An excellent family activity awaits at Ryerss Horse Farm.

Ryerss Farm for Aged Equines was a spot that wasn't on our radar upon our visit to PA, but the recommendation from a neighboring camper turned into one of our favorite spots of all time!  The farm is home to about 80 horses (plus one donkey and one pig) that have either retired from service, have been abused or have simply been provided by owners who want their aged horses to live out the rest of their days in the company of friends.  The waiting list for horses who'd like to retire here is about 350 and all horses must meet the minimum age of 20 to be considered for residency.  The farm provides full-service care for all the animals in its care and it was obvious to us that they are loved and well cared for.

But here's the best part... you get to walk through the stables and the fields to pet and feed as many horses as you want!  All the horses were as friendly as can be and once they know you have the food they become even more affectionate.  Special horse snacks are provided at the office for a small fee and the quantity provided was more than enough for us.  Some of the horses have special diets and those are marked with signs requesting they not be fed (which is difficult when they see all their friends getting treats but it's for their own good.  Why the long face?)

The front office is where you can check in with farm staff for some guidance on how to navigate the grounds, buy snacks for the horses, stock up on merchandise from their gift shop and visit the clean and well-maintained bathrooms. 

Be sure to visit the website for more information on how to support Ryerss Farm through donations or to see their calendar of events such as Family Fun Days and seasonal events.  There's even a Run for the Horses in April where participants can run a 10k or 5k run or a 1-mile walk through the farm's grounds to support their efforts.

The grounds are typical of a farm atmosphere, so the land is relatively flat and easily traversed with strollers or wheelchairs.  The horse stables did have some large fans running during our visit that could potentially impede some wheeled conveyances but if the crowd is modest you should be fine.

Pro tip:  If you're on the fence about feeding the horses or just walking the grounds I can't recommend feeding them enough.  The price was about $3 for a bag of snacks and the interaction you get by feeding them is something you won't want to miss.  Not to mention it all goes toward caring for the animals.

The farm is open from 10 am to 4 pm daily.  Visits are free of charge, but donations are encouraged and certainly go towards a worthy cause.