Mercer County Stables
Pennington, New Jersey
Mercer County Stables, also called the Mercer County Equestrian Center, is a county-owned stable run by the Mercer County Park Commission in Pennington, New Jersey. Its Adaptive Riding program offers weekly lessons for people with intellectual, physical and/or sensory disabilities, and the county lists two private therapy practices that offer ground-based equine-assisted psychotherapy at the barn. The stable also runs recreational lessons and classes for children.
- Adaptive (therapeutic) riding lessons
- Special Olympics equestrian training
- Eagala-model equine-assisted psychotherapy and learning (through independent providers)
- Beginner English riding lessons
- Lead-line lessons and groom, tack and ride classes for young children
- Read-to-a-horse sessions
- Children and adults with intellectual disabilities
- People with physical disabilities
- People with sensory disabilities
- Special Olympics athletes in Mercer County
- Clients seeking equine-assisted psychotherapy
More about this center
About the Program
The county describes Adaptive Riding as a lesson program for individuals with intellectual, physical and/or sensory disabilities. Lessons are weekly, with spots on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The county says the center provides hundreds of adaptive riding lessons each year.
Instructors are certified through PATH Intl. (CTRI) or CHA (IRD), according to the county. The stable is a Special Olympics registered Local Training Program for Area 11-Mercer County and has five registered Special Olympics New Jersey equestrian coaches. The county notes that there are precautions and contraindications to horseback riding and asks families to contact the program for details. See our guide to therapeutic riding for background.
Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy
The county lists equine-assisted psychotherapy and learning sessions at the stable using the Eagala model, which pairs a licensed mental health professional with a qualified equine specialist. All work with the horses is done on the ground, with no riding.
Sessions are arranged directly with the listed providers: Diane McMahon, EdS, RN, LPC, of Healing with Heart and Horses Therapy Practice in Lawrenceville (609-973-5881), and Dawn M. Raffa, Ph.D., of Inner Balance Psychology Center in Pennington (609-613-0110).
The Facility and History
The stable sits on a 243-acre property with 51 stalls, an indoor arena, two outdoor rings, four wash stalls and eleven pastures. Marked trails connect to Rosedale Park and Mercer Meadows via the Lawrence Hopewell Trail.
The land was once a dairy farm and was renamed The Hadda Farm in the 1960s. Janet Schaafsma built the main barn and indoor arena in 1979, and the county acquired the property in 1994. Volunteers help with barn work, summer camp and adaptive riding, according to local news coverage.
Location
Mercer County Stables is at 431B Federal City Road, Pennington, NJ 08534, in Hopewell Township. The stable is open Monday to Thursday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and weekends 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
From public records, not yet reviewed by the center · Last updated Oct 2026 Suggest an edit
Common Questions
Answered from the center’s own website and public records.
How do I sign up for adaptive riding?
Call the Adaptive Riding program at (609) 730-9059, ext. 403. Staff can explain current openings, eligibility and rates.
When are adaptive riding lessons held?
Lessons are weekly, with spots on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, according to the county.
Does the equine-assisted psychotherapy involve riding?
No. The county says all equine-assisted psychotherapy work is done on the ground. Contact one of the listed therapists directly to book.
How do I register for other lessons and classes?
Recreational lessons and classes are booked online through the county's Community Pass system. Beginner English lessons are for ages 6 to 14 and lead-line lessons for ages 2 to 5, according to the county. For lesson questions, call (609) 730-9059, ext. 404.
Location
Pennington, New Jersey 08534
Questions to Ask When You Call
The center is the best source for these answers.
- Are you running now, and taking new riders?Start here. We couldn’t confirm a current schedule.
- Which ages and needs do you work with?Ask about experience with your rider’s specific condition.
- Is a licensed PT, OT or speech therapist involved?Therapist-led hippotherapy is usually the only kind insurance may cover.
- What does a session cost, and are there scholarships?Many nonprofit programs offer sliding scales or sponsored spots.
- Do you have a mounting ramp or lift?Important for riders who use a wheelchair or need help mounting.