I started riding here a few weeks ago. Ole Strigel is the owner and chief operator. He…read morespecializes in buying / selling high end sport horses from Europe for clients in the US. The facility bar none is the best in the area. The barn is immaculate and the riding ring's footing is a synthetic material which is incredible. It offers a smoother experience for the horse and rider. Situated on 20 acres in Durham it is one of the most beautiful barns I have seen. In terms of training - best suited for adults who are serious however you don't have to be advanced. I could barely walk / trot when I started and he already has me working over cavalettis and counting strides between jumps. If you are ready to take your or your horse's hunter / jumper training to the next level there is no better facility. It is an honor and a privilege to ride here. Great for: Horse Back Riding Lessons, Horseback Riding, Horse Boarding, Horse Riding Lessons, Hunter Jumper, show stable, Equestrian Center, Equestrian, show barn

Fabulous facility. It is easily the premier hunter / jumper show barn in the Raleigh / Durham /…read moreChapel Hill area. No better place if you are looking to take your riding to the next level. Ole has experience on the international level - but has the patience to work with beginner level riders. The barn is beautiful and the farm is a real treat. I love spending time here.

I've been riding at Castle Farm for a little over three years. I needed a barn that was a closer…read moredrive in Knightdale/Raleigh and this was a good fit. While you have the opportunity to do horse shows (eventing; hunter/jumper; dressage; drill team), it definitely does not have the snobby "show barn" vibe like many places. It really is a team/family environment and I've made some wonderful friends here who I do things with away from lessons. Horses have a way of bringing people together! Heather (owner/operator) has been doing this for decades and is incredibly knowledgeable both in horse care and riding itself. She gets to know each individual student and their quirks/personalities. You won't just be sitting on a pony walking around a ring...you will learn the ins and outs of horsemanship and equitation. I appreciate that Heather takes the time to explain the mechanics of things rather than just pointing you at a jump. Safety is the top priority (closely followed by "Did you have fun?") for both riders and horses. I have ridden off and on since I was around 10 and I can say that Castle Farm ranks #1 for this of anywhere I've been previously. Lessons (group and private) are available for children and adults every day except for Thursdays and Sundays. There are around 15-20 horses, all of them with individual personalities and for riders of varying skill levels. The farm has a medium sized arena/stadium jump ring, a large field with various cross country jumps, another field with stadium jumps, and a grassy dressage arena. Come check it out!

I rode at Castle Farm in high school it is an amazing environment! I was also one of the feeders…read morefor Heather she is great! She fosters a welcoming and friendly spirit there i learned a lot from her. Even after i left the Raleigh area she had been a tremendous help for me as a resource she has given me so much advice over the years. i am truly grateful for all the experiences she facilitated!

Carolyn is a caring owner and kind person. She was so accommodating as I was only visiting for a…read moreday in the area. Her guide, Liv, was so sweet and knowledgeable. I enjoyed my ride very much.

The most amazing place to learn to ride!!!!! It has both English and Western riding!!! Words can't…read moredescribe how amazing the people who run this barn are!! This is the best barn my daughter has ever ridden at!!! If you are interested in learning to ride try out B-bar farms!!!!!!!!!

My friends and I went to the advanced horse camp this past week. Our instructor Paige, who taught…read moreus Thursday and Friday was absolutely amazing!!

We did a spring break sampler for After School Art and More here and I was really impressed at how…read morewell they worked with the kids. The age group was for 5-11 year olds. My son was the youngest (turning 5 in a month). The kids were able to pet and interact with the goats, pig, cats, dog, lamb and chickens. They brought a pony out and did really well at exlaining the safety issues on a level the children could understand. I wasp also impressed at how hands on they allowed the young kids to be while still maintaining a safe environment. The kids were able to groom the pony, including combing and brushing it, and were able to pick out its hooves while the educator held the horse's leg and made sure they didn't hurt the horse. This was a great way of teaching them to be responsible for an animal while still letting them enjoy interacting with it!

If you're looking for a laid-back no drama facility to board your horse, relax on amazing trails or…read moretake lessons, then look no further than Hidden Spring Farm! Lighted arena with great footing, dressage ring, open field jumps and great trails. What more could you want?!? Full board to pasture board, they have you covered! You and your horse become part of the family. No matter your skill level they have you covered with lessons from beginner to advanced.

Barrett, the head instructor of Top Flight Equestrian, has extensive experience that's been…read moreincredibly helpful for me and the rest of her students at learning about horses, riding, and showing / eventing. A lot of people evaluate a trainer by their experience. Barrett has that down, since she has over 20 years experience in the equestrian (dressage / eventing) world. However, being a great trainer requires 2 other aspects that are super important which Barrett shines in. The first of those 2 things is to make things enjoyable, entertaining and fun. There's many highly qualified trainers that are so burnt out that they make lessons like pulling teeth. Barrett instructs in ways where you can tell she loves the sport and that love for it is contagious for all of us. The second thing is the ability to convey that knowledge to someone. It's not just about knowing it, but actually being able to explain it in so many different ways and angles that she can make a concept make sense to someone that's 7 or 70 years old, experienced, or even completely new to riding. Barrett has shown she can easily adapt her lesson to any of these situations. Highly recommended!

My 13 year old son and I have been taking lessons from Barrett for several months now. She is an…read moreamazing instructor. My son describes her as phenomenal. She is dedicated to her craft, very knowledgeable, with decades of experience. She's committed to excellence, yet instructs with thoughtfulness and patience. Her passion for horses, horsecare and riding shines through every time we're with her. My husband recently observed one of our lessons and he was impressed with her teaching style. She is right there with the student, engaged the entire time, coaching and instructing. I'm also impressed with the way she has easily maneuvered the different dynamics of teaching a wide range of ages and abilities. My 13 year old son quickly connected with her and respected her leadership and instruction. As a 39 year old mother of 3, and beginner, she has been just as great with me - patient, thoughtful, yet challenging. We really can't say enough good things about Top Flight Equestrian.

Hidden gem!! Safe, caring and compassionate equestrian experience. Amazing owner and horses!!! My…read moredaughter will be an amazing equestrian for spending time here!!

This is a small, family-owned farm that offers basic lessons. The owner is friendly, and it's a…read moregreat place for kids to get comfortable riding and taking care of horses in a low-stress environment. Some of the horses are older, which makes them gentler and slower with younger kids, but that means they are also less responsive. There are periodic shows / competitions. They don't offer jumping or trail rides.