Blue Meadow Farm offers horse boarding, riding lessons, and seasonal pick-your-own blueberries. All…read morethree are done with great professionalism and welcoming spirit. For the horse boarding -- the barn is well-designed and the staff pays attention to details. The horses are the priority, and the stalls are clean and well-sized. The riding instructors are excellent -- they each have their own approach, so you might want to try lessons with different people depending on your goals. Riders range from tiny kids to retirement-age. One note ... You might notice a lot of "evidence of birds" on the barn walls - but this is because sparrows are welcomed as a natural insect control method during the summer. The blueberries are delicious and usually abundant. Like any pick-your-own experience -- you will get to see the fruit in all its shapes and sizes, not just the prime examples that are packed for store sale. Even if a berry is a little bit marbled in color or small, it is still tasty.

An absolutely fabulous spot for family blueberry picking! Being from central mass, and meeting…read morepeople from Boston meant we had to find a midway farm and the blue meadow didn't disappoint! On the MA Upik site, it says no kids under 6 years old. This is OLD INFORMATION. (The current owners parents had nets hung that kids used to pull on / parents wouldn't pay attention). However, there are no more nets and no more age restrictions! I called ahead to make sure the 2-yr old picker with us would be welcome- and he was! The Entrance is marked with a homemade Upik sign To distinguish it from the driveway entrance to the horseback riding and stables. When you arrive you're greeted by a small tent where you pick up red buckets fashioned with a string (for convenient around the neck holding and double-fisted berry picking, of course!) Berries are measured by the quart. Notches have been made in the bucket to display the volume picked. They approximate how much you have picked to take home up to the half quart. Blueberries are $4.50 a quart (a steal, most places are $5.70-$6 from why I've seen. I have surmised that this is because the patch sits adjacent to the horseback riding farm part of the property otherwise present.). These prices of course only include the berries to take home, not the ones to be smacked on while picking - as we were reminded while both on our way in and out. Spraying the bushes only occurs as *required* by the State. No additional spraying of the fruit occurs You park a couple hundred feet from the tent, and walk downhill but only another 100-200 feet (it's a little steep, ask to park at the stables of hills are a big issue, I can't imagine they'd mind terribly) down to the blueberry patches. These ~1,200 someodd, 50ish year old plants are present in around four varieties. During this opening week, we found sweet, plump berries as far as the eye could see, and surprisingly few fellow pickers. Is this BC most other farms aren't starting Upik for another week? (I called a bunch ). Definitely put this farm on your list. Farm and Berries are easy to get to, delicious, and well-priced. the view with the horses is beautiful, there's a swingset that I assume visitors can use(?) and nice people run the place! What more can you want?

I began taking Western riding lessons at the start of the summer. It was awesome until my trainer…read moreleft. No one from Hillside contacted me ahead of my lesson to tell me. One of the hands told me when I showed up for my lesson. When I contacted them to try and rescheduled with someone else, no one got back to me the first time. The second time they told me they don't give western lessons anymore. They just abandoned me.

I just have to gush about Hillside Meadows Equestrian Center and Sheila, trainer & manager. My…read moredaughter had always wanted to ride a horse. I didn't know a thing about where to take her. Thanks to a very reasonable Groupon, we were fortunate to end up here. Sheila made this lesson one of the best memories of my daughter's life. First of all, this place is gorgeous! Beautiful views and riding trails. Especially lovely in the Fall. Driving up the road, you see many majestic horses. It's the real deal! Sheila couldn't have been nicer to Sophia. Her training style is fun and easy-going. She instills in the students that she has every faith that they can do this. She brought out this very large and handsome horse named Mac. I was thinking, how in the world is my little girl going to be able to ride this horse?! Sheila treated Sophia like she was responsible and capable. She taught Sophia how to brush every part of Mac, and which brushes to use. And Sophia did it. Sheila made her so comfortable, that Sophia wasn't frightened or nervous. Then Soph walked Mac to the indoor training center, and learned how to mount the horse. With Sheila's guidance, Sophia walks, turns and stops Mac by herself. She learns to trot, take Mac through a small obstacle course, walk over a "bridge", and then stop so Sophia can pick up "mail" from a mailbox. Sheila is an Amazing trainer, and guided Soph to do it all. Then they went outside, and Sophia and Mac went for a trail ride in the beautiful countryside. We can't thank Sheila enough for this wonderful experience. You made my daughter feel confident, capable, strong and happy. :) I'm so grateful

I purchased a Living Social deal for two riding lessons at North Gate Farm back in May. I just used…read moremy two lessons and I'm planning on taking more! I hadn't ridden a horse in years and it felt great to get back into riding. I had no trouble setting up my lessons and the farm responded quickly when I emailed them. My instructor for both lessons was Andrea. She was very knowledgeable and patient. I really enjoyed learning from her.

Bought an Amazon Local coupon. Note that these are semi-private lessons (not stated on AL)…read more Tried multiple times to contact company as directed on voucher, received no response for over two weeks, which was running us up near the expiration deadline. Finally was told that I had to use the online system to book appointments. Very few appointments available, and it would show us an available appointment and then say it wasn't actually available. Information on auto-replies was not accurate, and when I logged back in, previously-booked appointments appeared to have vanished. Finally managed to book appointments, one of which they then said by email weren't available because of an arbitrary internal deadline, and they refused to do the obvious ("book it after we make it available and we will honor the voucher") because "then everyone will want one." Proprietor became rude when I expressed reasonable frustration, and she refused to schedule lessons at all. I'm not normally moved to get annoyed at people I am trying to do business with, and I am not normally moved to write negative reviews, but I think I'll make an exception here. If you buy this coupon, schedule *ASAP* and be prepared for some user-hostile interfaces.

Beautiful trail ride! Was my first time to Bobby's Ranch and I loved it - thanks so much!read more

This place is truly a haven. Everyone cares so deeply about the animals and their wellbeing. My…read moreboyfriend and I went for a nature trail ride and got to meet Midnight, Dozer, and Whiskey. I absolutely loved my time here and I will definitely be back. I would recommend Bobby's to anyone interested in learning more about proper equine care and what it means to love and care for an animal.

I recently re-located back to Massachusetts after spending a couple years in Virginia. Since I…read morefinally had a paying job after getting my Master's degree, I decided I wanted to take back up riding lessons, something I had done all through high school, but hadn't continued in college or grad school, except for exercising some of my friends horses in Virginia. Working in Needham, I decided to start looking in the surrounding towns, and stumble up Woodridge. I'm so glad I did! What a great facility. They have a large, well-maintained barn with beautiful horses. They have a large indoor ring (which can get a little crowded sometimes) (also it has a heated viewing area) and an ENORMOUS outdoor ring with at least 20+ jumps. There are riders of every level here - from adorable five-year-olds riding little ponies, to intermediate riders like myself, to majorly advanced riders that compete USEF. While many people at the barn compete and show, the atmosphere isn't very competitive - I have no interest in showing, but have never felt left out because of it. The fees associated with just taking lessons are slightly expensive - but for the quality of horses available, instructors, and care, it feels worth it. A half-hour private lesson will run you around $65. If you're in a rush and don't have time to groom and tack up your horse yourself, they have incredible grooms that will happily do it for you - and help you untack and cool down / groom the horse after your ride, while you are cleaning your tack. The outdoor paddocks are a little small, but the horses here are so pampered and well-bred that they probably don't even want to be outside. Overall, I would definitely recommend this place for riders of any level.

I have been lucky enough to take lessons from Julie for the past two years. As an adult beginner I…read morewas nervous and self conscious at first, but with her help I fell in love with riding. I also fell in love with my lesson horse, Stat. I bought him and have boarded him at Boston Hunt and Pace for a year. Stat is a beloved member of my family and I wanted to be at a facility where he would be treated that way. I could not have found a more perfect place for us. Boston Hunt and Pace offers amenities and a level of care that is usually only available at competitive show barns. The stalls are clean, big and airy, with memory foam floors and plenty of fresh bedding. The two barns have heated tack rooms with individual lockers. There are both an indoor and outdoor ring. The bright, window lined indoor arena is one of the nicest I've ever seen (complete with an amazing sound system that is perfect for pretending to do a dressage freestyle when nobody is watching). My horse gets full day turnout and has been happy and healthy the whole time he has lived there. The barn staff are knowledgeable and friendly; they truly care about the horses and riders. Julie continues to teach my lessons and Amy, the resident trainer, does an amazing job improving Stat's fitness and challenging him to learn new skills. The thing that makes this barn unique is that the high end care does not come with high end pressure. It's a family friendly, low key atmosphere. My 4 year old son loves to come play there. You don't need to own a horse. You don't even need to have ever been on a horse before to be welcomed here. There are friendly, well cared for school horses for all levels of riders. Beginners (of all ages) are introduced to the sport in safe and engaging lessons. Experienced riders will never get bored; BHP has plenty of opportunities to challenge them. Unlike many barns that teach only one discipline and confine students to the ring, BHP encourages clients to participate in hunter paces and go on trail rides. This has been a great confidence builder for both me and my horse. They also allow students (if they have enough experience) to use school horses for these activities, which is not common in lesson barns. I come to Boston Hunt and Pace almost every day. Whether I'm there on a summer day riding bareback and hand grazing on the beautiful property or taking a lesson in the indoor in the middle of winter, it is always my favorite place to be.

Amazing low key farm. Friendly atmosphere, eventing farm, has indoor an indoor, and introduces…read morepeople to hunter paces and fox hunting. Seems to be very friendly to both advanced and beginner levels. I am a beginner and felt immediately welcome. I also have a sister who currently boards her horse there and she is very happy with them.

Sugar Ridge Farm is a beautiful horse farm. The barn is run very professionally. The owner is very…read moreknowledgeable and a fabulous instructor. The horses are treated with lots of love. You want to learn to ride you will learn from the best. You want to board you horses they will be well taken care of. Great family atmosphere very friendly Whether your a beginner or expert you will love it there very highly recommend

I was introduced to Carin and Sugar Ridge Farm by a mutual friend about a year ago and have been…read moreriding ever since. I wanted a straight-forward, well-kept, non-commercial farm, and you not only get that with Sugar Ridge, but I have also found a family with these ladies and the horses there. The grounds are gorgeous, with plenty of room to ride and options to suit each skillset. It's been amazing to learn more about these gorgeous animals, and it does a world of good just being around them. You can also tell how well-taken care of the horses are just by how affectionate they are with Carin; she does an absolutely incredible job with them and it shows. She is also an amazing instructor, and I couldn't imagine being taught by anyone else. (Nor would I want to!) I highly recommend Sugar Ridge, whether you've never been on a horse or have a lifetime of experience, Carin's training ability and versatility is unparalleled.

This is a friendly, clean barn, in very accessible location in Jefferson, MA (right next to…read moreHolden). They have an indoor, a large outdoor, and field for getting out of the ring and either hacking or jumping. This all in addition for with a large paddock area for turn out. Board is very reasonable - unlike other barns in the area. V. Garre Stables is run by Paul and Vickie Garre who I have found to be very attentive to both horse and rider. Additionally, they have a professional trainer and instructor on staff (Troy van Gorder) - who has 20+ years of knowledge on top on being a certified center riding instructor. I would suggest anyone in the area check them out.