Hoofin It for Horses
Description
Ready to show your horsepower? Hoofin’ It For Horses is back on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at Castle Rock Farm in Afton. We’ll have hikes for everyone! Bringing the kids? There’s an adventure hike for them at 10:00am. Want to start off the morning learning all about the birds of Castle Rock Farm? Sign up for the 9:00am bird watching hike. Want to explore the farm’s beautiful trees? Set out at 2:00pm.
Enjoy a FREE public Open House from 9:00am to 2:00pm before or after your hike. See the wonderful progress at the farm. Meet and learn about our 4-legged friends and browse the tack sale.
Don't miss this fun way that you can help horses and donkeys in need!
Hike Descriptions:
9AM Bird Watching Hike
Walk the fields and woods of Castle Rock Farm and experience the bird life. The rural nature and varied habitats of the farm make it a haven for many bird species, including familiar birds like Northern Cardinals and Blue Jays, as well as less commonly seen birds like Pileated Woodpeckers, Belted Kingfishers, Indigo Buntings, and Brown Thrashers. Early fall migration will be under way in September, opening up the possibility to see birds such as warblers that are migrating to their wintering grounds further south.
Your guide, Lisa, is a nature lover, life-long bird enthusiast, and amateur nature photographer skilled in identifying many bird songs and calls. Lisa is a member of the Piedmont Virginia Bird Club, Charlottesville Camera Club, and a regular volunteer at Castle Rock Farm. Come with binoculars and sturdy walking shoes and be prepared to participate for 60 to 90 minutes.
9:30AM & 11AM Horse Meet-and-Greet and optional Woodland Walk
Put your best hoof forward on this hike to meet the horses of Castle Rock Farm. Our guides, Keena, Wendy, and Colleen, have extensive knowledge of Hope's Legacy Equine Rescue and the equines we serve -- they can't wait to introduce you to the rescue's horses and donkeys! Explore the farm learning all about the rescue, stopping along the way to say hi to the farm's lovable critters. The meet-and-greet will last approximately 60 to 75 minutes. Want to see more of the farm? Continue on with Wendy to enjoy our woodland trails that extend through the farm's natural areas. This optional extension adds 30 to 45 minutes of additional hiking time.
10AM Kids Adventure Hike
Adventures are AWESOME at Castle Rock Farm. Does your child love horses or exploring outside? Grab the family and sign up for this hike featuring scavenger hunts, picture word puzzles, a potato spoon race, and even a touch and run race. Learn about the farm's horses and donkeys in between fun-filled activities all with a purpose - helping the rescued animals at Hope's Legacy. Your guide, Sarah, is HLER's Program Coordinator and manages all of our children's programming in addition to adult programs. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. This hike is pay-what-you-will to accommodate families of all sizes. This hike will last approximately 60 to 90 minutes.
12:30PM Yoga & Meditation Hike
Castle Rock Farm is the perfect spot to enjoy outdoor yoga and meditation. We will start with a gentle yoga practice before a silent nature walk along one of the trails where we will be focusing on "awe and wonder," noticing the extraordinary within the ordinary of all that the earth has to share. We will also sit amid the trees for a meditation, focusing on all our senses before walking back down for a short discussion of our experience together.
A former yoga teacher and a lover of nature, Courtenay spends the majority of her time outside in the garden or planting and tending to natives when not working. She spent some time at a nature retreat this summer on Iona, a small island in the Hebrides Islands of Scotland, where noticing awe and wonder was the theme. Courtenay can't wait to share what she learned on this retreat with everyone on the hike. Please bring your own mat, water bottle, and a hat.
2:00PM Tree Identification Walk
Join us for a tree identification walk with Emily (a Charlottesville Area Tree Steward and Central Blue Ridge Master Naturalist). You won't find any horse-chestnuts here (which is just as well, they're toxic to horses), but with fruit ripening on the branches and the first hints of fall color, there'll be plenty to catch the eye. We'll wander around pastures and take a woodland trail on an easy-to-moderate afternoon walk, meeting the horses on our way and getting to know the trees that call this farm home.
If you are already a tree enthusiast, please bring your favorite tree ID book, hand lens, and/or binoculars as aids. Please dress according to the weather conditions. We will not be walking fast but recommend wearing hiking boots or sneakers, and bring water and food, if necessary.
Your guide, Emily, has been fascinated by trees since childhood, a fascination that sharpened into a love of Virginia's tree diversity after she moved to the Central Blue Ridge Mountains outside Charlottesville. She now shares that curiosity by teaching tree ID and botany. You can often find her on a trail with her dog, a hand lens, and a field guide.
FAQs
- Can I attend more than one hike?
Yes! You can join as many hikes as you would like. Reserve your spot by adding a ticket for each hike prior to checking out.
- Can children attend hikes?
Yes, children may attend hikes when accompanied by a parent or guardian. The kids adventure hike is planned with your little ones in mind while the other hikes are focused on different topics for adult audiences or older children.
- Are parents required to join the kids hike?
All children must be accompanied by an adult for the 10AM kids hike. For this reason, the kids hike is a pay-what-you-will ticket so the child and any adults joining them can participate at a rate that is affordable for everyone!
- Will I need to complete any forms?
Yes, each individual participating in a hike will need to complete a liability waiver prior to beginning the hike. We encourage all participants to download the waiver form when completing their ticket purchase and email completed forms to development@hopeslegacy.com. Otherwise, you will need to complete a physical form when checking in before beginning your hike.
- What should I wear and bring with me?
We recommend sturdy shoes and socks suitable for walking over uneven terrain, a water bottle, sunscreen, and a hat. If you are carrying other items, a small backpack or sling bag is always useful.
- What if I arrive late to my hike?
If you arrive within 10 minutes of the departure time for your hike, we will work with you to join your group. We will determine on a case-by-case basis if your group will be able to catch up with the hike if you arrive between 10 and 30 minutes late. Your spot will be forfeited if you arrive 30 minutes or more after your hike departs.
- Where do I park and check in?
Castle Rock Farm's address is 2080 Castle Rock Road, Afton Virginia 22920, and works well with most GPS devices. From Castle Rock Road, you will follow our gravel driveway - staying to the left - past several fields before you see a small house with a gravel parking area. Follow the blue signs with arrows. You will see tables and tents set up near this parking area where you can park, check in for your hike, and meet your guide(s).
For the yoga and meditation hike, ticket holders will likely be directed to drive a little farther to park at our Intake Barn depending on weather the day of the event.
- Will the event continue in rain? What about severe weather?
This is an all-weather event and will continue if conditions happen to be rainy. Please dress appropriately for muddy conditions and bring a raincoat.
The event will only be cancelled for severe weather based on local weather forecasts or notices from news stations like NBC 29 and CBS 19. In the event of severe weather, we will notify all participants via email and mobile text. Updates will also be posted on our website, Facebook, and Instagram.
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