• Do I have to make a reservation?
  Yes, all our activities require reservations.
• Do you charge the credit card I used to make a reservation?
  No, not unless you don’t show and don’t cancel four hours in advance.
• Why do you take a credit card number?
  To ensure that you will cancel if you are unable to make it.
• How do I get there?
  We are located in Andover at 550 Bunker Lk. Blvd. which is the ACTIVITIES CENTER ENTRANCE. This is about half a mile east of the Bunker Hills Regional Park north main entrance, between Hanson Blvd. and Hwy. 65/Central Ave. Click here for directions.
• What address do I use for MapQuest?
  550 Bunker Lake Blvd. NW Andover, MN 55304.
• Are you in the park? Do I have to pay to get in?
  You cannot access us from the main park entrances, only the Activities Center Entrance. You do not have to pay to get into our part of the park.
• When are you open?
  We are open year round, but our hours do vary with the season. Generally, we are open 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM Monday to Saturday, 12:00 to 4:00 PM on Sunday. We are closed on Mondays from Labor Day until Memorial Day.
• Can we tip our guides/drivers? Yes.
• Can you bring the horses to us?
  Yes. We offer traveling hay, carriage, and pony rides.
• Can I bring my own horse to ride?
  Our trails are open to the public. Please inform the office upon arrival. We do not allow outside horses in our trail rides. We ask that you please come to the walk when around our trail ride groups or hayrides.
• Are there restrooms?
  We have two indoor (near the office) and two outdoor (port-a-potty) restrooms.
• Do you sell food/beverages?
  We have a pop machine in the community room.
• Can I bring my dog?
  No dogs are allowed on the stable premises.
• What do we do for scouting badges?
  The program covers one hour hands-on talk covering horse safety, care, grooming, saddling, bridling, etc., and a one hour arena riding lesson.
• Do you have horse camps?
  Yes, we offer a variety Horse Day Camps, including Spring Break, Summer, and Winter. Check our web site frequently for dates and registrations. Register early, we fill up quickly!
• What other attractions are in the park?
  Check out the BUNKER HILLS REGIONAL PARK web site.
• Do you offer gift certificates?
  Yes, in any amount and for any activity. Stop by or call our office to purchase one.
• What payment forms do you accept?
  All major credit cards, checks, or cash.

TRAIL RIDES:

• How do I make a reservation?
  Just call 763-757-9445. We need the number and ages of riders, contact number, and a credit card to hold or prepayment.
• Do you charge my credit card?
  We only charge the card if you don’t show and don’t cancel four hours in advance.
• What if it rains?
  With the exception of severe weather, we go out rain or shine. If YOU wish to cancel, please call at least 4 hours in advance to cancel. Please do not wear ponchos, but dress for the weather.
• How old do you have to be?
  Children must be at least 8 years old AND 52” tall to ride on trail.
• Do you allow double riding?
  For safety reasons we cannot allow double riding.
• Do we go out with a guide?
  Yes.
• Do we go in a group?
  Yes, one to fifteen riders.
• Do we get to gallop?
  No. The trails are walk only, due to safety concerns and the inexperience of most of our customers. For those who wish to do more, we offer a lesson program.
• How long is the ride?
  One hour, including mounting, a brief instruction and dismounting.
• What if I’m late to a ride?
  Our rides are scheduled to go at the top of the hour. If you are late, you will miss the ride.
• What should we wear?
  Long pants and closed-toed, closed-heeled shoes (no sandals/clogs, but tennis shoes are fine). Dress for the weather. Please do not wear ponchos. In the winter, be sure to bring a hat and gloves.
• Are helmets required?
  Yes, for anyone under 18 yrs. old. Helmets are included in the cost of a trail ride, but you may also bring your own helmet. Helmets are optional for adults.
• What if I’ve never been riding?
  We take novice riders all the time. Our horses are calm and well-trained.
• Can I bring my camera/cell phone?
  No. You may take pictures before or after the ride, but we cannot allow picture taking or talking on cell phones during the trail ride. You need both hands free to ride your horse.
• Do we always take the same trail?
  No. It is up to the guides to decide where to go. Some trails are used more than others, but rarely are two rides the exact same route.
• Can you accommodate special needs riders?
  We can accommodate most people with special needs. Please call the office for additional information.
• What is your weight limit?
  You need to be able to mount and dismount from a mounting platform without assistance. We do have draft horses available for trial rides. Please inform us when you make your reservation if a rider is over 225 lbs.
• Can I request a horse?
  Yes. We do rotate our horses, but we will do our best to accommodate requests.

PONY RIDES:

• How do I make a reservation?
  Just call 763-757-9445. We need the number of riders and a contact name/number.
• Can I request a pony?
  Yes. We do rotate our ponies, but we will do our best to accommodate requests.
• How long is the ride?
• About twenty minutes long.
• Are helmets required? Yes. You may bring your own or rent ours for $2.
• Can the pony go with the trail rides? No. The pony trail is a separate activity from the horse trail rides.  
• How old do children need to be?
  We do not have a set age, but children need to be able to sit and hang onto the pony by themselves. The adult leading needs both hands for the pony, so if you are unsure if the child can hold on alone, you may have a second adult walk beside to steady the child.
• Can I bring my camera/cell phone on the ride?
  No. You may take pictures before or after the ride, but we cannot allow picture taking or talking on cell phones during the ride. You need both hands to control the pony.
• Does an adult have to lead the pony?
  Yes. Our insurance requires pony leaders to be over 18 yrs. old.
• Do you do birthday pony parties?
  Yes. We usually can accommodate 10-12 riders at once.
• Can we bring the ponies treats?
  We prefer not.

HAY/SLEIGH RIDES:

• How do I make a reservation?
  Just call 763-757-9445. We need contact information and a deposit or credit card.
• Is the ride horse drawn?
  Yes. A team of draft horses (Belgian, Shire, or Percheron) pull our rides.
• Do you do haunted hayrides?
  No, for safety reasons. Horses and things jumping out of the woods do not mix well.
• How many can fit on a wagon? On a sleigh? 
  Wagons can hold up to 40, sleighs up to 25. If you have more than that, we can take out multiple racks.
• Can we go on the ride in the dark?
  Yes. Our last rides goes out at 7:30 PM. We do ask that all riders stay on the wagon after dark.
• What about a fire?
  We offer one hour fires for $10 either before or after your ride.
• Can we bring hot chocolate/cider?
  Yes. There are outlets available inside to plug in your beverage during the ride. Please take it outside to your picnic table after the ride.
• What if we want to cook at the fire?
  You are responsible to bring anything you want/need to cook. Don’t forget the roasting sticks!
• What if it rains?
  With the exception of severe weather, we go out rain or shine. If YOU wish to cancel, please call at least 4 hours in advance to cancel and reschedule your ride.
• Do I have to make a deposit?
  Yes. We can hold your reservation on a credit card or you may send in an $85 deposit.
• Does everyone pay individually?
  We need the total balance from the contact person at the time of the ride. You are responsible to collect from your group if they are paying individually.
• Can we bring blankets?
  Yes.
• Is the hay loose or in bales?
  It is loose, and we actually use straw. (It causes fewer allergies.)
• Can you handle large groups?
  Yes. Our wagons hold up to 40 people, and we can take up to six wagons at a time.
• Can I bring my dog?
  No dogs are allowed on the stable premises.
• Can we bring alcoholic beverages on the ride?
  No, but you may have them in the picnic area before or after the ride. Please drink responsibly and pick up after your group. Sorry, NO KEGS ALLOWED in the park.
• When do you take sleighs out?
  Do to our inability to control the weather, we can’t ever promise a sleigh. If you book a sleigh ride and there isn’t enough snow, we simply take a hay wagon out instead.

PARTIES:

• Is there an indoor room?
  We have a community room with four picnic tables, a long counter, sink, multiple outlets, and microwave available to rent for $75/hr. Please reserve in advance. The hour includes your set up and clean up.
• Can we decorate?
  Yes, but it must be done during your reserved time and you must clean up after.
• Do you sell food/beverages?
  We have a pop machine in the community room.
• Can we have it catered?
  Yes, but they must set up/clean up in your rental time.
• Can you handle large groups?
  Yes. Our wagons hold up to 40 people, and we can take up to six wagons at a time. We also offer a community room and the arena to rent for large parties. Call for pricing and additional information about our large party rental options.
• Can we bring alcoholic beverages?
  You may have them in the picnic area or community room, but not on the rides. Please drink responsibly and pick up after your group. Sorry, NO KEGS ALLOWED in the park.

LESSONS:

• What ages do you offer lessons for?
  We have group lessons starting at 7 yrs. old through adult, and peewee lessons starting at 5 yrs. old.
• Are they year-round?
  Yes. We have an indoor and outdoor arena. The indoor is not heated, but it is insulated so we can hold lessons through the winter.
• Do parents need to accompany children?
  No, not unless you would like to. We do have a lesson helper in the barn to assist tacking, but younger students may need a little added help from the parents.
• Are helmets required?
  Not for arena riding. We leave that up to the rider’s/parent’s discretion.
• What will I learn?
  Safety around horses, grooming, saddling, bridling, communicating with a horse, proper position, rhythm skills, steering, control, and much more.
• Is it English or Western?
  We start all students in the western saddle.
• How do I get into the program?
  Call 763-757-9445 during weekday business hours. It is an ongoing program, so we do not have a set start or finish to the classes. We will get you into the program as soon as we have an opening that works with your schedule. You may continue in that time frame until you decide to stop or take another opening.
• What if I need to miss a lesson?
  Not a problem. Just let us know, either by calling or when you check in the week before that you’ll be gone. We will hold your spot and write you down for the next week. If you “no show, no call”, you do run the risk of losing your spot and/or being charged for that lesson.
• Do you teach special needs riders?
  Yes, starting with private lessons to give undivided individual attention. We have staff that are certified Minnesota Special Olympics equestrian coaches as well as instructors with years of special needs teaching experience. We try to accommodate and challenge special needs riders; however, our first concern is always safety. Our instructors reserve the right to modify or discontinue lessons if they deem it unsafe.