hickory hollow horse farm

We wanted to take our teenage daughter out to see the battlefield by horseback. After searching through the listings we found only one service still running in November. Because my daughter had just been studying the Civil war at school, having a licensed guide along was not important to us, so we booked the two hour tour without a guide. It was great! The horses were well behaved and the two riders from the farm that accompanied the group were pleasant company and well informed local contacts that answered all our questions about local places to eat and shop. It was a great way to see the historic vistas as the participants saw them. Next time we are in Gettysburg we will look them up again.

The horses were immaculately groomed, young, calm, and eagerly responsive. John was a sure ride leader, and our guide, Teri, had an enormous wealth of knowledge. And what a story teller! This was a three-hour experience we want to do again.

Two first time horseback riders decided to make a last minute reservation for the 2 hour tour at Hickory Hollow Horse Farm. Admittedly, it was in the mid-40's with a wind chill (but the skies were blue and the sun was brilliant). We were the only 2 on the tour so we happily had several horseback riding tips and off we went with our guide and our wrangler. We learned more than we could have ever learned on our own about the Battle of Gettysburg and really got to see where and how the battle took place in July 1863. Although we understand there can be 14 people on one of these tours, I'm glad we did this off-season so that we could have a once-in-a-lifetime experience for these 2 folks in their 6th decade. Put a trip to Hickory Hollow Horse Farm on your bucket list!

Having never been on a horse, I was a bit intimidated (yes, I know how did I ever get to be this age and not be on a horse!!) but everyone made me feel so comfortable and at ease. I loved it. My friend and I took the one hour ride and had a wonderful time. The knowledge of our guide was so helpful in picturing what was going on during the battle. Thank your Hickory Hollow for making my first horseback ride so fun and memorable!!

A very nice outfit run by great folks. Although my girlfiend had purchased a ticket for the Hickory Hollow Horse Farm tour of the battlefield over a year ago, we'd never had a chance to use it till this past weekend. She couldn't find the orginal, but the proprietors still honored that she'd paid for it verbally over the phone - thanks! Only suggestion, perhaps utilize the headphones with battlefield tour details as the group is riding from one location to the next - there's a lot of information there which can't be adequately covered on the few stops along the way, although the historian (forgot her name) was excellent. "Scooby & Jenn-Bear"

My wife and I recently enjoyed a wonderful trail ride on the Gettysburg Battlefield with the staff and horses of Hickory Hollow Farm. The two hour ride along Seminary Ridge was a scenic adventure that we will long remember. The horses were gentle and well trained, and the staff made sound judgments in matching these somewhat elderly beginner riders with appropriate mounts. We appreciated everyone's professionalism, patience and good humor, as well as their attention to our safety and well being. We intend to do this again in the future.

My brother and I used their services recently and have praised their operation to friends, family and business associates. We thanked them for a wonderful experience! Our guide, Sarah, went well beyond describing events that took place in 1863 at Gettysburg. Her narratives included descriptions of our horses personalities and tendencies as well as additional activities surrounding the battlefield. Sarah proved an excellent guide.Our party arrived arrived late in the afternoon and without an appointment but they provided us with mounts and a guide. Their horse tour through General Longsteet’s position will stay with my Brother and I for the rest of our lives. A visit to the Gettysburg Battlefield without a horse tour conducted by Hickory Hollow Horse Farm is an incomplete experience. Sincerely,Dave T

We are not "horse people," and no experience riding, but had the best time. Pam, the owner, and Tasha, trail guide, took great care of us. The licensed guide did a great job. Pam and Tasha were very attentive and detail oriented. Tasha stopped and made an adjustment to a piece of my equipment that made me immediately more comfortable. We stayed at the Burgandy Lane Bed and Breakfast in Waynesboro and another traveling couple had done the tour that day and told us what a great time they had. Their recommendation was good enough that we went the next day. We would definitely recommend Hickory Hollow Horse Farm Tours!

We went out with some friends while in town for the dog show. The horses were well cared for and pretty compliant. This is a walk-only tour with the emphasis on the history of the battle. My friends thought there would be more riding,less talking, but I did not feel that way at all. I went because I wanted to learn about the battle. Our licensed guide was very entertaining and welcomed questions. Overall a neat way to learn while enjoying the fall scenery as well.

I cannot say enough good things about Hickory Hollow Horse Farm.We have a daughter with autism, so when I contacted Pam to schedule a ride, I asked her what they were able to do to help us make the ride successful. She assured me that they had a horse who would be perfect for our daughter, and also offered to make other accommodations to assist. We were very happy to hear that.The day before our ride, the weather forecast changed. Pam called us more than 24 hours in advance to let us know it was going to rain, and rescheduled us for the next day. The fact that she called and that she was able to still get us out for a ride are big pluses. The day of the ride, Pam and her employee Tasha were absolutely wonderful. I was very impressed with how they assigned the horses to riders. Not only did they try to match horses and riders by size, they also looked at personality (which horses are better with children or with new or nervous riders) and they also made sure to put families together with horses who get along with each other. After assigning, they even made several changes to make sure they had the best assignments possible. Halfway through the ride, Tasha realized that my two daughters would be better off if they switched horses, so she got down and helped us make that switch. She was paying close attention to everything and making that switch made the ride better for both kids.They also made sure that everyone got a general lesson on how to guide their horse, but also gave each rider horse-specific instructions to help them with their particular horse, such as which horses liked to stop and nibble the grass and which horses needed only gentle nudges and which needed firmer tugs on the reins. This made every rider much more comfortable with the horse they were riding. We only took the 1-hour ride, so it was not with a battlefield guide, but Pam and Tasha were both knowledgeable and were able to point out historical sites and share some interesting facts and trivia. Now that we know the kids will do well on a longer ride, we definitely plan on going back for a longer ride! In short, Hickory Hollow Horse Farm has great customer service and are experts at what they do. They make sure your ride is fun and comfortable and give you all the tools you need to enjoy a safe and fun tour of the battlefield.

We booked only 3 days prior to the ride, as we were watching the weather. The campground is easy to find and so was Hickory Hollow. The horses are well trained, but, have lots of personality! We opted for the battlefield licensed guide tour - Les was our guide. He provided a lot of details at each stop along the way and enjoyed answering everyone's questions. Pam has riding helmets available and a comprehensive waiver. The 2 hour ride was fantastic & a must-do!

As a Christmas gift, my wife purchased 2 tickets for a 2 hour ride with a guide. Upon arrival, we were welcomed by Pam who chose our horses (Viggo and Big Moe) and got us mounted for the ride. There were 5 couples in our group and every effort was made to educate us on the manners of the horses, the proper steering mechanics, etc. Terry was our guide and I remember her from a guided bus trip we took about 5 years ago. She is very historically knowledgeable of the battle and the lay of the land at Gettysburg. We made 3 or 4 stops along the way for Terry to explain the terrain and the battle and she always took time to answer questions. The horses were wonderful. Very well behaved and if, by chance, you had a horse that got a little frisky and did not want to listen while stopped, Pam or her assistant were right there to help get the horse settled. Would I recommend Hickory Hollow - you bet!! I don't know that there is a better company providing this service and I thank Pam and her ladies for providing us with a wonderful experience.

The owner/manager, Pam, is absolutely wonderful. She goes out of her way with regards to customer service and, we felt comfortable with her decisions on which horses were best suited for the 5 of us (2 adults and 3 children). We had the option for headphones for the tour but, didn't want to be 'tied down' with technology, while taking in all of our outdoor surroundings. The details that were offered on the tour/ride were adequate and, allowed us to enjoy the ride - and all the peacefulness that comes with it. Thank you again, for such a wonderful experience this summer!

We booked this tour a few weeks ahead after careful consideration of all the options. All equipment, including the helmets provided, was in excellent condition. I really appreciated the water bottle holders attached to the saddles! The horses were clearly assigned with great care, and 2 out of the 4 in my family had never ridden before but we were able to all ride together in the line. The horses were well behaved and responded well to instruction even from the inexperienced of us. There were all levels of riders in the group of about 16; only one who was clearly uncomfortable on his horse had any trouble, and that was because he seemed to think his horse should be able to do what was expected with no guidance from himself at all (he barely even held onto the reins). We chose to have a licensed battlefield guide, and she was wonderful. One additional thing I'd like to mention is that at one point where we were stopped and gathered for a talk from the battlefield guide, one of the horse tour guides got down and took pictures of each of the family groups with our own cameras, which was so nice!My only negative comment would be that we didn't feel like we were "on" the battlefield as much as we had hoped, as we were led through the trees behind Confederate Ave and then past a barn and over along Steinwehr Ave. But what we did see was explained and talked about expertly and we could really "see" how the battle went. The tour was not rushed at all, and the guide was happy to answer any questions as we went along.Overall, I'd recommend this tour group to everyone!

This is an excellent activity for families. We have three teenagers and the ride made viewing the battlefields fun and exciting for everyone. Pam was a great guide. The horses were gentle and easy to ride. The trail was beautiful and provided a great way to experience the battlefields. We were in the shade most of the time, yet had beautiful views of the battlefield. Pam kept an eye on all the riders and made you feel very comfortable. I would highly recommend this activity as a great way to experience Gettysburg with kids.