Golden Key Stables

I love love love this place. I have been going there for the past few years and the 2 hour drive from NYC it‘s very well worth it. Britt is an amazing instructor and horse trainer. The lesson horses are loved and respected. They are NOT like other lesson horses from other stables, not groomed and sad looking. They are well trained, and Britt is amazing at paring the rider and the horse. So even if you never rode before, you will feel safe and comfortable.
It‘s a small cozy barn, where you will meet wonderful fellow riders/​horse owners. I looked for lesson barns around New York, and could not find anything that comes close to the professionalism offered by Britt.

I have been a rider all my life, and I have not encountered very many people who are able to exude a little girl’s unbridled passion for horses, a professional’s attention to detail, and a warm sense of hospitatlity and friendship. However, Britt Halter of Golden Key Stables encompasses all of these traits.
My stay at the inn was warm and welcoming, and I enjoyed the hours of fireside conversation before bedtime as much as the delicious German meals.
The horseback riding instruction was superb, and Britt had me transformed from a bouncy, rusty ex-​rider to a flawless executor of leg-​yields and flying lead changes in only two 1-​hour lessons!
The horses are supple and well-​schooled, and so eager to please their riders that they must be receiving the best of care. They spend most of their time bundled in warm blankets, playing outside in the generous paddocks, so I can understand why they were so much happier than most East Coast horses that spend their winter lives cooped up in the barn!
I will be returning once a month to repeat my experience; I can’t wait until it is warm enough to go galloping down the trails!
–Sabrina C. Mashburn

No discrimination here but this words are dedicated in particular to the NewYork-​holic for who to leave the city is always a traumatic experience, either for a long or for a short trip, that will end up feeding more your NY addiction. Talking about short trips, however, there a general purpose that can be summarized as FUNCHEAPEASY. A clear example of this type is Golden Key Stables. Located just about 1 ½ — 2h driving from the city, you will find a beautiful farm/​stables owned by Britt Halter… Owner, hostess, cook and horse trainer.
A modern country house that can host 8 guest at the same time. All the rooms are decorated with a traditional style, pure and strong colors, cleanest ever, comfy, cozy and with every single detail covered. Best part, all the scents, soaps creams and variations organized in small baskets for you to choose the one that you prefer. At night you can enjoy with your friends the basement of the house with a fireplace for the winter, some liquors «on the house», and its also a «BYOB»…lol. TV, DVD, games, or just talk and drinks, as in a «country lounge». Britt is like the sister that allow the youngest some freedom. I could have sleep there in the sofas. Anyways, with a menu consisting in Organic Grandma Fusion/​comfort food, we were literally adopted for Britt & Co, including Cassie, Randy, Kirsten and the felines, the fat Bailey and the super-​fat Fatty cat, a 20 lb of pure cattiness that can still run and cacth mice. Impressive
But the weekend is not a lazy one. You will receive horseback riding lessons, professional and safe, either with the group and individual, inside and outside, with a personal trainer each time that will teach you how to contact first your horse, clean and prepare him/​her for the ride, feed them and a starter horse riding kit if you are a beginner: correct position, order movements, walk, trotte, turn… they also offer advance lessons of course. Tony and Tiamo were the kings of the stables with the beautiful girls around and the sophisticated Summer … renamed for us as Versace. I finish learning how to jump rhythmically with my horse while he/​she was trotting. which is not as simple as it sounds.
You can get lessons along the year, summer or winter. Starting Sat at noon and leaving Sunday evening it cost just $ 160 in total. I was happy seeing again NY Skyline but I didn’t think about the city in 40h.
Good teraphy.
*** contact info:
(Britt Halter)