Most children love cats or dogs, right? There is a much higher chance of them being able to own or interact with a cat or dog, than most other animals. What if they had the opportunity to interact (and ride) a horse? You would think that they would love that, right? Well my kids sure do. We were introduced to Miss Lark Campisano, and she was such a pleasure to chat with! She told me what she and her husband Ray Simpson offer, before we scheduled a time to head to her farm for private horseback riding lessons for the kiddos.
On the drive to the farm, I was explaining to the kids the reason behind what outfits they were wearing. I explained that they were wearing long, non-slip pants, without an inner seam, so that it would be more comfortable for them when sitting on the saddle. I told them they were wearing boots because they should always wear close-toed shoes when riding, for safety purposes. They saw that I had brought their bike helmets, and wondered why. Well, I explained that just like riding a bike, they'll need to wear a helmet when riding a horse. We need to protect our heads/brains, and we can very easily be hurt by accident. Horses are huge animals and even stepping on their toes would probably break them.
The drive is beautiful, in North Fort Myers, with lots of nature and more acreage than you normally see in the busier parts of Fort Myers. You get to Matt Road, and it turns to a dirt road -- not your typically dirt road, but actually very settled rocks that don't kick up as much dust as you'd think. Matt Road is a little longer, winding through nature and large properties, with a few bumps in the road. If you drive slowly, it's actually pretty fun!
When you get close to the end of the road, you come up her gate on the left, with an "Endless Trails Stables" sign on it. We opened the gate, drove in, and closed it back up (so that the horses couldn't escape, of course). We drove down about a half mile to the house/parking area. Immediately, we see Lark and Ray's super-friendly dog, Lucy. She is an older gal with lots of soft brown fur, and she loves being petted and rolling in the dirt!
Next to the house and parking area, there is a smaller stable, built for the smaller horses! Here we met Misty and Majik. Misty and Majik are bottle miniature horses / ponies, and they are a mother daughter duo! Misty is the mama, who is super friendly and can do some tricks. She goes to hospitals, and can even ride in elevators comfortably. Majik is her daughter, and is a bit more ornery than her mama; she likes to nibble! She also knows quite a few tricks. They had nice braids in their hair and even some rainbow colored die -- which my kids found so amazing, of course.
We walked with Lark (with Lucy trailing behind), towards the back of the house, where the larger stables were. Here, there were several horses housed, with tall ceilings and fans blowing in each stall. All of the horses looked well cared for were very curious. Miss Lark introduced us to the horses, then brought out Jules, the white Arabian trick horse.
She tied Jules to the cross-tie, and explained what exactly it was used for, to the kids. She explained right away that we never want to walk right behind a horse's rear, as they could get spooked, and you could get hurt! Then, she grabbed a couple of brushes and showed the kids how to properly brush the horse. After about five minutes of brushing, she brought out the other gear, and began to explain each piece to the kids. She first brought out the bridle and reins, and showed the kids how to place it over the horse's head/ears. She explained that she uses one without a bit, so that it is more comfortable for the horse -- after all, who would like a metal bar stuck between their teeth? Then, she showed the the saddle pad, and explained that it helps keep the horse comfy when the saddle is on. She showed them the girth, saddle, stirrups, and more.
Now that the kids understood all of the components to riding, it was time to ride! Helmet time! My son (four years old and about 42 lbs) was up first. Lark walked Jules over to the step stools, and I helped my son get on the horse from there. Obviously, since my son is so small, his legs couldn't reach the stirrups, but we showed him how to hold on to the saddle and hang on by "hugging the horse with his legs." Before they started to move, she explained how to "move" the horse with the reins. She showed him how to pull on the right side of the reins to turn right, left to go left, and back to stop.
After learning the basics of "driving" his horse, they were off! She walked Jules on a lead, while coaching my son to turn the horse around the farm and trail areas. They spent about thirty minutes together for his lesson, and it was my daughter's turn next! It was the same routine - helmet first, step onto step stool, help climbing on to Jules, then instructions. Next thing you know, they were off! Her lesson was a little longer (about an hour), so they got to walk down the long driveway and back.
While Lark took my daughter around, my son and I kept busy by taking our own little walk around the farm. He is easily entertained by nature - animals, bugs, lizards, sticks, you name it. We collected some sticks, looked at the other horses in the stables, chased a lizard into the tree, petted Lucy, and visited the mini horse stable.
After the lessons ended, Lark explained to the kids how to remove the saddle and equipment, while tied to the cross-tie. Then, she came out with some horse treats. She first showed the kids some of the tricks that he knew, and then she showed them how to safely feed the treats to Jules, with a flat hand. Their first lessons were complete!
On the drive back, the kids couldn't stop saying how fun it was to learn about the horses and equipment, and to actually ride the "big" horse for a "long time!" When we got home, my hubby asked if they liked the lessons. My daughter's response was that she liked it "TOO MUCH!" Their smiles made my day, and I could tell this was a fantastic experience for them. They are so excited to go to next week's lesson!
About Endless Trails Stables
Lark Campisano and her husband Ray Simpson have been working with horses for decades. They started Endless Trails Stables back in 2000 to provide good entertainment via ponies and horses for families and events in the area. Their stable is located on three acres in North Fort Myers.
They offer horseback riding lessons to children, veterans, those with disabilities, everyone! Lessons are generally $40 for a one hour private session. Lessons are tailored to the customer, but often include brushing the horse, learning a bit about them, learning about the tack/equipment, and learning how to ride!
You can have your next birthday party at the farm, with tables and entertainment provided! All you need to do is bring the food and guests. Prices start at $175, and final price depends on where the party will be hosted, how many children, and one or two horses.
Horse boarding is also offered, and the pricing depends on various factors, such as whether feed is provided or not, and more.
They have several horses: two white Arabians (Echo and Jules), several thoroughbreds (Chubbs, Tommy, etc), and two therapy mini horses (Misty and Majik).
Their therapy ponies travel to hospitals and nursing homes, and events at Bell Tower Shops, Miramar, and Fisherman's Village! Recently, they took their mini horse, Misty, on a stroll downtown. She got lots of loving, created so many smiles, and tried to share her mom's margarita!
For the advanced adult rider, they can take you on a trail ride in the park behind their property. They do not provide trail rides to children due to safety and liability reasons. However, they provide horseback riding lessons and pony rides to all!
I was provided with complimentary horse back riding lessons for my children, for the purpose of this review. All opinions stated are my own.
