What are the opening hours?

Monday 8am - 4:30pm Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm Thursday 8am - 4:30pm Friday 8am - 4:30pm Saturday 8am - 4pm Sunday 8am - 4pm

Jester Park Equestrian Center

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Granger, IA
Jester Park Equestrian Center

A community resource fostering education, outdoor recreation, and wellness with horses.
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Located on Saylorville Lake in Granger, Iowa, Jester Park Equestrian Center offers a variety of programs, including trail rides, horse-drawn wagon and sleigh rides, riding lessons, camps, equine-assisted learning and therapy, and volunteer programs.

01/15/2024

Take a peek at what is happening this week at Jester Park Equestrian Center!

For more information and a complete list of events and times, check out our website: https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/conservation/jester-park-equestrian-center/equestrian-center-events/

01/13/2024

Did you know that hay is a horse's primary source for heat? How can that be? When a horse eats hay, their digestive system is hard at work and generates heat to keep their body warm!

In this video you can see Tater munching on hay. His digestive system is working to produce the heat while his winter coat is insulating him to keep his body warm. That's why he has a blanket of snow on his body!

01/12/2024

❄️ Jester Park Equestrian Center is closed today due inclement weather. Stay safe and warm this weekend!

01/12/2024

Have you ever wondered how we care for the horses in extreme winter weather and temperatures? Let me tell you! We always provide:
• Several free-choice round hay bales
• Insulated & heated automatic waterers
• Three-sided shelters bedded with corn stalks

A horse's winter coat is equipped to keep them warm during the toughest of winter storms. Their thick winter coat stands up to act as an insulator to keep warm heat in and cold air out. If you see snow sitting on a horse's back during a storm, that means their coat is doing what it is supposed to and keeping the warm heat in their body.

In extreme cases we take the extra measure and bring our horses into the indoor arena or into the stalls to give the horses a break from the harsh elements. If a horse is having a hard time keeping warm on their own, we also have insulated blankets on hand to help warm them up!

01/12/2024

❄️Snow, snow, and more snow! We would like to take a quick minute to address our sleigh rides now that there is measurable snow on the ground.

We initially planned on not offering January sleigh rides due to not having enough snow the previous 2 years.

Even though we now have snow on the ground, we are not offering sleigh rides this weekend (January 13th and 14th) due to the forecast for extreme cold temperatures. Our primary focus is the safety and comfort of our guests, horses, and staff.

We are also committed to offering outdoor recreation opportunities to our community, so our team is actively discussing the possibility of providing sleigh rides this month if we continue to have the necessary snow depth to pull a sleigh. If you would like to be notified of ride availability, please fill out our waitlist form at https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/jesterparkec/items/395924/?full-items=yes&flow=31149.

Our January sleigh ride offerings will be 30-minute rides for up to 10 guests at $250.

01/09/2024

❄️ Jester Park Equestrian Center is closed today due inclement weather. All of the horses are enjoying their snow day with plenty of hay and fresh bedding to keep them warm!

The barn will be back open tomorrow, Wednesday, January 10 at 8am for visitation.

01/08/2024

Do you have a child interested in horses but unsure where to begin? Our spring break camp options are a great one-day introduction to horses and what a week of our summer camp will look like!

More information and registration can be found at https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/conservation/jester-park-equestrian-center/services/camps/

12/16/2023

Holiday horse-drawn rides are the perfect family activity this holiday season! Don't miss your chance to experience the sound of jingle bells and an open sleigh this season!

$200/private ride (up to 7 guests)
$30/person public ride ticket
Children small enough to sit on an adult's lap for the duration of the ride do not need to be included in the guest count.

Book your horse-drawn holiday ride here: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/jesterparkec/?full-items=yes&flow=31149

*Sleigh Rides require a minimum of 6 inches of packed snow as a proper base for the sleigh. A wagon will be used when there is no snow or not enough snow to pull a sleigh.

12/13/2023

Happy National Day of the Horse! 🐴 We would not be who we are or do what we do without our wonderful herd.

If you see your favorite horse, let us know in the comments!

12/09/2023

📢 Calling all teens! Our Horse Powered Leadership youth volunteer program is now accepting applications for the 2024 season.

Here, you will have the opportunity to give back to your community as a volunteer and have countless chances to grow as a leader and equestrian. This program is for all teens between 13 and 17 who have yet to graduate high school. The application will close at 12am on January 1, 2024.

More information and the application can be found at https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/conservation/jester-park-equestrian-center/volunteer/

Address

11171 NW 103rd Court
Granger, IA
50109

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8am - 4:30pm
Friday	8am - 4:30pm
Saturday	8am - 4pm
Sunday	8am - 4pm

Telephone

(515) 999-2818

Website

http://www.JesterParkEC.com/

Alerts

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Videos

Happy National Day of the Horse! 🐴 We would not be who we are or do what we do without our wonderful herd. If you see your favorite horse, let us know in the comments!

Did you know it’s easier for horses to regulate their body heat in colder temperatures compared to extreme heat? Just like any other day, we are always checking on each horse, their vitals, body condition and their overall comfort each day. You may be wondering how we are keeping all of our horses cool, safe and healthy during this extreme heat, here’s how! • 24/7 cool drinking water availability • 50/50 alcohol/water sponge wipe downs (water cools the horse while the alcohol helps dry the moisture) • Cold-water hose downs • Overhead fans in all of our shelters During the hottest part of the day, every horse is brought into the barn to stand under high-powered fans to take a break from the heat. Check out Cap & Dean, two of our Belgian Draft Horses, enjoying the cool hose!

Pasture acclimation is very important in the spring for horses who are not turned out on grass pastures all winter long. Early spring pasture grasses tend to be very high in sugars, fructans, and starch which can be harmful to our herd’s health if sudden large consumption happens too fast. Group 2 for the first day: light horses!

First day of the long anticipated pasture acclimation for our herd. Group 1: draft horses!

Marching into 2023 like: We're looking forward to another exciting, horse-filled year with you all!

❄️ Horse-Drawn Rides are available weekends in January! Don’t miss out on this fun, winter, family activity! More information and registration can be found at https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/conservation/jester-park-equestrian-center/services/wagon-sleigh-rides/

We have a few spaces still open for trail rides tomorrow! Join our wrangler crew and their horse friends for peaceful riding through the woods along Saylorville Lake! Book your ride here! https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/jesterparkec/items/42676/?full-items=yes&flow=19203

Do you see any horses or staff you recognize in our new video?

Dollar and Goliath are two of our fantastic summer camp and trail horses, and they say there's nothing like a good roll in the sand!

Dollar the Artist

Turns out we have an artist in the barn!

Our summer campers finished off their week at camp by going on a trail ride! Interested in going on a trail ride yourself? Make a reservation here: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/jesterparkec/items/42676/?full-items=yes&flow=19203

Wrangler Team Building 2021

We are so excited to lead you outdoors on a guided trail ride this summer! Book your ride here: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/jesterparkec/items/42676/calendar/2021/06/?flow=19203&full-items=yes Our wrangler staff are working hard at teamwork during training. Take a peek!

Here they come! During the spring and summer months, our horses spend the night out in our pastures and come up to the barn during the day.

Now this is the kind of weather we are talking about! Sally is loving this chance to sunbathe! #sallythemule #jpechorses #leadingyououtdoors #desmoines #jesterpark #mulesofinstagram

Sally is learning about bubbles! We hope everyone is enjoying this nice weather!🌤

Sally is checking in on everyone! How are you doing with your social distancing?! #socialdistancing #minimule #sally #jpechorses

Shortcuts

About Jester Park Equestrian Center

Jester Park Equestrian Center is the meeting place for all types, including horse people and people who have never touched a horse! We are located on the west side of Saylorville Lake in Granger Iowa. The equestrian center offers a variety of programs, including guided trail rides, horse-drawn wagon or sleigh rides, riding and horsemanship lessons, pony rides, therapeutic horsemanship, including our veteran’s program, and youth leadership programming. The equestrian center is owned and operated by Polk County Conservation and is open 365 days per year. Come visit us during daylight hours just to say “Hi” to the horses!