Deer Run Stables, Richmond

Anyone that says they do not like this place is crazy!! I had the best experience and the people were so nice!! I can't wait to go back. I would recommend deer run stables to everyone!!!

My son, 11years old, and I rode with a good-sized group. In the group were four other kids about his age. I could not believe how well those kids rode. My son had no experience on horseback, and I don't think the other kids did, either. But, the entire ride was a very stress-free, controlled experience. The training those horses have received has to be top-notch. The staff was helpful, although once we got on our horses, I don't think anyone needed any help. The only problem is that now my son wants a horse. I will definitely go back to this place.

i have been at deer run stables for 11 years , since i was 6 years old . i love the owner , i love the people who work there (other then me) , i love the other boarders . i dont care what you say about deer run stables , its a great riding place , and a great place to bring your family if you want a great interesting trail . the trails are great and buitiful . theres no other place like it . summer camps great , all the kids love it . theres a horse for everybody here , and no trails ever boring . your'll get your money worth here. no dought about it . i own a horse there and i board her there , i wouldnt wanna take her any were else . so all you haters out there thats dissin' deer run stables needs to put a sock in it , cause its great and buuitiful and a wonderful social place . and yes our workers get kinda angry and upset when people just show up cause we are not perpared . but just call us and we'll be more then glad to take you and your family , friends whoever on the greatest trail of your life . My name is Randi Woosley and i adore deer run stables . and the boss jona ryan . and every boarder there . there my family and i dont know what i would do with any of them . deer run is one of the most interesting , peaceful , loving place , so everybody bring there family's to deer run stables , i promise you wont be let down .

I have been going to this place for about 4 years now. I board 2 horses at the farm, and I am truly proud of it. To say the least. I love the staff, all of them have become great friends of mine. The trails are absolutely beautiful and just challenging enough for any rider to have fun. Sure, the trails can go out a little late, but I know that most people do not schedule, they just show up randomly. The staff is very friendly and very helpful when it comes to riding on the trail. If you choose to go, I can tell you that you will have a relaxed, safe, and enjoyable day with the most beautiful creatures put on this earth, horses.

Wow, there are some heated negative comments in these reviews. I have a suspicion that some of them might be from disgruntled employees who were let go by this stable for cause or by persons who boarded their horse at the stable who were preturbed over being asked to leave due to nonpayment of boarding fees. Some of the comments seem too angry. It is hard for me to imagine they are from a one time customer experience. That is just my opinion. No way to tell about that. Anyway, I thought I'd put my opinion in with everyone else's. I am regular trail rider at Deer Run. I highly recommend it to my friends and business associates. My guess is that you won't like it if you are a Type A Personality because this place runs on relaxed Southern time (This is rural Kentucky, not New York City. THe owner is a Texas girl and she doesen't run on New York City time either) which means, very often, if they say 2 PM you might actually ride out at 2:45 PM. I tell people to take a picnic snack and take it easy in case there is the usual wait. Enjoy yourself, instead of getting all worked up into a dither. After all you are out here to relax. So relax and chill. The trails meander over some of the most beautiful countryside I've ever seen. You may ride through a 50 year old deserted barn, a field, forests, an antebellum cemetery, a beautiful miniature palisade walled tributary stream that eventually goes to the Kentucky River, or past a deserted cabin. In the summer there are wonderful activities for children of a span of ages. I am old and my daughter is on her own as an skyscraper architect in downtown Chicago. She loves to ride at Deer Run when she comes back to Kentucky. If you have little ones and you are not a obsessive compulsive Type A person, this place I can highly recommend for your children. I trained as a child psychiatrist and we need to get kids away from the computers and outdoors. Do you know there is an epidemic of low Vitamin D (the "sunshine vitamin") in children? They need to get outside. They need to interact with other kids and animals and nature. At least that's my opinion. The Texan manager Jona Ryan is not a Type A by any means except when it comes to the safety of the kids at horse camp and adult trail riders and the well-being and health of the horses. She is a veritable horse whisperer. She is trained in the Parelli method of trainng horses, and like me, shares a Cherokee ancestory. She can do amazing things with horses. You won't see this on just a single visit. But over time, you will. So, if you need to saddle up and wind down, this is a super place to go. If you are an up-tight, compulsively over urgent about time sort of person, you won't be happy here in my opinion and had better go to a football or basket ball game instead where there are time keepers to keep everything right on scedule like shot clocks and such. Patients are always asking me, "How do you as a pschiatrist stand listening to all this stuff every day?" For me, trail riding is a therapy that lets my mind empty out. All my worries and concerns I have as a physicain usually vanish for the hour or so I'm on my horse. It must show. It isn't for everybody, but I think it works well the rest of us.

When we arrived at Deer Run, 2 teeanage girls who work there met us at the door. They looked at me like I had 2 heads when I said we were there for the 12:30 trail ride. When 2 other customers drove in, one of the employees said, dripping with sarcasm, and I quote, Of great. Let's see what these 2 lovely people want." ???!!!!! The owner returned, and we were put on horses only to sit there for 20 minutes. Finally she told us we were waiting for 2 more people. Evidently, the little girl in the late arriving party needed the horse I was on. I had to switch horses after sitting on that one for 20 minutes! I'm 4"11" and had to stand on a picnic table to get on the biggest horse I've ever seen. The owner and Miss Attitude were adjusting my stirrups. The owner had no problem getting her side adequately adjusted. Miss Attitude, however, insisted her side could not be adjusted any further. Her solution was to twist the stirrup and put my foot in it. We had to stop the entire group FOUR TIMES because the "twisted" stirrup wouldn't stay twisted, so it kept coming off my foot. Miss Attitude was very rude and clearly annoyed every time I had to tell her about it. Hmmm. Maybe if she hadn't been so stubborn & had adjusted it properly, we wouldn't have had to stop so often. Then there was the incident where my 11-yr-old daughter's stirrup came off. I don't mean off her foot. I mean the stirrup fell on the ground! They found the stirrup on the trail but not the piece that holds the stirrup on the tack! The rest of the ride was very scary for her. My daughter told me after we left that she observed the fact that bits were not used. Basically, that means I really had very little control of my horse when she spooked and went up into the woods. I pulled with all I had & thankfully was able to get her settled down quickly. During the ride, one of the girls became annoyed with Jona (the owner) and went on a rant. Jona was out of earshot, but my daughter and I heard the F-bomb that the girl dropped. So much for a family-friendly place to take my children. There was one nice girl who helped me for the last time with my stirrup. The reason it was the last time was because she actually looked to see if it could be adjusted more. It could and she did. We are looking for a place for my daughter to take lessons which is why we went to Deer Run. Obviously, we will not go back for a trail ride or lessons. The owner must not care about the horses. I say that because I emailed her my concerns as soon as we got home, and she never replied. Don't go - dangerous and unpleasant!

As a home-school family, we thought that this place would be great. Although, we scheduled in advance for lessons with other home-schoolers, the owner was ALWAYS LATE AND WOULD FORGET OUR LESSONS EVER WEEK. One time we came and the gate was locked. After 15 minutes we were finally able to begin. The kids were taught some but, she was always busy with her horse woody and the children were left out in the cold. She never made up the time they missed every week. Plus, she never had the help that was needed for even our small group. This was a waste and I would not recommend to others.

I went on a trail ride there and the owner was one of the friendliest people I have met. All the staff was really nice and helped me feel comfortable since it was my frist time riding. The trails were beautiful and I will defintely be going back.

Well to start off when i arrived to go on a trail ride, the manager of the joint keep me waiting for an awful long time. I dont know what she could of been doing that was so important to keep standing there after she made me the appointment. The horses were all boring and the trail leaders didnt really seem to know what they were doing. Ive been to several other riding stables and they gave me a real experience. The manager does not deserve to where a cowgirl hat because she is the farthest thing from it! P.S. What was the deal with that fat ugly horse named woody.

I have boarded my horse at several locations and this is the best place. He loves it there and so do I. The owners really care about all the horses and provide a family oriented atmosphere. Thank you for being there!