Dun-Pikin Farm

Dun-Pikin Farm Riding Lessons, Pony Parties, Petting Animals, Horse Boarding Dun-Pikin Farm is a small family operated horse boarding and lesson barn in Pasadena, Maryland.

We offer beginner and intermediate riding lessons for children and adults. Horse training. Boarding. Pony Pal program. Pony parties. Pony rides. Stop by and see us some time (visit by appointment only.) We'll see you 'Down on the Farm!"

Dun-Pikin Farm is a Maryland Horse Industry Board Certified Horse Discovery Center.

Tic Toc is checking out the storm that never happened as it rolls on to the East. We thought sure it was going to catch ...
06/07/2026

Tic Toc is checking out the storm that never happened as it rolls on to the East. We thought sure it was going to catch us as we scrambled back to the farm to batten down the hatches, but we hardly got enough sprits to wet the dust, and it passed on by with a rumble and an ominous cloud or two. Come kick up some dust when you Come Ride With Us!

Cindy🐴

When we were putting out a fresh hay round in the mare’s field this afternoon, Rick said, “The flies are biting.” I felt...
06/06/2026

When we were putting out a fresh hay round in the mare’s field this afternoon, Rick said, “The flies are biting.” I felt a little defensive with my months-long efforts at fly control. Perhaps it showed. He came right back with a conciliatory correction, “Well, it really is just one fly.” LOL.

This was a little before 3 this afternoon. I had left the horses in their stalls down at High Tide after I fed them because they were being bothered by the flies and it was obvious to me that they didn’t really want to go out (yet.)

We went down to let them out later in the evening and when we let them out, they bolted out to the top of the field and they were grazing quietly when we left. I noticed the horses in the neighboring field were also enjoying the fading light of sunset and quietly grazing.

There is a specific kind of quiet that sometimes settles in on quiet summer evenings. My favorite time of day? Maybe. The work for the day is done. Everyone is fed and set up for their evening of horse chatting or whatever they do when we aren't listening.

And as for that one lone fly Rick spotted? Hopefully, he’s turned in for the night, too. There’s nothing quite like the magic of the barn at sunset, so why not come experience it for yourself? Come Ride With Us!

Cindy 🐴

This is the problem with run-ins. If you don’t know, a run-in is a shelter out in a paddock or field that horses can acc...
06/04/2026

This is the problem with run-ins. If you don’t know, a run-in is a shelter out in a paddock or field that horses can access during inclement weather. Some horses never use them and seem to prefer to stand out in whatever Mother Nature is doling out at the time. Others count on them to get out of the rain, wind, snow, sun and flies. All of our horses seem to use them at one time or another.

I watch the horses in the run-ins constantly just because of what’s happening in this picture. Do you see it? If you look really close you can see Olive in the back of the run-in standing out of the sun. It looks like the others probably thought that was a good idea too, until they realized Olive was in there.

Olive is definitely in charge of that field and all the others take their cues/orders from her. I’m sure she probably pinned an ear. I can tell by just looking at the picture. Ruby, obviously a little braver being Olive’s sometime friend, is standing halfway in. At least getting her head out of the sun. Kate and Tammy … they’re just not brave enough to even try to walk in, so they stand outside looking in. I feel really bad that a run-in that is big enough for 6 or 7 horses only has 1 horse standing in it because of 1 pony with a BIG personality.

This is a pretty typical problem with run-ins and horses. Having a run-in out in a field does not always guarantee shelter for all horses. At Dun-Pikin since they don’t all have access to the run-in, the mares will probably stay in their stalls out of the sun and extreme heat that is on the way. They will be turned out in the evening.

The geldings on the other hand get along much better. Percy and Arlo stand happily together in their run-in. Marley, Cash and Shine share theirs fine too. The boys seem to be happy to make room for everyone. There just always seems to be less drama with the geldings.

We always try to keep an eye out for issues with all of the horses. Are they happy? Are they comfortable? Are they healthy? We do our best to make sure we can answer yes to all. Happy horses make for happy riders.

Come Ride With Us!
Cindy 🐴

06/04/2026

This is Percy and Arlo. Percy’s the one hogging the ball. Percy and Arlo first met when they both were living at High Tide. Just like here at Dun-Pikin They were best buddies at High Tide too. Arlo came to Dun-Pikin first leaving Percy behind at High TIde.

It was obvious that Percy missed him, but Percy being Percy carried on, desperately looking for someone to play with. It was kinda sad because Arlo was doing the same exact thing at Dun-Pikin, the problem was … They were 2 young horses 5 and 6 years old living with horses well into their 20’s.

Let’s just say the older horses were unimpressed. They’re playing days were over years ago. All they wanted to do was doze in the sun and munch on their hay. They looked constantly annoyed by Arlo and Percy. Both horses at both farms were frustrated and a little sad.

Several months later a miracle happened and one day Percy came walking up the driveway at Dun-Pikin and the dynamic duo were reunited again. They immediately took up where they left off.

Constantly together, happily playing, and always being a bother when you’re trying to do anything in their field. Though they almost always make me smile, they are definitely trouble times two. But watching them chase that blue ball around the field makes all the extra mischief worth it. True best friends belong together, so come on out to the farm and see these two in action.

Come Ride With Us!
Cindy🐴

Recently I’ve become a bit obsessed with keeping the manure picked up in the fields. Today was a reminder of why it’s im...
06/03/2026

Recently I’ve become a bit obsessed with keeping the manure picked up in the fields. Today was a reminder of why it’s important to keep up with things. In fairness I think we’ve been doing a pretty good job. No matter how often you're out there picking it up, the horses are always leaving more. In fact just this morning I had finished picking up in the mare field. If I do say so myself, it looks really good. When I put Olive out she walked about 10 feet away from the gate, lifted her tail and left me a fresh pile. She looked me right in the eye as if to say “why do you even bother.”

We’ve kept up pretty well except in the field that Arlo and Percy live in. It’s a bit harder to get theirs done. They are never not in the field and while you’re trying to work, they’re trying to help. Unless you have another human helper you can’t even get in the field. If a field doesn’t get done on any given day it’s theirs. 2 weeks ago we had a week of rain. The field got muddy, the hay got walked in and it quickly became a big mess. I couldn’t stand it any longer so today we got busy.

Layla and Stella moved Arlo and Percy out onto the grass field. We got the tractor and got busy. It took 2 tractors and 4 people but in an hour we found the mats on the ground and had the mess cleaned up. I even hooked up the drag and filled in some holes. I doubt very much that Arlo and Percy care but, but me … I now feel good when I look out there.

The big trick to taking care of the fields is doing it daily. Once it gets ahead of you it becomes a project instead of just a chore. Today it was a real project. A big thank you to Stella, Layla and Rick. They all hung in there with me to get the job done. Stella and Layla even stayed late so we could get it all done. With an amazing crew, even a massive cleanup project turns into a great day out in the fresh air. The fields are clear, the mats are clean, and we are ready for whatever mess the horses think up next!

Come Ride With Us!
Cindy🐴

I admit I panicked a bit when I realized today was the first day in June. We always start planning for summer camp in Ja...
06/02/2026

I admit I panicked a bit when I realized today was the first day in June. We always start planning for summer camp in January. We look at the school calendar and pick our dates. In January, June seems so very far away. Now suddenly, just like that it’s June. It’s now time to get serious about Summer Camp.

This year our camps filled up early, really early. We kinda have a plan. Over the years we’ve learned what works best for us, the kids and the horses. That being said, it still takes a lot of planning to have the week run smoothly. We need to double check our paperwork, buy snacks, craft supplies and plan our schedule making sure we have what we need for each day. We’ve gotten it down with probably 20 years of camps behind us but I still get nervous every summer when June arrives.

There are almost as many staff as there are campers. Safety is number one for me and with so many kids coming most with no horse experience at all, you can just never be too careful. It also takes a lot of hands to adjust stirrups, double check girths and give some anxious riders confidence. Camp is supposed to be fun. We make sure we have plenty of help so everyone has a good time while being safe.

Even with camp going on, the farm routine continues. Horses are fed and turned out. Fields are cleaned and hay is put out. Water troughs are scrubbed and filled and the stalls are cleaned. Our campers get an up close look at what goes on at the barn everyday. They also get to be a part of everything that goes on.

By the time Friday afternoon rolls around, the exhaustion is real—but so is the pride. Seeing a kid who was nervous on Monday morning laughing and confidently leading a thousand-pound horse by the end of the week makes every single bit of the planning, the sweating, and the pre-camp jitters completely worth it. We are so excited to welcome this year's groups, make some incredible memories, and show these kids the ropes of barn life.

The countdown is officially on, and we are ready. Pack your boots, bring your smiles, and Come Ride With Us!

Cindy🐴

06/01/2026

It seems everyone and everything is on a schedule at Dun-Pikin. Everyday like clockwork we feed at 3 PM. The horses always line up at the gate the minute they see anyone near the barn. For the last 3 days at feeding time a doe has wandered in. Unlike the horses the doe is not waiting for us, but is coming in to feast on the mulberries that are currently ripening on the trees. I think it’s fascinating that it comes at the same time every day.

I will say it’s been a bit un-nerving to be moving the horses around with the deer calmly eating about 20 feet away. I’m always expecting the horses to spook and take off running. I suppose the deer and horses must see each other more often than me, because the deer barely looks up when we walk by. Though it may make me a bit anxious, I must say the horses completely ignore the deer too. I’ll never understand horses I guess. They can lose their minds over a squirrel that crosses their path on the trail but they calmly walk by a deer almost as big as them.

I guess when there are delicious, sweet mulberries on the line, everyone is on their best behavior! It’s just another beautiful, unpredictable afternoon out here. If you want to see what kind of surprises a day at the barn can bring, grab your boots and Come Ride With Us!

- Cindy🐴

Reach for the stars (or maybe some clover), when you Come Ride With Us!Cindy 🐴
05/31/2026

Reach for the stars (or maybe some clover), when you Come Ride With Us!

Cindy 🐴

Except for maybe petting a horse over the fence no one ever does anything with the horses mounted or unmounted without t...
05/30/2026

Except for maybe petting a horse over the fence no one ever does anything with the horses mounted or unmounted without talking about safety first. Horses are dangerous animals just by virtue of their size. It’s very easy to get hurt accidentally. A misplaced foot, a quick turn of the head or even an accidental bump can cause at the very minimum a bruised foot, a headache or a painful fall. Believe me I speak from experience.

Understanding how horses see and react to the world, helps keep everyone safer. It seems like everyone knows not to walk behind a horse, though seldom do they know why. Few people know about a horse’s blind spots which are directly in the front and back. Sudden movements when standing in these spots can cause a horse to kick out of fear. No one seems to know either that it’s best to talk to a horse when approaching. That it’s best to touch their neck or shoulder first. It can startle a horse touching their face or nose first. It’s also best to not run or yell around horses either. Sudden noises can cause a horse to bolt. You should also always stay on your feet and never sit or kneel down next to a horse. You need to be able to move quickly in case you need to.

There are many more safety rules. Never wrap a lead rope around your hand. Never drape a lead rope over your shoulder or neck. Only tie a horse to solid objects with a quick release knot. Always turn a horse’s head to the gate when you’re turning a horse out. Always wear closed toed shoes or boots with a heel. Always wear a helmet. There are hard and fast rules when it comes to safely tying, trailering, mounting, tacking up, feeding treats, grooming and many more. Learning the rules helps keep everyone safe. If you want to learn more … all you have to do is Come Ride With Us!

Cindy 🐴

Today is Thursday, so let’s make it a Throwback Thursday.I dug up this old photo, which I think is from about 1984. You ...
05/29/2026

Today is Thursday, so let’s make it a Throwback Thursday.

I dug up this old photo, which I think is from about 1984. You can see we had a really nice crop of Silver Queen corn growing. For 17 years, Rick and I grew vegetables and sold them out front on Mountain Road.

Today that green barn you see when you drive up the hill now stands right where all this corn was growing. In the picture, on the left is the corn crib that is still with us. And just a little piece of the old stable where my granddad kept his mules is visible on the right. Today we call our farm “Dun-Pikin” because, well, we are "done picking" vegetables, get it?

We sure did love growing those vegetables, but it's also great to see horses grazing where the corn used to be. We’ve definitely come a long way since the early 80s, and we hope you get a chance to see all the great things happening here at Dun-Pikin Farm. Check out our newly designed website at www.dun-pikin.com and Come Ride With Us!

Cindy 🐴

Address

4808 Mountain Road
Pasadena, MD
21122

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