Willow Grove Farm

What Willow Grove Farm does

Willow Grove Farm & Stables is a Clydesdale horse breeding and training facility operating on a 120-acre property at 458 West Mill Road in Long Valley, New Jersey. Founded in 1964 by Henry J. Schubert as a dairy farm, the operation transitioned through produce farming and is now positioned as one of the largest Clydesdale breeding and training facilities on the East Coast, housing over 30 Clydesdale horses. The business is currently owned and operated by Heidi Schubert Ort and Win Lake, who collectively bring over 50 years of experience across multiple breeds and disciplines.

The company's revenue model is built on a diversified portfolio of direct-to-consumer equestrian experiences and event services. Core offerings include hour-long guided trail rides ($100/person), horse-drawn wagon rides, riding lessons ($50–$70) and driving lessons ($140–$200/hour), professional horse training for green or problematic horses, and self-led farm/barn tours. Seasonal programs include a six-week summer camp (June–August) and the annual Christmas with the Clydesdales holiday event ($40/ticket). The River Shed, a newly renovated riverside event venue opened in 2023, generates venue rental income at $2,000–$4,850 per event plus birthday party packages at $650. The farm also sells Clydesdale horses and offers lease and lease-purchase packages. All bookings are handled via phone (973-615-6745) and email, with reservations required for rides.

The farm serves families, children, youth groups (including scout troops), and event hosts seeking private celebrations. Marketing is conducted primarily through Facebook, Instagram, and the company's WordPress-based website. Operations are closed Mondays, with rides available Tuesday through Sunday. The business is privately held, with no disclosed investors, parent company, or external funding.

Name

Willow Grove Farm

Legal name

Willow Grove Farm

Website

https://willowgrovefarm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Willow Grove Farm is a Clydesdale horse breeding and training facility in Long Valley, NJ, offering guided trail rides, wagon rides, riding lessons, summer camp, and a private event venue (The River Shed) to families, youth groups, and event hosts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equestrian Services and Horse Breeding

NAICS

Horses and Other Equine Production (11292)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Horse Breeding & Stud Farms (AFAEAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Equestrian & Horse Trekking Centers (THAAAKAL)

Keywords

• Equestrian services
• Horse training
• Event venue rental
• Summer camp programs
• Clydesdale breeding

Headquarters

HQ city

Long Valley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Riding Experiences: Hour-long guided trail rides on Clydesdale horses accommodating all skill levels from fearful beginners to advanced riders. Booked Tuesday through Sunday, closed Mondays.
2. Riding and Driving Lessons: Riding lessons (30 or 45 minutes) and driving lessons (single cart or team wagon) taught by experienced trainers using individualized methods.
3. Horse Drawn Wagon Rides: Wagon rides on or off the farm, pulled by Clydesdale teams. Includes barn tours, meet and greet with horses, and picnic area access.
4. The River Shed Event Venue Rental: Event venue rental for special events with seasonal pricing. Includes birthday party packages and 5+ hour rental options from May through April.
5. Summer Camp Programs: Multi-week summer camp programs for children held during summer months. 2026 camp runs June 29 through August 14 with 6 weeks of sessions.
6. Horse Training Services: Professional horse training services for green or problematic horses. Pricing varies based on training program necessary.
7. Horse Sales and Lease: Sale of Clydesdale horses with lease and lease purchase options available. Currently listing horses including Lola and Bonnie, 4 and 2 year old black Clydesdale mares.
8. Special Events and Birthday Parties: Carriage services, giant pony rides, barn tours, and birthday party packages. Giant pony rides feature Clydesdale horses for children.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Willow Grove Farm & Stables operates a Clydesdale horse farm on 120 acres in Long Valley, New Jersey, offering guided trail rides, horse-drawn wagon rides, riding and driving lessons, horse training services, educational barn tours, seasonal summer camp programs, and Clydesdale horse sales. The farm also operates The River Shed, a renovated riverside event venue available for private rentals, birthday parties, and special events.

Product overview

Willow Grove Farm & Stables is a Clydesdale horse farm and event venue offering a portfolio of equestrian experiences and venue rental services. The core offerings include guided trail rides and wagon rides on Clydesdale horses, riding and driving lessons, horse training services, and educational farm/barn tours. The farm also operates seasonal summer camp programs for children and provides special event services including birthday parties with pony rides. Additionally, the company sells Clydesdale horses and offers The River Shed, an event venue along the Raritan River available for private rentals. Gift certificates are available for all experience-based services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Camp at Willow Grove Farm Multi-week seasonal summer camp program for children offering hands-on equestrian activities and interactions with Clydesdale horses at the farm. The 2026 camp runs June 29 through August 14 with 6 weeks of sessions.
• Riding Experiences (Guided Trail Rides) Hour-long guided trail rides on Clydesdale horses accommodating riders of all skill levels from beginners to advanced. Rides are $100 per person and available Tuesday through Sunday, closed Mondays. Reservations required.
• Horse Drawn Wagon Rides Horse-drawn wagon rides pulled by Clydesdale teams, available on or off the farm. Includes barn tours, meet and greet with horses, and use of picnic area. Pricing by quote.
• Riding/Driving Lessons Riding and driving lessons taught by experienced trainers using individualized methods. Riding lessons are $50 for 30 minutes and $70 for 45 minutes. Driving lessons are $140/hour for single cart and $200/hour for team wagon.
• Special Events Special occasion services including carriage services, giant pony rides, trail rides, and barn tours for events such as birthday parties. Birthday party packages start at $650 and accommodate up to 35 people for 2 hours.
• Horse Training Professional horse training services for green or problematic horses using individualized training methods from various disciplines. Pricing varies based on training program required.
• Farm/Barn Tours Self-led educational barn tours where children and adults can feed horses, groom them, and learn about Clydesdale care. Available for individuals, scout troops, and youth groups anytime during the day.
• The River Shed Event Venue Event venue rental along the South Branch of the Raritan River featuring a newly renovated farm building with rustic charm. Pricing ranges from $2,000 to $4,850 depending on day and season. 5+ hour rental options available May through April.
• Horses For Sale Quality Clydesdale horses for sale, many broke and trained on premise by professional trainers. Lease and lease purchase packages available. Currently listing horses including Lola and Bonnie, 4 and 2 year old black Clydesdale mares.
• Gift Certificates Gift certificates available for lessons, riding experiences, and wagon rides, offered as gifts for special occasions.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• World Equestrian Center: Massive equestrian venue in Ocala, FL hosting competitions, lodging, and horse experiences. Comparable as a multi-revenue equestrian destination, though at vastly larger scale and competition-focused.
• Spruce Meadows: World-renowned show jumping venue and tourist destination in Calgary, Canada. Comparable as a high-end equestrian destination with events and tourism, though focused on elite competition.
• Kentucky Horse Park: State-run equestrian destination park in Lexington, KY with horse experiences, museum exhibits, and tourism. Comparable as a horse-centric experiential destination, though at a much larger state-sponsored scale.
• Tryon International Equestrian Center: Major equestrian venue in Mill Spring, NC hosting competitions, events, and lodging. Comparable as a multi-purpose equestrian experience destination, though more focused on elite show jumping.

Direct peers

• Tanque Verde Guest Ranch: Historic family-owned dude ranch in Tucson, AZ offering trail rides and equestrian activities alongside lodging. Closely comparable business model: horse-based tourism experiences serving families at premium pricing.
• Vista Verde Guest Ranch: Luxury dude ranch near Steamboat Springs, CO offering trail rides, lessons, and all-inclusive equestrian programs. Comparable as a premium family destination with multi-revenue horse experiences.
• Mackinac Island Carriage Tours: Iconic horse-drawn carriage tour operator on Mackinac Island, MI. Comparable business model built around horse-drawn transportation experiences for tourists at premium per-ride pricing.
• Budweiser Clydesdales / Warm Springs Ranch: Anheuser-Busch's Clydesdale breeding and training facility in Boonville, MO. The world's most recognized Clydesdale operation, also offering public tours. Directly comparable given shared Clydesdale specialization and public-facing tourism model.
• White Stallion Ranch: Family-owned dude ranch in Tucson, AZ offering trail rides, lessons, and horse experiences. Comparable as a multi-generational family-run ranch providing equestrian tourism with diversified programs.

Regional players

• Big Apple Carriages Inc: NYC's primary horse-drawn carriage tour operator serving Central Park. Comparable business model (horse-based tourism experiences) but in a different regional market (urban NYC vs. rural NJ).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WillowGroveFarm
• Instagraminstagram.com/willowgroveclydesdales
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/willow-grove-farm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Willow Grove Farm