Schauber Stables is trying to spread the word about all it has to offer. It’s offered a bunch of events in recent months that have let the community check out the horse barn in Ballston Lake: a visit with Santa. An Easter egg hunt. A haunted hay ride.
The latest event is Sunday on the Farm, set for Sunday, May 29, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Stable manager Karen Crandall described it as an open house.
People can come, take a tour and walk around, she said. `Gas prices are so high, we thought people might be looking for something to do closer to home.`
The event is good for kids of all ages provided they like animals, Crandall said. Schauber Stables often hosts birthday parties, and a recent guest of honor was just 2.
Some of the stable’s rescued animals will be on hand, such as Winston, a pot-bellied pig; goats and lambs. There are pigmy goats who were rescued and lived inside and were fed bottles, leading Crandall to remark, `They don’t know they’re goats. They think they’re dogs.` That makes for fun and friendly encounters, she said.
Other animals will also be part of a petting zoo.
Of course, horses are the main attraction. Everyone can watch the animals be groomed and then take a turn themselves. They can also watch jumping demonstrations, perform a barn chore and feed a horse some treats. In fact, kids will even have an opportunity to make a treat.
`They can get nice and gooey,` Crandall said with a laugh.
Most activities are free, but there will be a $5 charge for pony rides. Crandall said pony rides were free one year, and it wound up being a nightmare: the line stretched at least 20 kids long all day.
Pony rides, Crandall added, don’t necessarily mean rides on ponies. They refer to someone being led around on an animal, which could be a horse or a pony. Schauber Stables will use both during Sunday on the Farm.
The schedule for the event is as follows:
Grooming demon strations at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Jumping demon strations at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Horse-related crafts at 10:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m. and 2:45 p.m.
Making horse treats at noon,1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Schauber Stables, LLC is at 428 Schauber Road in Ballston Lake. It’s between exits 10 and 11 of the Northway, not far from Route 50 in Burnt Hills. For more information, visit www.schauberstables.com.“