Horse Riding Events Near Central Pennsylvania
We put together this list of hunter paces, paper chases, benefit trail rides, judged trail rides and other fun horse events within a reasonable drive (~3 hours) of central Pennsylvania towns such as Altoona, State College, and Penn State. Internet companies are massively successful at wasting our time, so it’s harder than ever to find up-to-date information on fun horse events in one place like this!
For full event details please search for and contact the organizers… we are just bringing them to your attention.
Note: Past events are moved to bottom of page.
May 2024 Fun Horse Events
Saturday, May 11, 2024 (rescheduled due to rain)
Leg Up Farm (therapeutic riding program)
benefit horse trail ride, food trucks, silent auction
Spring Valley Park (southern York county, Pennsylvania)
2:30 drive time from State College
9a-12 ride times
$40
(rain date following week)
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Carrollton Hounds (Maryland)
Union Bridge, Maryland
3:00 drive time from State College
Spring Hunter Pace
10am start
new 3-4 mile course (flat 3, jumps 4)
(rain date May 18)
high/low fences or flat
hunt attire encouraged, teams of 2-4
$35 per rider
Sunday, May 26, 2024 and
Monday, May 27, 2024
Paper Chase 2024
Tranquillity Manor Farm
Monkton, Maryland (really more like Hunt Valley/Sweet Air)
3:00 drive time from State College
Sunday and Monday 8:00 am-12:30 pm
Dress casual, approved riding Helmet and boots, any tack
The course is about 6-7 miles and there is a way around every fence.
Some/all/flat options. Both jump and non jump riders do same course.
Monday, May 27, 2024 (Memorial Day)
Memorial Day hunter pace
Bucks County Horse park (Revere, Pennsylvania)
3:30 drive time from State College
5-6 miles, optional jumps
registration 8:30a, 9a-12 starts
$35
Open/50+ divisions
June 2024 Fun Horse Events
Sunday, June 2, 2024
New Market/Mid Valley Hunt (Maryland)
trail ride and barbeque/covered dish
10am
McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania area
(see NM-MVH website for additional trail rides)
2:00 drive time from State College
$30 or season pass
Rolling Rock Hunt
weekly trail rides begin?
Latrobe, Pennsylvania area
In past years, RRH has held semi-weekly trail rides in June, July, August from various locations around Ligonier. They were Saturday at 10am. All disciplines, helmet and boots required. RSVP and waiver, $10 for adults, juniors free.
Unfortunately, no information has been posted for 2024!
Saturday, June 15, 2024
New Market/Mid Valley Hunt (Maryland)
trail ride (picnic?)
Three Springs, Pennsylvania area
(see NM-MVH website for additional trail rides in MD/WV)
time TBA
1:30 drive time from State College
$30 or season pass
Saturday, June 15, 2024
trail challenge
Bucks County Horse park (Revere, Pennsylvania)
3:30 drive time from State College
$35?
July 2024 Fun Horse Events
Friday, July 5, 2024 to
Saturday, July 6, 2024
2024 Horse Progress Days
Gordonville, Pennsylvania
30th year of this huge expo demonstrating modern horse-drawn and mule-drawn farming techniques and equipment returns to Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. It’s quite the event!
$15
Race to the Rock #1 (maybe)
Hunter pace
Royal Rock Farm, Noxen, Pennsylvania
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Evening Harness Racing
Clearfield County Fair
Clearfield, Pennsylvania
~1 hour travel from State College
starts 5:30pm
$5 fair admission includes grandstand seating
betting, giveaways, funny hat competition, very expensive fair food!
Sunday, July 21, 2024
Cohocton Hunter Pace and Timed Trail Ride
Cohocton, New York
~2:45 travel from State College
5-7 miles, 9a-1p ride times
$40
note NY requires proof of rabies vaccinations at horse events
August 2024 Fun Horse Events
Sunday, August 4, 2024
New Market/Mid Valley Hunt (Maryland)
trail ride and picnic
at NM-MVH hunt club, Middletown, Maryland
(see NM-MVH website for additional trail rides)
time 10am
3:00 drive time from State College
$30 or season pass
Sunday, August 18, 2024
Cohocton Hunter Pace and Timed Trail Ride
Cohocton, New York
~2:45 travel from State College
5-7 miles, 9a-1p ride times
$40
note NY requires proof of rabies vaccinations at horse events
Race to the Rock #2 (maybe)
Hunter pace
Royal Rock Farm, Noxen, Pennsylvania
September 2024 Fun Horse Events
Saturday, September 14, 2024 and
Sunday, September 15, 2024
Fall Hunter Pace 2024
Tranquillity Manor Farm
Monkton, Maryland (really more like Hunt Valley/Sweet Air)
3:00 drive time from State College
Sat 9-12, Sun 8:30-11:30
2.5-3 miles course, 30 optional jumps
Hokie-pokie for slowpokes.
All tack, all disciplines, “casual tidy” attire
2:45 drive time from State College
Saturday, September 21, 2024
judged trail ride
Bucks County Horse park (Revere, Pennsylvania)
8a-12 rides, cash prizes
3:30 drive time from State College
$35
Sunday, September 22, 2024
Cohocton Hunter Pace and Timed Trail Ride
Cohocton, NY
~2:45 travel from State College
5-7 miles, 9a-1p ride times
$40
note NY requires proof of rabies vaccinations at horse events
October 2024 Fun Horse Events
Friday, October 4, 2024 through
Sunday, October 6, 2024
Harrison Mule Days
Carroll county Equestrian Center
Mount Airy, Maryland
An amazing celebration of mules, with some donkeys and horses thrown in for good measure. A really fun time–you never knew mules could look so fine!
FREE!
Saturday, October 5, 2024
Pink Ribbon Ride, picnic, raffle, awards
Bucks County Horse park (Revere, Pennsylvania)
7 miles
registration 8am, rides 8:30a-1p
3:30 drive time from State College
$50+ donation/pledges/sponsorship
(horse driving may be an option!)
Sunday, October 6, 2024
fall paper chase
Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Fox Hounds
755 Byrd Road, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania (Chester county) 19348
(across from New Bolton Center)
3:00 drive time from State College
7-8 miles
10a-1p starts
team or individual!
$40
leisure pace option, jumps or flat, informal attire
November 2024 Fun Horse Events
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Friendsgiving (Thanksgiving) Hunter Pace
Bucks County Horse park (Revere, Pennsylvania)
5-7 miles, optional jumps
registration 9am, rides 9-12
3:30 drive time from State College
$35
2024 Completed Events
The following events are now over but are listed for future reference.
Saturday, April 6, 2024
“Com On Spring” Paper chase [sic]
Marsh Creek state park
Downingtown, Pennsylvania (PA)
3:00 drive time from State College
10a-1p
Marked trails at Marsh Creek State Park. Start time is 10 AM, last rider 1 PM.
Saturday, April 6, 2024
9:00am-1:30pm (Rain Date Sunday April 7)
Benefit Paper chase
Baltimore County Agriculture Center
Cockeysville, Maryland (off I-83 just north of Baltimore)
3:00 drive time from State College
Join us for a 4.5 mile course around the Baltimore County Agricultural Center. Optional jumps up to 2’6″.
$40
Saturday, April 13, 2024
Royal Rock trail ride day
(hunter paces later in summer?)
Noxen, Pennsylvania (north west of Scranton)
2:30 drive time from State College
$25
9am on
Saturday, April 13, 2024 (weather change! April 14, 2024)
New Market/Mid Valley Hunt
spring hunter pace
Middletown, Maryland (Frederick area)
3:00 drive time from State College
3-4 miles
fences or optimum flat
probably 9-12 starts
hunt/ratcatcher attire preferred, no chaps
$35
Sunday, April 14, 2024
Beaufort Hunt
spring hunter pace
Grantville (Harrisburg), Pennsylvania
1:45 drive time from State College
8-10 miles???
jumps or pleasure division, english/western
(rain date Sun Apr 21)
$35
Saturday, April 20, 2024
EPIC (Equestrian Partners in Conservation)
spring trail ride and lunch
Dry Seneca trails, Poolesville, Maryland
3:30 drive time from State College
riding about 1½ hours and then enjoying a light lunch and refreshments
walk, w/t, w/t/c groups as needed to accommodate everyone
Trail Ride: 11:00am / Lunch: 12:30pm
rain date: Sunday, April 21
FREE!
Sunday, April 21, 2024
CHESTER COUNTY EQUINE EVENTS INC.
2024 Spring Paper chase at Brooklawn
1825 Newark Rd. Kennett Square, PA 19348
(Cochranville, Pennsylvania)
3:00 drive time from State College
$40.00 Per horse
8 mile ride over Chester County’s conservation lands.
Registration opens at 9:30 am.
First horse to start is 10:00am, last horse 2:00pm.
Sunday, April 28, 2024
spring paper chase
Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Fox Hounds
Runnymede Sanctuary, Cochranville, Pennsylvania (Chester county)
3:00 drive time from State College map link
course about 7 miles, with optional turn-back point about half way
10a-1p starts
team or individual!
$40
leisure pace option, jumps or flat, informal attire
(rain date May 5)