1 / 2Serene Horse Ranch
📍 Branchville, NY
Trail riding ranch in Branchville offering guided horseback rides through state park terrain covering meadows, forests, and riverside paths. Well-trained, gentle horses with experienced guides make this accessible for first-time riders of all ages.
One of the activities you have to experience at least once in your life. I’ve always loved horses but have only ever sat on one while a guide held onto the horse by the reigns. This trail ride was absolutely stunning especially during the fall season where the leaves are orange. The staff and horses were extremely friendly and amazing to work with. Atlas and Bon-Bon were adorable and all the other horses are well trained and some were even free roaming. Ed taught us the basics of controlling the horse, and even then, the horses all follow each other anyway. We got beautiful pictures, and I can’t stop talking to everyone about this. I drove all the way here from Piscataway, that took about an hour and a half but I believe my experience made everything worth while. You can tell the staff are attentive and genuinely care about the horses and experiences they’re providing.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for families with teenagers or adults ready for their first real trail ride beyond a lead-around pony experience. The guides are skilled at building rider confidence before setting off, and horses are well-matched to ability levels. Teens who have only ridden in circles respond strongly to the state park setting.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →226 Google reviews
Courtney Tran
5 months ago
“One of the activities you have to experience at least once in your life. I’ve always loved horses but have only ever sat on one while a guide held onto the horse by the reigns. This trail ride was absolutely stunning especially during the fall season where the leaves are orange. The staff and horses were extremely friendly and amazing to work with. Atlas and Bon-Bon were adorable and all the other horses are well trained and some were even free roaming. Ed taught us the basics of controlling the horse, and even then, the horses all follow each other anyway. We got beautiful pictures, and I can’t stop talking to everyone about this. I drove all the way here from Piscataway, that took about an hour and a half but I believe my experience made everything worth while. You can tell the staff are attentive and genuinely care about the horses and experiences they’re providing.”
Maureen Nicoletti
6 months ago
“Serene Horse Ranch was absolutely beautiful! Paula our trail guide was exceptional! She was extremely knowledgeable and answered all our questions. Our horses Bon -bon, Genesis and Ivy were gentle and knew the trail perfectly. We were able to ride in the meadow, the forest and near scenic trails by the river. Ed was very nice. He said we would be given a great experience and he didn’t disappoint. Thank you so very much for making our trail rides a day to remember! We would highly recommend this ranch for trail rides.”
antonio torres
6 months ago
“My wife and I went to the Serene Horse ranch for our 11th anniversary and it did not disappoint. Ed and his handlers were great. They made sure we felt comfortable riding our horse since we both hadn't ridden a horse in quite awhile. We did the 2hr trail and it was beyond beautiful. And our horses Genesis and Honey were great on the trail. Thanks Ed and our guide who made this a memorable anniversary. Would definitely do it again. The added bonus of photos and videos included were a huge plus.”
Casey James Scheiner
5 months ago
“Serene Horse Ranch was a wonderful experience from start to finish. Ed, who I believe is the head rancher, along with two young ranch hands, were incredibly kind and full of positive energy. They made the whole experience enjoyable and easygoing, creating a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The ride itself was peaceful, and I got to ride a beautiful horse named Ivy who made it even more memorable.”
Reviews from Google
Overview
Serene Horse Ranch runs guided trail rides through varied state park terrain with well-trained horses matched to rider experience. Guides Ed, Paula, and ranch hands provide riding instructions before departure, then lead groups through meadows, forest, and scenic riverside trails. The two-hour ride covers the full terrain mix. Fall foliage season adds exceptional colour to the routes.
