Description
Blue Ridge Mountain 5-Day Trail Clinic & Camping
Have you ever envisioned you and your horse riding the beautiful Fall-colored trails of the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwestern Virginia? I’ve got just the clinic for you! Hosted at the Hungry Horse East Equestrian Campground, I am excited to bring you a 5-Day Trail Clinic. Nestled in a valley near Ivanhoe and Fries Virginia, Hungry Horse East offers access to trail riding for all skill levels. This clinic will appeal to anyone wanting to create a better relationship with their horse and improve their horsemanship through daily demos and miles of trails.
WHAT WILL THE WEEK CONSIST OF? Each day Ken will cover exercises/topics designed to improve communication between horse & rider, achieve softness & body control, and prepare horses and riders in “real world” situations. Riders will also receive instruction on how to improve their seat and balance, how to offer clearer and more consistent cues, how to achieve smoother transitions between gaits, and MORE. Each day, the clinic group will hit the trails (guided by Ken with the assistance of master certified trainer Donald Archer) to enjoy the beautiful scenery and great company all while having opportunities to improve rider/horse confidence, overcome spooky obstacles, learn trail safely and much more! This week is designed to log lots of hours on the trail so be sure to pack your saddle bag and all your trail necessities for an awesome week.
ABOUT THE LOCATION: Rich in history and home to over 130 species of trees and 1,600 plants, The Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia are one of the most beautiful and iconic parts of the American Landscape. Local wildlife sightings include deer, turkey, black bear, squirrels, chipmunks, racoons, beavers, grouse, songbirds and the rarely seen elusive bobcat. **Don’t forget your camera for these special wildlife experiences & picturesque landscapes. Hungry Horse provides the following well-maintained facilities: 14 Campsites with plenty of room and ample shade, full electrical/ water hookups at every site (dump station available near bathhouse) and sewer hookup at limited sites, a fully furnished cabin, 2 barns with a total of 30 stalls and a clean restrooms/bathhouse. Less than 10 miles away sits the town of Fries, which is a really cool little mountain river town to see.
CLINIC COSTS? The week-long clinic is $1,800.00 per rider. This cost includes an RV site or cabin room on a first booked basis/availability and one stall per rider. (Please contact our offices if you would like to book an extra stall). Each stall does come fully bedded and extra shaving are available onsite. Riders are responsible for stripping their own stall at the end of the week. Each barn is fully equipped with dump trailers for the waste at each barn. Riders are responsible for their own feed/hay for their horse and their own meals for the week.
(Please contact our offices if you have any questions on lodging availability. There are plenty of RV sites, the cabin rooms are what will likely be more limited depending on how guests’ book).
LODGING: The main house offers 3 stories of lodging. The top loft is open and features a queen-sized bed. Even though it is open, it does have some privacy as it cannot be seen from the main floor. The main floor showcases a kitchen, den, little seating area, private bathroom/ shower and a private room with queen sized bed. The loft & main floor share the private bathroom/shower. The downstairs has an open area that has a twin sized bunk bed & couch, a private room with a king-sized bed & tv, storage room with fridge/ coffee pot and a private bathroom/ shower. The downstairs would likely best be booked by a group of friends or larger family. All bed linens, towels, wash cloths and tissue provided.
14 Available Campsites with plenty of room and ample shade, full electrical/ water hookups at every site are available (dump station available near bathhouse). Sewer hookup is available at campsite #8 & #10.
MEALS: All guests are responsible for their own meals and welcome to cook at their campsite or in the cabin space if booked there. Please note- we will likely do at least one-two all-day trail rides where you will want to plan to pack a saddle bag meal. For evening if you would like to go out, less than 10 miles away is the town of Fries which has a really nice restaurant/steak house. Galax and Wythville are about 20 miles away and have pretty much anything from the national chains to locally owned BBQ, Mexican, Japanese and American food and we also look forward to some good old campfire meals/fellowship.
A FEW HUNGRY HORSE IMPORTANT CAMPGROUND RULES: Illegal drugs, alcoholic beverages, firearms and fireworks are prohibited onsite. No loud music that disturbs other campers. Dogs are welcome, but must be kept on a leash at campsite or in trailers and not be left unattended. Dogs are not allowed in the bathhouse, cabin or the office. Dog owners must clean up after their dogs. Aggressive dogs are not allowed on the property. Fires should only be built in grills provided, be kept to a reasonable and safe size, never be left unattended and extinguished at the end of your stay. Deposit all garbage in dumpster provided. Discharging of gray or black water at the campsite is prohibited. Use the dump station provided near the office.
HORSE INFO: A valid proof of negative coggins is required (within 12 months). Stallions prohibited. Smoking, lanterns and open flames prohibited in barn. Stall lighting provided, please keep lights off when not in use. No hay bedding. One horse per stall. No horses are allowed in the campsites, except for saddling only. Do no hitch horses to spigots, fences or trees. For your horse’s safety, it is recommended to be up-to-date on vaccinations for whatever your local vet would suggest for your horse, alongside of having the strangles vaccine done.
CHECK IN/ CHECK OUT: Guests are welcome to check in the day prior to clinic start date. Ideally guests need to arrive between 2-4PM on 10/6/24. Guests are welcome to checkout the day after the clinic finishes. Check out time is my 12PM (noon) on 10/12/24.
DIRECTIONS: From the Fort Chiswell/Max Meadows area I-81. Take exit 80/US 52 South toward Hillsville | Go 1.2 miles and turn right on 94 South toward Ivanhoe | Continue 13.9 miles the turn right on Brush Creek Rd (Rd 602) at the (now closed) Brush Creek Store | *Note: Do not take the first Rd 602 to the left; instead continue to Rd 602/ Brush Creek Rd at the store as described above | Go 2.2 miles then turn left into Hungry Horse at the Hungry Horse East sign.
From the Galax/Hillsville area I-77. Take exit 14/HWY 58 West | Go 13.5 miles and turn right on 94 N toward Fries | Go 4.2 miles, 94 N turns right at River Side Store | Continue on 94 N 4.6 miles to Fries | 94 N turns left at entrance to town | Continue 5.4 miles | Turn left on Brush Creek Rd/ Rd 602 before (now closed) Brush Creek Store | Hungry Horse East is 2.2 miles from that intersection | Turn left at Hungry Horse East sign
Alternate Directions from I-77 Traveling North. Do not take exit 14. Instead, continue on I-77 N and take exit 24 (Poplar Camp/69) | At the end of the exit ramp turn left onto 69 W toward Austinville | Go 4 miles to the stop sign and turn left onto Austinville Rd (Rd 619) | Go 4.1 miles to the stop sign and turn left onto Ivanhoe Rd (Hwy 94) | Go 8.3 miles turn right onto Brush Creek Rd (Rd 602) at the (now closed) Brush Creek Store | *Note: Do not take the first Rd 602 to the left; instead continue to Rd 602/ Brush Creek Rd at the store as described above | Go 2.2 miles then turn left into Hungry Horse
HOW TO BOOK YOUR TRIP? Limited Riding Spots will be available! A deposit of ½ the clinic cost ($900.00) is due upfront to secure your spot. *Please note all deposits as of 10/10/22 are non-refundable with the exception of a medical emergency (for the rider only)- in this case, as signed document must be sent to our office from your doctor. The remainder of the balance is due 2-weeks prior to your trip. Payments may be made online or by mailing a check made out to Ken McNabb Horsemanship to KMH PO Box 454 Lovell, WY 82431 with the memo of Hungry Horse. *IMPORTANT: if you send us a check, please be sure to call and let us know so that we have the spot secured for you before it books full.
