Horse enthusiasts visiting the seaside Outer Banks of North Carolina have a wilderness of places to ride, from state parks to a tour through the maritime forest of Hatteras Island. For out of state visitors, there are also several farms and centers within a few hours of driving that provide overnight stays for horses, from one night to a week. The Outer Banks are a string of seaside towns, including Duck, N.C., that comprise six parks and wildlife areas, lighthouses, trails and beaches.
Quiet Woods Acres offers layover, stopover and weekly accommodations for traveling horses at its facility in Ashland, Virginia, three-and-a-half hours north of Duck. It’s also four miles from town, which features hotels, restaurants and equine supply stores. The farm is also close to local trailheads, such as Lake Anna State Park and Petersburg National Battlefield. There is easy trailer access, and available stalls and pasture. Electricity and water are also available, and visiting humans are welcome to stay overnight in their trailer. Quiet Woods is located three miles from Interstate 95, at Ashland.
Quiet Woods Acres
12437 Mt. Hermon Road
Ashland, VA 23005
804-798-1822
horseandmuletrails.com
Cowgirl Heaven Stables provides overnight accommodations for traveling horses. Its primary function is as a small co-op boarding stable. It’s a Western and Trail barn in Virginia Beach, an hour and 45 minutes north of Duck, and describes itself as “a touch of the Wild West, in the heart of Virginia Beach.” The facility offers trails, a grass riding area, a 48-ft. round pen, 13-by-13 foot matted stalls and only six regular full-time boarders. Cowgirl Heaven Stables is open seven days a week.
Cowgirl Heaven Stables
Virginia Beach, VA 23450
757-286-3298
newhorse.com
The Winged Horse is a private, gated horse farm in Quinton, Va., located three hours north of Duck. The farm provides overnight, weekly and monthly rates for stalls, pasture board and lay-ups. Feed and hay is extra. The farm offers human guests king- and queen-sized guest rooms, or a one-bedroom cottage with a full kitchen and bath. All guest accommodations have heating, air conditioning and satellite TV. There is full-time management on site.
The Winged Horse
2949 Pocahontas Trail
Quinton, VA 23141
804-932-9285
horseandmuletrails.com
The farm provides overnight and layover accommodations as space permits, according to the website, with daily rates for pasture or stall boarding. Painted Oaks is located three hours north of Duck, N.C., just off of Interstates 85 and 95. The business is devoted to retired horses. There are limited hook-ups, but the farm can accommodate large rigs. There are also box stalls, an outdoor arena, riding trails and trailer hookups for electric and water.
Painted Oaks Horse Boarding
16845 Branches Road
DeWitt, VA 23841
804-69-4636
retiredequines.com
