A chilly Sunday afternoon after a night of steady rain. The ground is muddy and scattered with…read morepuddles. Temperature low 40's. For myself, and likely most people the trek out here will be long, but it will be worth it. I made the decision this summer enjoy a few new experiences and to learn a few new skills before fall approached. Learning to ride a horse was one of these objectives. I searched Google and all of the deal sites for horse riding lessons. I even had the opportunity to ride a horse at the oceanfront this summer but declined. I did not want to just jump on a horse (having no prior equine experiences) and trot a mile down the beach with a dozen or so other people who also had no idea what they were doing. This is not at all what I was looking for. My online searches turned up Pony Riding lessons in Chesapeake with Sea Breeze Ponies. I didn't know anything about the establishment but when I called and spoke to the instructor I had a good feeling about her. Also this is exactly what I wanted. A lesson. I wanted to get on a horse or pony and feel comfortable...feeling confident I knew would be a stretch. I consider the location to be pretty deep in Chesapeake. Because the signage is not very visible from the road Sea Breeze Ponies can be easily passed. The signage faces a field. But there is a flag hanging from a fence that you can see as well as a red barn and a two story grey house, that is where you will need to turn. Sea Breeze Ponies is in the rear behind the house. When you arrive your pony will be affixed to a post and you will be instructed to brush the pony really well, all the way around. They are so beautiful. If it is your first visit the instructor will put the bit, saddle, bridle etc. on. Pay attention though as you may be instructed to remove them and return them to their respective storage areas at the end. On subsequent visits you will likely be doing these actions yourself (if you are old enough/capable). Once my pony LADY was ready I walked her out to the ring in the back. Getting onto the pony was fairly easy.The dismount, not quite as effortless. Lady and I walked around first connected to the instructor, then once we were comfortable with each other the instructor let us go off on our own. The key is to really pay attention to how you hold the reigns and be firm in your verbal and physical instructions to the pony. I enjoyed the lesson, learning to get Lady to go in the direction I wanted, having her turn around, getting her to move again whenever she decided to stop. The end of the lesson removing everything from the pony, storing the items where they belong and brushing the pony down again. Your session pretty much ends the way it began. Brooke is a great instructor and she really has a way with children. I've seen her interact with two young girls during their lessons. She is patient and speaks to them in a gentle manner while being very clear on what she expects from them. Brooke has a pleasant countenance and attitude that puts visitors at ease. She has a great deal of experience, having been working in various aspects of the equine arena for many years. I waited until it was December and freezing to redeem my lesson :-( not the best decision. But as long as it isn't raining or snowing, I believe you can still have your lesson. They may also have a consignment shop accepting anything "horse" and they accept consignment ponies. Check http://www.seabreezeponies.com/ as well as their Facebook page for updates and details. Please forgive me if I've used any of the incorrect terminology regarding Horse gait and equipment. I've only had one lesson :-)

Great set up for riding. We made it to SBP on a very day. Although it was pretty miserable…read moretemperature wise. It was a great little adventure for our LO. Attempting to make it to SBP everything that could have gone wrong did. But I glad we made it. SBP is located in one of the more rural parts of chesapeake. You get to see farms and other lots of other animals. Bring your boots and saddle up with Sea Breeze Ponies. Happy Riding Yeeps!!!

I lived in Deep Creek since 1973 and I have never visited this park. I was pleasantly surprised…read morethat my Sister and I ran into other Creekers who were also there with their children for the first time. I loved the displays and the information about the Enslaved People who dug out the swamp to allow others to navigate the waterways. I was so happy that we went on a brisk day when the bugs were laying low. HeeHee! We were able to walk around and look at the dock, the farm house, and a few other out buildings for the farm area. Very interesting that they were families that still lived next to the swamp area. The parking lot is well-kept and free. We found a few places to sit and eat, as well as a few water fountains for visitors. Everything was clean and tidy. We enjoyed listening to the water. Very nice visit!

To be honest, people on insta were telling me I was actually at the wrong location for what I was…read morelooking for. I was so excited to fit in time to go hike the dismal swamp. I've been thinking about it for a while and it fit right into my timeliness this week visiting Machicomoco and Kiptopeke State Parks. I got here and it was all paved. Bikes and pet walkers. I expected some dirt trails and pine needle tails and smelly water to brave through. Cattails or pussy willows if you prefer. Instead I got hard pavement and dogs. I did walk a little ways out. It just wasn't my thing. Cheers to the people who bike and pet walk here. If you pick up poo, put the bag in the trash. Why pick it up if you try to anonymously drop it further down the trail?

This is my experience at Fentress with Holly, the barn owner/manager. I left after one month…read more -Horses are only fed about 8lb of hay, once per day in the evening. In the morning instead of being given hay, they are turned out to a grassless mud-slick "pasture" where they may eat from a bale of straw that is left in the mud, manure, and rain. During the month I was there, there was about a one week period when there was nothing in the fields for the horses to eat, except for the remnants of soiled old round bales, soaked in mud, urine, and manure. -There was a large patch of black mold in my horse's stall where her evening hay was being thrown. -At times the horses did not have more than a few inches of water in their trough outside, and when water was available outside, it had an oily chemical film on top. -Horses were left out all day on more than one occasion in 40 degree temperatures with down pouring rain and no shelter, and heavy blankets were left on when the outside temperature was over 65 degrees. -Field injuries were not reported to owners -The entire grounds around and in the barn, driveway, and nearby in the turnouts constantly had garbage strewn about. This ranged from cat food containers, to fast food wrappers, to soda bottles, to ripped up blankets, to broken toys and broken plastic containers, empty grain bags and so on. The trash cans were overflowing onto the ground. I personally cleaned a lot of this and took it to the dump while I was boarded there, only to have trash and refuse re-appear on the ground the very next day. Refrigerators were festering with mold and rot. -The aisleway leading to the bathroom and the "lounge" was full of broken kid's toys and bikes, and farm equipment. When I moved some things out of the way to take my daughter back to the bathroom I discovered years worth of trash and rot, including cat feces, broken glass, broken rusted implements, rotten food wrappers, diaper wrappers, dirty animal cages, dead rodents, ripped up horse blankets covered in cat urine, etc. I personally spent hours cleaning this entire mess by myself, as it was not only disgusting but a hazard to my kids. -The bathroom hadn't been cleaned in probably years. I personally bought cleaning supplies out of my own pocket and bleached and scrubbed out the layers of bathroom grime, mud, mold, and mildew. Unfortunately I didn't have the forethought to take detailed before photos of the aisle mess and bathroom as I didn't plan on posting a review, but other boarders can and will attest to the level of filth that was there before I cleaned. -The barn owner has a sweet but lonely, dirty, and fur-matted St. Bernard which lives enclosed in a stall at the barn, where it defecates and urinates, and hangs out full time except when the barn owner is cleaning stalls and lets it out. (See photo) -The area where my horse was turned out was constant state of about 8 inches of slick clay mud, large pools of water (often with bits of trash floating about), and treacherous pocked dried mud. Many of them did not have a dry area to stand at all, and horses were sliding around in the deep mud. Manure was never removed. During my time at Fentress, I didn't have much contact with the barn owner Holly and what contact I did have was cordial. I did not make a fuss or create an issue about the things that I cleaned. I offered to help. I did not have any drama with Holly or the other boarders. I did not complain once. After a few weeks there, I decided that it was too poorly managed and too much of a stress for me, and so I chose to move on. I sent Holly a polite text that I would be leaving about 4-5 days ahead of time as I'd found a situation that was a better fit, and thoroughly cleaned and stripped my stall before I left. I had no intention of exposing her business, I did not create a scene, I was not rude or negative. What happened next was appalling. I was informed that Holly took to Facebook to bash me for not giving 30 days notice (which I was not under contract to do). I sent her a text advising her that it's not good business practice to bash clients on social media. She then "DARED" me to "keep going", to which I responded that it wasn't worth it. Later I was informed by another local farm owner whom I had only met on one occasion that Holly went online and escalated her attack on me by disclosing my name and bashing me left and right to other horse business owners, in an attempt to give me a "bad reputation in the local horse community" as this other barn owner said, or as Holly herself said, "blacklist" me on various local group pages to other barn owners/trainers/etc. I have never been so appalled by a business owner's actions. This barn is dirty and poorly managed, and the barn owner is juvenile and vindictive, and doesn't seem to care about what the horses need. I recommend avoiding this barn at all costs.

I couldn't find these other reviews to be further from the truth. Holly is a fantastic farm owner…read moreand treats your horse like he/she is her own. I never ONCE had to worry about my horse during his year long tenure at her farm. My horse came from care as crappy as it gets and Holly was able to put weight back on my gelding, and in a safe environment. She would let me know if he got knicked in the field or threw a shoe, that sort of thing. When there was not enough grass in the field in the winter, she would supplement with hay. I know she also took special care of her senior horses as well. She took great care of the ring, too. Holly is super professional and definitely communicates and in a timely manner. Thank you for all you did for Double, Holly!

My daughter had a blast. The summer camp week was not actual riding lessons. Counselors walk the…read morehorses on a lead with the kids on the horse. The kids mostly learn about grooming and equipment, and get to spend time on a hidden gem of farm property fairly close to the heart of VB. Great location near the NAS Oceana Commissary definitely beats driving out to Suffolk. This was a good find.

From the owner: We have a family oriented barn located in Virginia Beach, VA. Our focus is teaching equestrians all…read moreabout horses through training and hands on experiences. We teach all ages starting at 6 years old and up. All levels are welcome to come ride with us. We have stalls available for training board and full board. Call or Text 757 323-2118 to schedule your introductory riding lesson with us!

My daughter wanted a sunset horseback ride on the beach for her 13th birthday. Virginia Beach…read morehorseback riding had great communication and emails and detailed instructions from where to park, what to wear and more. My daughter,, her dad, and her two were paired with Horses. The staff were best suited for them. Although it was cold, they had a wonderful time and a smooth ride! Thank you so much!.

The guide/ owner is the nicest! It was so cold out and he went to get us jackets to wear. Thank you…read moreso much for a great experience! :)

Always hoped to find a place that will let you ride their horses. Yes, I said "YOU" ride. Not just…read moresit on a horse that is trained to walk behind another one. This place watches you ride a bit, then, if appropriate, you are allowed to roam the farm, alone or with your group. Over 40 acres to ride as fast or slow as you wish. I am over 60 years old and went with by daughter and my 12 yr. old granddaughter. Had fun and made a memory. I hope to get back there again soon. Prices are the same as I have seen for trail rides but much more fun.

After barn hopping for many, many years trying to find a place that wasn't "horse-snobby," "showy,"…read moreor "drama-filled," I finally found Acquibob. It was like a breath of fresh air and a dream-come-true to have found such a beautiful farm with kind, genuine horse-lovers. I've been riding here for over a year now and it's my second home. I could go on and on about how much I love it there and how much I love Judy, but I'll leave it at that!