Sponsored by the Minnesota Horse Council
The Minnesota Horse Expo 2012 is Minnesota’s largest equine trade show and breed exhibition.
With over 800 trade show booths, in five State Fair buildings, this is the perfect marketplace for anyone wanting to find everything related to horses.
April 27, 28, 29 on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds
1265 Snelling Ave North, St. Paul, MN 55108
Considering a rocking horse, as a gift for one of our little ones. Somehow that led me to the old traveling pony photographers that use to canvas local neighborhoods … immortalizing little cowpokes everywhere.
As much as I’d like to share my vintage photo sitting atop a pony dressed up as a cowgirl … not gonna happen and sadly it looks like I deprived my kids of the same memory. But, I did find some really fun kid and pony images around the web.
Found myself searching to learn more about that lost art and found that it reflected back to the days of the Itinerant Photographer, who, like the many portrait painters, skipped the studio altogether and brought the camera directly to the customer.
Those were the good old days.
Want to contribute? Submit your own Traveling Pony photo on our Facebook page.
Filed under Kids & Horses, Mn Horseback Riding, Rocking Horse
River Valley Horse Ranch is OPEN all of the amazing (and very different) 4 seasons!
While we cherish our spring and summer months, there is nothing more invigorating than a cool fall ride or a Minnesota winter outing on horseback!
It’s always important to dress for the weather of the day and we can’t stress enough to keep your apparel and shoes suitable for being on horseback.
Simply put … you need the use of your eyes, ears, hands, arms, knee’s and legs.
Find a suitable shirt, such as a long sleeve T-shirt or sweatshirt, to wear. Many riders like to wear vests when the weather gets colder. Your arms and shoulders are less restricted in a vest, and they lend themselves to layering for warmth.
For occasional riders, we suggest blue jeans or sweat pants. Please avoid pants that twist, wrinkle or bunch along the inside of your legs and at the knees.
The boots or shoes you wear on a cold weather trail ride is a major consideration. Look for a boot with up to a 1 ½ inch heel and low tread. Winter and hiking boots are much to heavy to wear horseback riding and in the case of a fall may get stuck in the stirrups. With so many different styles of shoes and boots to choose from just make sure that the pair you have chosen is suitable for fitting into and releasing from the stirrups.
While we don’t provide riding helmets, feel free to bring along a helmet, if you own one and last but not least … don’t forget your scarf and those gloves (mittens are a bad idea) that won’t slip through the reins.
Winter hours @ River Valley Horse Ranch – Trail rides on the hour … Saturday and Sunday 10am – 5pm | Reservations Suggested.
Hope to see you soon!
Travel by horse, when you have a choice.
River Valley Horse Ranch can attest to the positive effects that horses have on people.
In his book “Horse Behavior“ George Waring states that horses have five highly developed senses: taste, touch, hearing, smell, and sight. They also have an enigmatic sixth sense, heightened perception, which is very rare in humans.
And it’s been clinically proven that just being in the vicinity of horses can change our brainwave patterns and help us experience a unique calming effect that is exclusive to these amazing creatures.
If you are tired of being fixated on past or negative events – “Saddle Up” for a really positive experience. You’ll feel great!
If not now … when?
River Valley Horse Ranch | 952.361.3361
Klaus Ferdinand Hempfling does not call himself a horse whisperer and is not describing what he does with horses as a method. But only his presence calms down the most traumatized horses, so who is he and what is what is he doing?
Filed under Horses, Klaus Hempfling, Mn Horseback Riding
Feeling down? Saddle up.
Provide ample fresh, clean water. Check daily that buckets or troughs are not contaminated with bird droppings, insect larvae, chaff, or algae growth. Try to keep the water cool. Horses may not want to drink warm water. Ponies and foals may have trouble reaching to the bottom of a shallowly filled trough. Make sure everyone in your paddocks can reach the water.
Filed under Horse Breeds, Horses, Mn Horseback Riding
Just when we thought that life couldn’t get any sweeter, we received another thank you note from one of our guests.
No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks. ~James Allen
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River Valley Ranch is the best possible choice for horseback riding. I went there with my friend for my birthday and we had a great time! We had wonderful horses and my horse‘s name was Blaze. He was so cute and amazing to ride! My friend’s horse’s name was Navaho he was a beautiful pinto! Our trail guide was Emily and she was a good guide and was very nice. I hope the next time we are out we can have her guide our trail ride again. Thank you very much for such great time! I know we’ll be back! – Taylor T.
Thank you so much Taylor! We hope to see you again soon!
Filed under Horses, Mn Horseback Riding, Trail Rides
If you’re looking for a fun Minnesota getaway, without breaking the bank, consider jumping in the car and traveling Highway 169 to the Minnesota River Valley.
The last week of July is just jam packed with so many fun things to see and do!
You could reserve a night or two at the Nicolin Mansion B&B (based on availability), saddle up at River Valley Horse Ranch, take in a Vintage Baseball Game at the Mini-Met (tonight), visit Crofut Family Winery & Vineyard and enjoy the best days of summer at the Scott County Fair (7/27-7/30).
Best of all … it’s more than a day filled with FUN and it’s all within a short driving distance!
Gotta love the end of July!
My then fiance’ Rocky and I went horseback riding a few weeks ago and we loved it!! Our trail guide was Sydney and she was wonderful with her humor and sweetness. The surroundings were beautiful, the horses in the barn and pastures were well-kept as well as the barn areas…. impressive!!
Rocky rode Bam-Bam and I think it was Cimarron I rode. We both enjoyed our horses!
When we come back to ride again, we will request our horses if they are available as they were well-behaved, despite the horse flies and high humidity that can aggravate horse and human alike!! Since that time, we have had our wedding and as soon as it is not so hot, we will be calling again for a ride!
Thank you, Sydney for a wonderfully memorable ride and thank River Valley Ranch for being there for us who love horses but don’t have the time/place to keep one!!
Lori and Rocky L.
Filed under Horse Ranch, Mn Horseback Riding, Mn Trail Rides
I can live for two months on a good compliment. ~Mark Twain
Thank you cards are so uncommon these days. That’s why we’re using this post to share a wonderful note that we received from one of our guests! Gotta love fan mail!!!
Letter received from - Earl K.
Hi,
I wanted to contact you and send my thanks for the great time my girlfriend and I had yesterday at your farm. A special thanks to Emily who was very nice, knowledgable, and a great guide.
I have had several people ask for feedback after telling them about the trip because they have always wanted to try horseback riding. I’ll be telling them your place is the one to go to. Thank you again for making the surprise birthday present for my girl a very positive experience! Thanks again to Emily!!
Thank you so much, Ed … we really appreciate you taking the time to let us know!
Emily … you Rock!
Filed under Horse Ranch, Horses, Mn Horseback Riding
