Customer Reviews
What You'll Get
Contrary to conventional wisdom, one can in fact look a gift horse in the mouth, now that the mouth no longer houses the retina-scorching nuclear reactor that powers the horse. Get an eyeful of equine incisors with today’s Groupon: for $25, you get a one-hour horseback trail ride at Dead Broke Farms (a $50 value).
Dead Broke Farms saddles novice and experienced riders on one of more than 90 horses for a guided trek along 10 miles of bridle trails that carve through the lush, rolling woodlands of a 112-acre farm. With a schedule of morning and evening trail-ride departure times, Dead Broke’s experienced staff pairs jockeys with their steeds after a quick quiz that distills compatibility essentials such as oat preference and favorite Beatle. After the staff reviews equine safety tips, guests can splash across creeks, meander past hardwoods, and potentially spy on local wildlife including deer, cranes, turkeys, and eccentric college roommates who are living off the grid.
Dead Broke Farms preaches real riding techniques that emphasize balance and control, rather than recklessness and carrot-related bribery. They also seek to cultivate a stable of happy, healthy horses by encouraging enthusiasts to join their volunteer program and supporting a rescue program that has saved more than 50 four-legged friends in seven years.
The Fine Print
Promotional value expires May 7, 2012. Amount paid never expires. Limit 5/person, may buy 5 addl as gifts. Limit 1 per person per visit. Must be 6 or older to ride alone; children 2 or older may ride with guide assistance. Must give notice if rider is over 220lb. Must sign waiver. Subject to weather. Not valid for customers with existing reservations. Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.
About Dead Broke Farm
Dead Broke Farm's name derives not only from the cost of owning horses, but also from the terminology for teaching a horse to wear a saddle—known in the industry as “breaking a horse to ride.” Trainers stable “dead broke,” or thoroughly saddle-trained, horses, alongside more spirited animals on the 110-acre farm. They also house steeds saved through their horse-rescue program, with more than 70 of their mounts avoiding fates in slaughterhouses and other undesirable ends since 2004.
Horses show off their trotting chops during farm trail rides, carrying riders on explorations of the rolling hills and whispering creeks scattered across more than 10 miles of bridle trails cut through woods populated by deer, cranes, and other wildlife. Private rides allow for more personalized routes and can incorporate stops at scenic ponds for proposals or more challenging terrain for advanced riders. Instructors also schedule horseback-riding lessons, teaching balance through rides over undulating terrain rather than through exercises such as riding a horse that is riding a seesaw.