FAQ
General Questions
- Do you offer boarding at Jester Park Equestrian Center?
- Can I rent a horse to go for a ride?
- Do you offer field trips or activities for child or adult daycare facilities?
- Do you offer pony rides or birthday parties for children?
- Can I rent a pony/horse to come to my house for my kid's birthday party?
- Can I hire your horse-drawn wagon/sleigh for my event/wedding?
- Can I have wedding/graduation pictures taken with your horses?
- Can my Girl/Boy Scout Troop earn a horse merit badge at your facility?
Programming Questions
- Are there restrictions for guided trail rides?
- What days and times do you offer trail rides?
- My child turns the required age after the program date, can they still participate?
- My child does not have boots for camp, will that be a problem?
- Do you offer therapeutic riding for children or individuals with autism or other special needs?
- What will my child(ren) learn at camp?
General Questions
Do you offer boarding at Jester Park Equestrian Center?
We no longer offer public boarding at Jester Park Equestrian Center. Polk County owns all horses that live at JPEC.
We no longer offer public boarding at Jester Park Equestrian Center. Polk County owns all horses that live at JPEC.
Can I rent a horse to go for a ride?
No, we do not rent our horses out to go ride. If you would like to ride one of our horses you can book a guided trail ride in June-October, and our experienced wranglers will guide you down the trails of Jester Park!
No, we do not rent our horses out to go ride. If you would like to ride one of our horses you can book a guided trail ride in June-October, and our experienced wranglers will guide you down the trails of Jester Park!
Do you offer field trips or activities for child or adult daycare facilities?
Yes! All field trips need to be booked in advance by calling our office at (515) 999-2818 or by emailing jpec_info@polkcountyiowa.gov.
Yes! All field trips need to be booked in advance by calling our office at (515) 999-2818 or by emailing jpec_info@polkcountyiowa.gov.
Do you offer pony rides or birthday parties for children?
No, we no longer offer pony rides or birthday party options with our horses.
No, we no longer offer pony rides or birthday party options with our horses.
Can I rent a pony/horse to come to my house for my kid's birthday party?
No, we do not offer birthday party options with our horses.
No, we do not offer birthday party options with our horses.
Can I hire your horse-drawn wagon/sleigh for my event/wedding?
We only provide wagon/sleigh rides on the equestrian trails at our facility in Jester Park. We invite you to celebrate your special event by joining us on a scenic ride. Reservations may be made here.
We only provide wagon/sleigh rides on the equestrian trails at our facility in Jester Park. We invite you to celebrate your special event by joining us on a scenic ride. Reservations may be made here.
Can I have wedding/graduation pictures taken with your horses?
Providing horses for wedding/graduation photo sessions falls outside our mission statement to offer recreation, education, and wellness programs for the community. You and your photographer may view our horses during regular public visiting hours and take pictures with them if they choose to come over to the fence and pose with you.
Providing horses for wedding/graduation photo sessions falls outside our mission statement to offer recreation, education, and wellness programs for the community. You and your photographer may view our horses during regular public visiting hours and take pictures with them if they choose to come over to the fence and pose with you.
Can my Girl/Boy Scout Troop earn a horse merit badge at your facility?
Depending on staff availability, we can tailor a field trip or educational workshop to meet your needs. Please call us at (515) 999-2818 or email our office at jpec_info@polkcountyiowa.gov to discuss scheduling and program content.
Depending on staff availability, we can tailor a field trip or educational workshop to meet your needs. Please call us at (515) 999-2818 or email our office at jpec_info@polkcountyiowa.gov to discuss scheduling and program content.
Programming Questions
Are there restrictions for guided trail rides?
We have a few requirements to keep both horse and rider safe throughout the ride. All riders must be at least eight years of age, must be a minimum of 4'0" tall, and weigh no more than 250 lbs.
We have a few requirements to keep both horse and rider safe throughout the ride. All riders must be at least eight years of age, must be a minimum of 4'0" tall, and weigh no more than 250 lbs.
What days and times do you offer trail rides?
Guided trail rides are offered on Fridays and Saturdays, June-October. Ride times are 9:30 am, 11 am, and 2 pm.
Guided trail rides are offered on Fridays and Saturdays, June-October. Ride times are 9:30 am, 11 am, and 2 pm.
My child turns the required age after the program date, can they still participate?
No. Every participant must meet the minimum requirement (age, weight, height, etc.) at the time of the program to participate.
No. Every participant must meet the minimum requirement (age, weight, height, etc.) at the time of the program to participate.
My child does not have boots for camp, will that be a problem?
We offer a limited supply of riding boots that we loan out for camp that come in various sizes that your child may borrow for the duration of camp.
We offer a limited supply of riding boots that we loan out for camp that come in various sizes that your child may borrow for the duration of camp.
Do you offer therapeutic riding for children or individuals with autism or other special needs?
We do not offer therapeutic riding at JPEC, and we cannot endorse other facilities that do, but we can provide contact information as a courtesy. One Heart in Ames (515) 460-5488 and Rhythms of Grace in Dallas Center (515) 305-7361 are two stables in the area that offer therapeutic riding.
We do not offer therapeutic riding at JPEC, and we cannot endorse other facilities that do, but we can provide contact information as a courtesy. One Heart in Ames (515) 460-5488 and Rhythms of Grace in Dallas Center (515) 305-7361 are two stables in the area that offer therapeutic riding.
What will my child(ren) learn at camp?
At Horse Adventures camp, campers will learn proper horse care and nutrition, how to properly groom and tack their horse for riding, how to safely lead a horse, how to ride, and much more!
At Horse Adventures camp, campers will learn proper horse care and nutrition, how to properly groom and tack their horse for riding, how to safely lead a horse, how to ride, and much more!
Facility Questions
Where do I park if I trailer in?
You can park and unload your trailer in the grassy area just north of the arena or straight in as you arrive.
You can park and unload your trailer in the grassy area just north of the arena or straight in as you arrive.
If I trailer my horse in to ride, can I use the outdoor arena and round pen?
Yes! You can use the outdoor arena and round pen if there are no programs or arena reservations.
Yes! You can use the outdoor arena and round pen if there are no programs or arena reservations.
Am I allowed to use the indoor arena?
You may only use the indoor arena if you make a prior reservation. The arena may not be reserved if we have programs happening in the arena at the same time.
You may only use the indoor arena if you make a prior reservation. The arena may not be reserved if we have programs happening in the arena at the same time.
Can we camp overnight with our horses at your facility?
We do not allow overnight camping at JPEC. All trailer-in riders must depart on the same day.
We do not allow overnight camping at JPEC. All trailer-in riders must depart on the same day.