than one of our group’s riders expressed a fear of horses, and Erika walked each of them through their uneasiness. By the time we left, everyone was all smiles, thanking our guides and Erika for all their help and hard work.
Would we ride with Painted Bar again?
Abso-frickin’-lutely. In fact, we’re putting together a return trip to the Finger Lakes very soon. Spoiler: I’m already planning another ride with Erika and her amazing staff!
Practical information for your Seneca Lake horseback riding trip with Painted Bar Stables
- Address: 4093 Lake St., Burdett, NY 14818
- Website: http://www.paintedbarstables.com
- Hours: Rides are by appointment only
- What should I wear on my ride?
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- At minimum, choose close-toed shoes. Best to wear boots with ankle support and a slight heel.
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- Easy-to-clean, sturdy pants. I chose Royal Robbins water resistant technical pants. NO REGRETS. They didn’t pick when Panda ran me into a stand of brambles, and the horse dust brushed right off. As did his spit when he decided to nibble me. Baughty.
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- A top to match the weather. For the tail end of fall, I chose a Lucky Brand flannel shirt with a tank underneath. Worn unbuttoned and with rolled up sleeves, it was perfect.
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