Dead Broke Farm

My two granddaughters are enjoying a week of day camp at Dead Broke Farm. As young girls, 7 and 9, both comfortable with horses, this proved to be a great experience of daylong hands on interaction with horses as well as dogs, cats, and various other farm animals.\r \r As the girls said:\r I get to ride a different horse every day. You get to brush the horses.and feed the horses treats and take them on trails. There are a lot of dogs too. There are big and small dogs and they are all sweet. The helpers are great teachers, and you can make a lot of friends. I hope to go again next year.\r I liked the horses cause I liked to brush them and feed them. Some of them are really really calm and easy to ride. They have dogs that are sweet, especially Frederick because he follows people around and snuggle.\r The cats are sweet too, but sometimes they just lay around in the lay wagon. The people are nice too, you make a lot of friends, and they are really helpful with the stuff you do.\r \r I see Dead Broke Farm as a laid back easy going place with horses that seem content and well taken care of. The country atmosphere, the horse trails, the play areas, are all very welcoming. There is also a clubhouse for rainy days complete with video games, tv, movies. The volunteers that help with the horses are of all ages, providing interaction for the young ones to learn from. The girls are tired but happy at the end of each day and eager to return. It would be an excellent experience for youngsters of all ages. more

I've sent my 3 children to Dead Broke Farm for a week of summer camp for several years. Although there are less expensive camps around, I appreciate the opportunity for children to see what a real horse farm is like, and learn about the work it takes behind the scenes to keep it running. If you are afraid for your children to get hot and dirty, and want them to have scheduled activities all day long, go elsewhere. But if you want them to learn something about horses, have some fun and come home more thankful than before for a clean, air-conditioned home and a good dinner, you've got it here. more

I took my son (7) to go horseback riding today and we both really enjoyed ourselves.This was our first experience at Dead Broke Farm. My son loves being around horses and we were looking for something informal; a chance to get on a horse and try riding. It ended up providing us with just the experience we were looking for.\r \r Carla, who runs the farm gave a tutorial on how to mount/dismount and steer/control your horse prior to going out on the trail. The lesson focused on being safe and how to make sure your horse is comfortable by using the reins effectively. \r \r The staff assigned us horses and helped us to get ready to go out, making sure that our saddles were secure and that the stirrups were a fit for me as well as my son. They talked to us about the horses and how they came to be at the farm while we were waiting for others to get their horses ready. I found them to be very helpful and informative.\r \r While on our ride it was peaceful and the horses were well trained. My son and I were both happy with the horses we were assigned. For someone who doesn't have experience with horses that was important to me. It was a good way to be outdoors and enjoy the scenery on the trail which included spotting a number of deer while on our ride.\r \r All in all a great experience and my son is already asking when we can go back. more

This is my 4th year sending my 3 kids (9, 9, and 10 yrs old) to Dead Broke Farm summer camp and I am always amazed at their excitement! It's the only camp program that all 3 faithfully beg me to attend. I love the exposure to nature and the kids absolutely love the horses! Campers get 2 one-hour rides per day which is awesome for the price. They offer great discount programs for the budget conscious family with multiple children. The kids get to groom, help saddle, feed and ride the horses. Even on rainy days, the farm keeps the kids entertained with a host of other animals, an air conditioned building with foosball, video game and movies. Other animals include rabbits, chickens, dogs, cats, etc... Dead Broke Farm is a wonderful camping experience! more

Recently my daughter wanted to explore the world of 'horseback riding' so we decided to take a look at Dead Broke Farm. After about a 30 minute tour we headed for our car and my daughter said she would like to attend the following week. Being a New York City Girl and knowing my daughter is also ""A City Girl in the making"" I immediately thought, ""HA,This will last a DAY!""\r \r Well, it is week 2 and she is begging for week 3!! Dead Broke Farm is an Amazingly Authentic Horse Farm. \r \r If you are looking for a camp that is going to 'hand hold' your child, if your child does not enjoy getting downright dirty or if your child does not truly love, LOVE animals, this is NOT the place for them. \r \r HOWEVER...if you would love, LOVE to instill some responsiblity, work ethic, and lifelong memories for your child, then say YES to Dead Broke Farm. You will not be disappointed!!\r \r In closing, I would like to say THANK YOU to Ms. Carla, Mama, Miss Dana, the staff and volunteers for all that you do! \r \r Y'all have a special place in Heaven! \r \r more

This place is terrible. I have worked with animals for years and I have never seen a place as bad as this. The horses are confined to extremely small pastures in filthy conditions. A good majority of them lack shelter or even tree's to escape the elements.\r \r The horses I had experience with were poorly trained, even for rescues. The owner was always shouting at costumers and employees and was just plain mean! \r \r This place needs to shut down! The owner is clearly taking on more rescues than she can handle and I worry for the health and safety of both the horses and the clients. more

My 13 year old attended a week of summer camp in June 2013. She had a great week and loved all the horses and farm animals. She is even considering volunteering here for the summer! more

Simply Rude! The owner has a giant chip on her shoulder and should never work with the public. Don't waste your money. more

I do NOT recommend this place. I cannot tell you how much i wish this business would close down. Here's why:\r \r 1) The horses are kept in poor conditions. The owner of the ranch is a single mother who seems to take on more horses than she can handle. It is recommended that each horse has about 1acre of land, and this woman forces 4-5 horses into about 1/2 an acre. Many times horses that don't get along with the others are forced into about ""pastures"" only a a few meters wide.\r \r The pastures are kept in poor and dirty conditions. While pastures do become muddy, this is insane. Horses stand ankle deep in mud all-year around without any relief. there are a lack of sheltered areas for many of the small 'pastures'. When it rains many of the horses are left without even a tree to stand under.\r \r Don't get me wrong, the owner seems to love the horses and knows how to care for the them. The problem is that she is incapable of caring for all of them. She doesn't have enough land, time, money, and people to care for all the horses properly. \r \r A good portion of the horses have behavioral problems. While it is understandable, due to many of them being rescues, the owner is irresponsible for using these particular horses for the trail riding. Many of the horses behavioral problems could easily be corrected if the owner actually attempted to correct them. Many of these horses have been at the ranch for years and still hold the same bad habits they did when they originally came.\r \r 2) I volunteered there for a few weeks until I quickly quit. The owner doesn't really train the volunteers, and wastes no time in placing them in pastures with some very uncontrollable horses. On the first day I remember being yelled at multiple times for something I had not even learned yet (Bear in mind that since than I have become a fairly experienced rider and horse owner). The owner lacks the ability to bite her tongue and control her temper.\r \r The other employees and volunteers are usually very wonderful, but the owner treats them equally bad. After quitting I met several other individuals who shared similar complains when they had volunteered/worked there.\r \r 3) A couple times, when we were getting behind schedule, the owner cut the trail ride time by over 50%. For example, one couple who came to celebrate a birthday paid for a one hour trail ride. Instead they were given only a 20 minute trail ride due to the employees being set behind schedule. I understand that getting behind schedule is normal, but to cheat the costumers out of what they paid for? I don't think so!\r \r I have also witnessed the owner yelling and screaming at costumers over the phone and in person. I never witnessed her screaming a child, but that may be due to the fact that I didn't volunteer long enough to witness it.\r \r The owner lacks people skills, and seems to run the business purely because she needs the money to keep the horses and her land. \r more

I have ridden many a horse, few as poorly trained as the one at Dead Broke Farm. I have never been treated as rudely, so consistently, in a pervasively negative atmosphere as at Dead Broke Farm. The horses were so poorly trained, we were indeed grateful to be only broke, but not dead, after our ride at Dead Broke Farm. With so many wonderful places to go horseback riding, don't waste a minute of your life at this one. \r \r I was appalled at the rude staff, untrained horses, and unprofessionalism and negativity that defined Dead Broke Farm. The staff was rude throughout, from the reservations, paperwork, to the very last moment we were on the horse. They snapped and YELLED at the customers very inappropriately throughout. A cloud of negativity seemed to emanate from the owners and seep into everyone and every horse on that farm.\r \r For an hour after our reservation was supposed to start, the staff readied the horses. They did not fit us to our horses, however, as inexperienced riders were put on wild horses and vice versa. Also, they did not fit the stirrups to all of the riders, as one new rider complained mid-ride that her feet did not reach the stirrup. She was YELLED at for this, although it was the staff's fault for misfitting her. \r \r From the get-go, the trail guides (the owners) callously ignored our concerns that the horses were fighting with each other and not listening to simple commands. (I am an experienced rider and the horse I was on reared its head at the slightest command.) The horses were obstinate and unruly, which is a sign of either poor training, not being able to roam freely on a regular basis, mistreatment, or all of the above. (Many of the horses seemed to be accustomed to being tethered, having to stand in mud all day.) \r \r The trail guide (owner) went far ahead of the pack and did not check on the customers, many of whom were beginners. When customers shared concerns with the trail guide (when they were finally within speaking distance and she was not talking on her CELL PHONE), the owner either completely trivialized our concern or blamed us. When the horses did not listen to our commands, the owner rudely yelled at us to control them, although most of the riders were beginners and the horses were not responsive due to their being not well trained by the owner. Also, the trail guides gave contradictory information on how to handle the horses.\r \r The owner chose to ride as the trail leader a horse she'd only had for a week, whose temperament and social hierarchy were unknown/unestablished. The horse reared into the air several times, making the other horses and customers even more anxious. \r \r The owners of this farm just don't seem to know the appropriate way to treat other human beings. I feel sorry for them for this, and we tried to demonstrate to them how one should treat others. Please do not subject yourself or your children to these people. more

My family and I which included my 7yr old son, 9 year old daughter and my son 19yrs old. When we arrived at the farm every one was busy which is too be expected. It was a Saturday Set. 8th at 2:00. before you confirm your ride you are sent an email as to what is too be expected when you arrive. The owner Carla explained that we would be there until about 4:00.. This was for my daughters birthday! Carla gave us all waivers to fill out before we could ride. Then she gave very explicit instructions to all of us on how to handle our horses. She explained herself very well! Young children say they understand. but they really don't. With that being said we all got assigned horses and waited for all of us in the 2:00 group to get ready to go on the trail!! When it was time to go we were told to lead our horse over to the water troll. The water was very clean.. We then proceeded down the trail to enjoy our hour ride. So I thought! Little did I know there was going to be a women that had been complaining about everything and anything!! I knew we were in for a wild ride. She even complained to the owner why did she have horse fly's??? Ridiculous I know!! Then she was complaining because the horses were too close! Like I said she didn't stop! She told Carla she wanted to get off the horse and go back to the stables.. Carla explained that she could not do that because other people have paid and want to ride their horse. Also, if the owner did this as she explained to the women all the horses would follow and she would not be able to control them! Well the women would no give in she kept complaining and wanted to get off the horse. I remember the women telling her husband you need to tell this women to get me off this horse. The women said this is my final warning I want off the horse.. Then she screamed and said MAM I told you I want to get off this horse. Well after the lady would not stop complaining Carla the owner finally told the women to get off the horse if this is what you want. As Carla was getting off her horse. Carla's horse bucked and caused and injury to Carla's face.. By now blood is running down her cheek!! As far as the little boy's horse which happens to be son. The horse did not run it walked through the woods and then the guide in the back got the horse and brought him back on the trail. My son was not in danger!! more

I've worked at Dead Broke for almost a year and a half, and have 11 years of horse experience including extensive showing and ownership of my own horses over the years. Lisa H. below is very misguiding as I know for a fact that the one thing Carla truly cares for are her horses, most of them yes, being rescues. We have two horses missing eyes, Tiny and Stormy. Tiny was neglected by his previous owner and had developed an infection in his eye, which was why it had to be removed upon arrival at Dead Broke, not due to any cruelty or negligence on part of Carla or her staff. The fact that Lisa suggests this is completely outrageous! We have one horse that is somewhat ""missing"" a tail and that is Tammy Faye, who is not actually missing her tail but is an Appaloosa, a breed notorious for a lack of hair. It's just how she is and she's a very sweet camper horse. Also speaking as a worker of well over a year, we scrub the water troughs regularly to make sure the horses are receiving fresh water. The horses get very good care for trail horses, from making sure that they're getting an appropriate amount of grain for their individual needs, to receiving any needed medicine, hosed down if they are hot, not being ridden if they are injured (which yes horses have an uncanny ability to hurt themselves as any horse owner knows), to having their feet trimmed and shod as needed. Yes when it rains the pastures turn muddy, but that's all it is, mud. It doesn't hurt anyone and if you pay attention you'll notice that the first thing the horses do when it rains is roll around in it. Also, it is up to the rider to pay attention to the riding demonstration before the ride goes out and up to the parents to determine if their child is mature enough, physically and mentally, to attempt horse back riding. I love horses, have cared for them since a little kid and I know what it takes to keep them in good shape and well cared for and would never support or work for the place that Lisa H. is describing. more

SOMEONE WILL GET HURT AT DEADBROKE FARM IF THIS ENVIROMENT CONTINUES???..WARNING!!!! more

My daughters are attending camp this week and are having a great time with all the animals at the farm! They get in lots of riding time if they choose or can go on a wagon ride in the afternoon. more

My daughter age 7, attended a week long summer camp at Dead Broke Farm. This was her first time riding a horse and she came home super excited about her experiences, grining ear to ear. She also would talk about the many other animals she interacted with on the farm and what each one likes to eat. Hay rides and the playground were another highlight in addition to riding the horses. From a staff persepective, I was always greeted with an enthusiastic smile and the staff member calling my daughter by name upon arrival and departure. A bonus is they also have a professional photographer (3rd party but who has worked with this group for the past 5 years) who takes photos on the 2nd day so you have the option to purchase pictures of your child's experiences riding a horse - a very nice touch.The real test came when I asked my daughter if she would like to do camp here again next year, to which she replied enthusiastically yes, in short she loved it and I loved seeing her have such a good time. more

My 7-year old daughter is just finishing a week of camp at Dead Broke. She has had an amazing experience. I seriously have not seen her this excited about a day camp - ever! She comes home dirty and happy - in my opinion, a true sign of an authentic and awesome farm experience. Her favorite things are the baby chicks, caring for the horses and the tractor rides. more

My eleven year old daughter and seven year old son loved this camp. They loved the trail rides and seeing deer and wildlife in the woods. My daughter loved the chicken house and helping feed the various animals on the farm, my son loved the numerous dogs. This was a great experience for them. more

My 2 daughters have been attending the horse camp at Dead Broke Farm for the past week and LOVE it!!! Both of my daughters have been riding horses since they were 4 years old and are familiar with horses. They love that they get to ride 2x a day for an hour each time and that they get to go on wagon rides daily. This is a true farm experience with chickens, miniture horses and dogs to play with throughout the day. When they are not riding they are playing on the playground, brushing or playing with the farm animals and learning how to care for the horses. Yesterday, a horse farrier came and showed them how to take off horse shoes and put new ones on. Each child got to take home their very own horse shoe. more

I had my two elementary aged children attend a horse camp for the first time and couldn't have been more pleased with the experience at Dead Broke Farm. Camp lasts for 5 days and runs 9-5 (with an hour of time available on each end). There is so much to do; kids learn about horse (and other animal) care, ride for at least two 1-hour sessions, play with many animals on the property; it's hot, sweaty, dirty and absolutely fantastic for even the most inexperienced kids...they sleep very well each night and are raring to get back in the morning. It did not take much begging to get me to promise a return for next year! more

My daughters and neice attended thier first horse camp this week and overall was a great experience. Two of them loved the independence of riding with little instruction. They found it exciting to figure out how to control thier horses on the trail rides. My youngest daughter found this terrifying. She was not ready or mentally prepared to ride without instruction or a guide in case she needed help. Although there are three guides for every trail ride, she felt very uneasy getting on a horse with no experience. For her personality some coaching and gradually getting them used to the idea of independently riding would have been more comforting for her. It took me two days to get her back on a horse and for her not to be afraid. Otherwise, the other two girls starting trotting and wanting more peppy horses by week end. Two out of three loved the experience. more