Kraus Farms: Horseback Riding in High Ridge

Horseback trail rides are a favorite activity among my family. We’ve camped at a few state parks over the years — mostly in Indiana — that offer guided trail rides. We’ve also done some guided horseback trail rides in the St. Louis area, including in nearby Grafton and at the now permanently closed Ace Stables. (I’m still disappointed that Ace Stables is closed because it was conveniently located off Interstate 170 near the middle of the metro area.) When my daughter asked to go horseback riding as an experience gift for her birthday, I decided to try a new-to-us but well-reviewed location: Kraus Farms Equestrian Center. 

Getting There

Kraus Farms Equestrian Center is located at 333 Hillsboro Road in High Ridge, Missouri, in Jefferson County just south of the St. Louis metro area. The center is near the intersection of I-44 and Highway 141. Many St. Louisans will get there via westbound I-44, taking exit 272 for Highway 141. Follow the signs to go south on 141, and turn right on Meramec Station Road just south of I-44. 

At the time of this post, there is road construction on side roads near Kraus Farms, but there is clear signage indicating that Kraus Farms customers can still use the road. The day before our scheduled trail ride, I also received an email from the center with detailed instructions on how to get there, including how to navigate the road construction. These instructions were useful because Google Maps currently wants drivers coming from the east to jettison their vehicles in a neighboring subdivision and then walk across a field/woods to reach the center, which is obviously wrong. Instead, follow Meramec Station Road past Smizer Mill Road and turn left on Hillsboro Road. Kraus Farms will be on the right. If you’re a trail ride customer, turn in at the second entrance. 

Parking

There are several gravel lots to park in at Kraus Farms. All parking is free. The email I received before our ride instructed us to park in the lot at the second entrance, and there were signs on the property marking where to park. There is parking at the first entrance, and I’m guessing that’s for people coming for riding lessons, horse boarding, or other purposes. A conservation area (more about that shortly) adjoins the second parking lot, and it has a gravel parking lot as well. There was plenty of parking at midday on the Saturday when we visited. 

Costs and Considerations

What you pay depends on what you do here. The prices below are what were listed on Kraus Farms’ website in the fall of 2025. There’s a lot going on here, with different options and age or weight requirements for some activities, so it’s worth checking out the farm’s website for all the details. Some things, such as trail rides, are specific to certain times of year. 

• Trail rides, $75 per person
• Lessons, $70 for initial evaluation and $275-$310 month for general public, or $152-$217 per month for boarders
• Camps, $60-$640, depending on camper’s age, camp type, and number of days attending
• Parties, $75 per person including trail ride or riding lessons, $37.50 per person for pony rides for younger children 
• Horse boarding, $435-$695 per month 

Things to Do

One of the things about Kraus Farms that impressed me is its diversity of activities. There are trail rides for ages seven and older, riding lessons in various styles for a variety of ages in both private or group formats, year-round camps for all ages and skill levels, party packages, opportunities for scout activities, and horse boarding. Other unique activities we saw advertised recently include:

• A Mommy and Me Camp for 3- and 4-year-old children with an adult chaperone
• A Ladies’ Day Out Camp with horsemanship lessons, a trail ride, lunch, and a “core values” coaching session
• A couples date night that includes grooming/tacking lessons, a trail ride, a craft, and an appetizer 

We opted, of course, for a horseback trail ride. Trail rides are for ages 7 and older, and riders must have the ability to listen and follow oral instructions. There is a rider weight limit of no more than 250 pounds, and riders should wear long pants and close-toed shoes. 

You book and pay for the rides online, and there are also waiver forms for each member in your party you can sign and submit online. I paid $225 total for three of us to ride, and I booked our ride not quite a week in advance. 

After arriving and parking, we made our way to what looked like the main building nearby. A sign on the door indicated that customers who were there for a trail ride or an evaluation lesson could enter and wait inside, and their guide or instructor would join them there soon.

We entered a large room with some tables and chairs, a kitchen area, and some vending machines. Windows on the far wall looked onto a large indoor arena. There were also some bathrooms to the right behind the kitchen. 

Our trail guide and an assistant showed up on time and helped us get fitted for helmets. (Helmets are required for minors and optional for adults.) On the Saturday when we rode, there were two other people in our group — a mom and her teen daughter — which made for five customers, plus the trail guide and assistant.

The guide asked how much riding experience we each had and spent a few minutes talking with us about how to sit on our horses and how to control them.

We also were instructed not to use our phones during the ride. You will want to have a phone handy so your guides can take some pictures of you on your horse at the end of the ride, though. It’s not recommended to put your phone in your back pocket during the ride, so if your phone doesn’t easily fit in a front or side pocket, the guide can store it securely in a bag on their horse during the ride.

After brief instructions, we made our way through one of several long stable buildings on the property, with a few horses watching us, out to a fenced area where the horses we were going to ride were saddled and waiting for us.

Portable steps made mounting our horses easy. After making sure everyone’s stirrups were properly adjusted, we set off. 

Kraus Farms adjoins Forest 44 Conservation Area, which has an extensive trail system, with some trails for both riders and hikers, and one trail for hikers only. We rode through the gravel lot where we parked, through a gate, and onto the conservation area property where we enjoyed a ride of about 45 minutes. The trails include a good number of hills and lots of peaceful wooded scenery. 

Our Thoughts

My family has done a number of guided horseback trail rides in different locations through the years. I’ve found that it’s the guides leading the ride that can make all the difference between a good experience or a mediocre one. Kraus Farms gets high marks in that respect from my family. The guides were friendly and patient and did a good job of explaining everything. 

In addition, the horses were calm and responsive, and the landscape was gorgeous and peaceful. I also appreciated how easy it was to book online and how well-marked everything was, from the signs for Kraus Farms customers near the road construction, to the signs telling us where to turn in to park and where to meet our guide. You couldn’t ask for much more if you’re looking for a relaxing trail ride that is an easy drive from most of the St. Louis metro area.