Hometown Tourist: Maple Ridge Stables

It’s a storybook stable nestled in woods in Vanderbilt.

For this week’s Hometown Tourist, we take you to for a horseback riding adventure through the Mackinaw State Forest.

“Usually while we’re getting the horses ready people walk around and visit the small animals, and the kids just love the mini horses, and the goats and all kinds of stuff,” said owner Penny Bachelder, owner of the riding stable.

Maple Ridge Stables offers a horseback riding experience that you won’t soon forget.

“There is nothing like walking through the woods and all you can hear is the squeak in the saddle and a little bit of breathing from the horse. It’s a once in a lifetime thing,” noted Penny.

Saddle up, grab the reins, and take a mini lesson in the corral and you’re ready to hit the trails.

“So one hour is nice for beginners, you’re going to walk, maybe trot a little, nothing scary. We also offer an hour and a half which is a little bit more terrain. Two hours where we can actually get you to the river and you might get your feet wet, and the horse is going to splash and play, so it’s a lot of fun,” explained Penny.

Penny says she loves spending time with customers and seeing how horseback riding changes them.

She says she gets riders as young as 5 and many times, bucket list riders.

“We customize the experience for the person that’s coming. We have had some people say this is something I’ve always wanted to do and I’m terrified, so they’ll come in and we’ll spend some time in the arena to get them comfortable,” said Penny.

The buildings also serve as homes to animals that needed a safe haven and found it at Maple Ridge.

Mini horses, goats, rabbits and cows all have a lot of love in their hearts for Penny and her crew here.

“I’ve had a lot of people say, wow I’ve always dreamed of a place like this so it’s nice to hear it,” said Penny.