About

Drafty Acres Stable was founded in Lore City Ohio. After having leased an equine facility on St. Rte. 22 for a couple years we thought it best for our customers and our business, to build a brand new modern, larger facility at our family farm on State Route 285, which is only 4 miles from that location and just as close to Salt Fork State Park. After having been at the old facility, our brand new facility made it seem as though we had moved to horseback riding heaven! We are still great friends with the landowner, but have absolutely NO involvement with the new Lessee of the facility. We have made several attempts to "work together" but all have been refused out of haste.

Our facility is family owned and operated and also that of a working farm. This gives us the ability to step-up the standards with regard to offering the lowest possible rates in the area.

The majority of our horses are horses who were rescued in one manner or another. These horses now provide funds to help the many new rescues who are constantly in need of help. 100% of all monies taken in at Drafty Acres Riding Stable go directly toward supporting Drafty Barn Farm Rescue,Inc. To learn more about Drafty Barn Farm Rescue,Inc. please click here.

While here at Drafty Acres, you may have the opportunity to encounter many different species of wildlife such as deer, turkey, red fox, quail, raccoon, skunk etc. While others tend to brag about their "SHADED TRAILS", we like to brag about the fact that our sights are all natural and unscathed: no timbering and robbing nature and the wildlife of their beauty. Our trails are both open and wooded and we believe the open areas will give you more of a feel of freedom in the saddle, while looking out over some of the most fabulous acreage in the Appalachian Region. You will enjoy miles and miles of scenery without feeling like you are riding through a tunnel! Not to mention the fact that you will not have to battle the dreaded mosquitos and all the other pesky insects that lurk in the woods, waiting to attack you and make your ride as miserable as they can by buzzing, biting or stinging the enjoyment out of your ride!

In the barn yard you will have the pleasure of enjoying the sights of many of the babies born here each year. Our facility is very well kept and maintenance is priority whether in the barn or out in the field, things are well groomed and clean. We raise and show Quality Registered Belgian Draft Horses, Simmental Cattle, sheep and goats just to mention a few! There are always plenty of babies for your enjoyment! You may even, from time to time, get to witness our beautiful Belgian draft horses working in the fields raking hay the way our grandparents did it!

Our goal is to keep our visitors safe and well accommodated so every minute of your visit at our facility will have you planning your return.

We are very proud to share that we are 100% accident free. We feel this is largely attributed to our many years of knowledge, professionalism and horsemanship, along with our careful selection of honest, safe and dependable horses. We choose to keep the same horses during our off season, while others sometimes sell them to avoid the cost of feeding them in the winter. In our opinion, this guarantees you- our valued customer(s) with the safest most dependable horses in the Salt Fork State Park region.

Owners and or Family are Proud members of the following Associations and/or Organizations:

American Quarter Horse Association ~ AQHA

American Paint Horse Association ~ APHA

American Quarter Horse Youth Association ~ AQHYA

Ohio Belgian Breeders Association

Belgian Draft Horse Corporation of America

Percheron Draft Horse Corporation

4-H Youth Development Program

Guernsey County 4-H Equine Council

(Vice President 2005, President 2006~07, 2007~present)

Guernsey County Chapter of Ohio Horsemans Council

Shenandoah Valley Riding Club ~ SVRC

Boy Scouts of America, Certified Merit Badge Counselor

Girl Scouts Heart of Ohio, Inspected and approved

New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program

Guernsey County Department of Travel and Tourism

Rocky Fork Youth Rodeo Association

Ohio Humane Society Supporter/Volunteer

Simmental Cattle Breeders Association

Ohio Wagon Train Association

National Barrel Horse Association ~ NBHA

Inetrnational Barrel Racing Association ~ IBRA

Professional Bull Riders Association ~ PBR

North American Bull Riders Association ~ NABA

Southern Extreme Bull Riders Association ~ SEBRA

Certified Judge for National High School Rodeo Association (Junior Division)

Our credentials far out-weigh those of any equine facility in the area!

Therefore we're sure you will feel more than confident during your visit with us!

Good -bye Dear Friend

It is with heavy heart that we post here, the passing of a very special friend, Chester L. Gray. Chester and his late wife Marjorie owned and operated Salt Fork Stables in Winterset,Oh. In the early 90's I was employed by Marjorie as a guide and stable-hand at her facility. We grew to be not only friends, but in a sense family of sorts. There were many memories made with the Gray Family through our shared interests and ventures in the horse business. After having worked for the Gray's, I eventually leased their facility and began my own journey in the public trail riding business with Marjorie as my sargeant in arms! She was a true wealth of knowledge and eager to share her thoughts, ideas and most of all her opinions. We sadly lost Marjorie on March 9, 1999 very unexpectedly. We then became attached to Chester aka: "Chet" as we knew how devastating this loss was for not only him, but his family also. To know Chester was in itself one of the greatest accolades in our lives. We have enjoyed many parades in which we pulled his covered wagon with a team of belgian draft horses. There were campfires, little buckaroo days with the head start children, the trick dog and pony shows with spooky and tippy and many more events which leave us extremely fond memories of the days gone by. Chet was a true legend in his own time and had you known him like we did, you would surely understand. He never met a stranger and welcomed all who called or came. He could sit for hours sharing war stories from the South Pacific as well as the story of how he shook the hand of Pony Express Rider Charlie "Bronco" Miller when he was a young lad. He was a proud man who worked hard to gain and have what he loved. Never afraid to let his brow sweat to complete the task at hand. Always sharing with his community, and rarely if ever turning a blind eye to anyone in need.

Chester will be missed here at home and in our community as well as in many parts of the country through the friendship he carved with hundreds of people who are involved in mapping wagontrain trails of the pioneer days across this great land.

You are home now Chet, you are home. Your time on earth is done and heaven has welcomed you. The lord must have had a reason to take you from us, as he only calls on those whom he needs. I bet he has a pony who needs to learn a trick or two! Tell Marge and all of those who passed before you that we love and miss them and will see them again someday just as you are reunited with them now! Tell all of our horses who have been lost along the way, that we miss them also and are glad they also are pain free and enjoying greener pastures as a part of the Lord's herd.

Love always,

Your many friends and extended "family" here at Drafty Acres.