Painted Bar Stables — Local services in Town of Hector

Painted Bar is probably the best overall horse experience I have come across yet, & I have ridden in Ireland, Scotland, across the US, as well as Iceland. I wish they were not 4.5 hours away! If they were even within 2 hours they would be my local/regular barn. The knowledge they have & that they impart to their clients, as well as the care they take with their horses, is unparalleled. I love the active learning that accompanies everything I have done with them, both on and off the horse. The way they treat people is also another big factor for me, as just because people are good with horses doesn't always mean that they are respectful of the humans. They do not offer platitudes - they educate & correct when needed, but also respect & appreciate their clients.

I first encountered them a good few years ago when in the Finger Lakes Region & looking to do a trail ride, & was so impressed with their online intake form where they really take everything into account to match you with the best horse for your ability to ensure a safe and pleasant experience for both horses and riders. I joked to my partner that they knew more about me than she did 😂 I then re-encountered them when looking for an adult riding camp, which I went to for the first time in 2023 & absolutely loved! I returned to their camp in 2025, & joined them on one of their Otter Creek adventures in 2024 & again 2025 - I'm only just back (hoping for more cantering opportunities next time 🤞It's my only chance to do so for more than a half or full lap of the ring at my local lesson barn) and already looking towards next year. The opportunity to participate in a variety of Games in the arena that really challenge you, & also my intro to bareback, are experiences I really cannot get anywhere else, and I absolutely trust them and their horses to keep me safe. I also drove up around New Year's last year for a solo 3 days of riding w my favourite girl Aspen ❤ I tried to do something with them at least once if not twice a year. I think an endurance Camp will be in my future, as I have so much to learn from them. They are that good - it makes the...

Friendly staff, beautiful horses, nice trails, but average and short ride. I liked that they ask a lot of details about your prior experience and requests for new experience. I had booked a 1 hour evening trail ride. On the early morning of, I was notified via email that my ride had been rescheduled to 1 hour earlier. Then just under 2 hrs later, I received a text asking me if I could move the appointment because of a guide availability change, which is understandable. I expressed that I was not pleased that I received a notice of change on the day of. Being that I live over 250 miles away and I have my dogs with me on vacation, it was difficult for me to make adjustments. For my 1 hour ride, we went over safety (which I expected) for 15 minutes, then rode for 30 minutes (with the horses drinking water for 5 minutes), took pictures with the horse, moved the horse back into the stables, and had more small talk, for a total of 15 minutes. So, the "1 hour ride" was literally 1 half hour. For the 5-star rating that I had seen on Google reviews, I had higher hopes and expectations, but I was overall left with a feeling that the service was just "okay". I believe that the actual ride should be longer, which is what you pay for. Nice place, but slight...

Husband and I booked a ride experience visiting town for a few days. Important to note that we’re both beginners since it’s my husband’s second time riding (first time was 3 years prior) and I rode 3-4 times before this. We just wanted something physical and fun to do outside. We were surprisingly impressed with how technical and fun the lessons were. From the beginning, we felt immediately that our safety was a priority with instructions on helmets and the DOs and Donts. The ride was fun and Alissa our instructor even split us off from the group for a little trotting time. Teddy my horse was such a well behaved and beautiful guy, and Alissa made sure we were comfortable before every turns and knew what to do before going downhill and up hill. Highly recommended! One note to point out was we went while they’re under construction, and had to turn around for the entrance right out front. Things may look a little messy but trust that they know what they’re doing with the lessons...