Dun-Pikin Farm

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United States
Pasadena, MD
Dun-Pikin Farm

Riding Lessons, Pony Parties, Petting Animals, Horse Boarding Dun-Pikin Farm is a small family operated horse boarding and lesson barn in Pasadena, Maryland.

We offer beginner and intermediate riding lessons for children and adults. Horse training. Boarding. Pony Pal program. Pony parties. Pony rides. Stop by and see us some time (visit by appointment only.) We'll see you 'Down on the Farm!"

Dun-Pikin Farm is a Maryland Horse Industry Board Certified Horse Discovery Center.

11/27/2025

I’m always finding little treasures around the farm. I pick up bits of pottery out in the fields, I’m always picking up chunks of coal near the tree in the driveway, and I find horseshoes everywhere. I suppose my definition of "treasures" is questionable, but I consider anything I find on the ground unexpectedly a treasure. On any given day, I probably have something in my pocket that I have picked up somewhere around the farm.

This specific treasure began to show up in the barn aisleway probably 6 months ago. Obviously, it’s a horseshoe. I’m sure it was taken off by the farrier and thrown up against the wall so no one stepped on it. Somehow it was overlooked and covered as the aisleway was raked. A while ago, we changed the direction of how we rake the aisleway when we realized we had created a mound at one end.

One day while raking, I realized there was something odd in the ground. It was not going to come up without some serious digging, so I decided to give it time and see what might come to the surface. I’m kinda lazy, plus it was way more exciting to see what would eventually appear! After all, some days we rake several times. Slowly but surely, as the months have gone by, I realized the shape of a horseshoe was beginning to appear. Sure, I could just get a shovel and dig it out, but that wouldn’t be any fun.

It won’t be long now, and it will be totally uncovered. I’ll then pick it up and throw it in one of our buckets filled with horseshoes. I suppose then I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled for my next treasure to unearth!

Come Ride With Us!
Cindy 🐴

11/26/2025

Poor Shine, he was left all alone when Layla took Marley out to hose him off. The whole time Marley was gone Shine could see him. He could see Cash and Arlo in their field, and he could see the mares in theirs. He could see almost every horse on the farm like every other day and yet Marley’s leaving upset him. In fact, he was so upset he had to p**p. That’s what horses do when they get nervous.

I think a horse learning to be alone should be a basic life skill for them. Anytime we leave a horse alone in a field or the barn we keep a close eye on them. Horses are herd animals and tend to take comfort from their herd mates. Some horses could care less about being alone, others get agitated. Some so much they could easily hurt themselves. Shine … he falls somewhere in between.

Shine kinda keeps an eye on all the horses. His stall is across from Olive’s if she's taken out of her stall Shine calls to her. He can also see Kate and has spent a lot of hours trail riding with her. They’ve been trailer buddies many times. He paces and calls if Kate leaves her stall too. What can I say … he keeps tabs on the comings and goings in and out of the barn.

I guess you could say Shine is just the farm's neighborhood watch. He takes his job of keeping eyes on everyone very seriously, even if he needs to learn to relax a little bit while doing it.

Come Ride With Us!
Cindy 🐴

11/25/2025

Years ago, when I had my first job at a barn I worked with an older gentleman. He taught me how to clean a stall properly. Actually, he taught me so much more than stall cleaning. He helped make me the horse person I am today.

When I first started doing stalls, he inspected every one I cleaned. He would tell me what I did well and what needed improvement. Many times, he sent me back to do this or that. Eventually he would tell me my stall had passed his inspection, and I had earned a “gold star.”

He was big on giving gold stars, and not just to me, to everyone he worked with. We would all compete to see who could earn the most gold stars in a day. Even though there were no real physical stars. We were very competitive when it came to see who could earn the most on any given day.

I’m not exactly sure why but today I told Kate (the horse) she had earned a gold star. When I went to get her out of her stall, I noticed she had not p**ped. She had been in an extra-long time after her dinner, while we put a hay round out. Normally she p**ps as soon as she comes in. It was a pleasant surprise to not have to grab a pitchfork to tidy up her stall.

Before I left for the evening, I looked out one last time at the horses. I noticed Katie was cleaning up/eating the last of the hay that was left behind when we moved the hay hut. What a good girl to not waste a scrap of hay. It also meant I wasn’t going to have to go out and rake that hay up. In my mind once again, I gave Kate another gold star. 2 gold stars in one day… Now that’s one good horse. We have lots of nice horses here at Dun- Pikin. They’re all gold star horses. You’ll see what I mean when you Come Ride with Us!

Cindy 🐴

11/24/2025

Can someone please tell me why they do this. Why would any horse choose to do this? I can understand enjoying a good summer roll in the warm sand to get the flies off. What could be the motivation for a horse to want to roll in the cold wet mud on a chilly day? I suppose the look on his face shows a little regret or maybe it’s embarrassment at his decision. Either way … it’s gonna take someone a while to get all that mud off.

I guess that’s just life with horses—never a dull (or clean) moment. Time to break out the elbow grease and get this boy shiny again.

Come Ride With Us!

Cindy 🐴

11/23/2025

That face you make when you think the workday is over, but the Pony Crew says, "Not so fast!"

Tic Toc had just finished a lovely grooming session with our friends from Bay Area Counseling and Consultation, LLC. He was fully prepared to head back to his paddock for a nap, but we had a birthday party on the schedule!

We love customizing our pony parties, so when we asked the birthday girl for her favorite color, she requested sage green. Naturally, Amie and got to work giving Tic Toc a full sage green makeover with ribbons and sparkles.

Judging by this expression, he was definitely wondering why he wasn’t walking out to the pasture—but don’t worry, he looked handsome by the time Amie was done with him!

Come Ride With Us!

Cindy 🐴

11/22/2025

According to the classics, "The Correct Position Must Be Mastered." Looking at these photos, we’d say our riders are nailing it!

While the illustration is good for a laugh, practicing in different positions is actually a wonderful way to help riders find their center of gravity. We can show you how (and we promise to eventually turn you around the right way).

Come Ride With Us!

Cindy 🐴

11/21/2025

I, like most people, occasionally play a game or two on my phone, I tend to like those games that have you sort things. I’m not exactly sure why. I just find it kind of relaxing. Last winter I sat in my living room and sorted two bins of beads from the craft shed at the farm. We had used them at summer camp and they had somehow gotten dumped over. I enjoyed putting order back into the mess. After looking around the barn, I realized how much chaos we have EVERYWHERE.

I see buckets, feeder, halters, leather pieces, saddles, saddle pads, grooming tools and more everywhere. I have no clue how it all got so bad, but it’s bad. There are bins with no labels. Random trash bags that have "who knows what" in them, and boxes, lots of boxes. The worst part of it is, that I find myself buying things that I know we already have. It’s just easier than trying to find anything in this mess. Something just has to be done.

I could sell some stuff, but I know as soon as I do, I’ll need it. The only solution that I can come up with is to start sorting and labeling things. Today phase one of “Operation Sort” has begun. Amazon delivered an assortment of bins and Rick dug out the label maker. Now all I need to do is figure out where to start and get the bins up to the barn...

So, just to be clear: My solution to having too much stuff was to buy more stuff to put the stuff in. My logic is clearly flawless. Come visit the barn before I fill these new bins with even more things I don't need! Come Ride With Us!

Cindy 🐴

11/20/2025

We have a lot of people who come to meet our horses, and one of the first things we do is teach them how to approach safely.

Because of all their exposure to different people, our horses are pretty used to being greeted—BUT they are still horses. They are big animals, and safety always needs to be the top priority.

Generally, when people meet a horse for the first time, they’re excited! The first thing they want to do is reach out and pet the face. 🚫 Here is why we say no: Horses cannot see directly in front of them (blind spot!). Startling a horse is never good. I ask people: "How would you like a total stranger coming up and touching you near your eyes or nose?" It’s kinda invasive, right? Instead, we encourage guests to pet the neck or shoulder.

Now... do I take my own advice? Nope. Not at all. 🤣

I NEVER can resist a horse’s muzzle. I don't just pet them; I kiss them. I love how soft they are, the feel of the whiskers on my cheek, and the warm breath in the winter. It’s my favorite part of a horse.

However: I do it without thinking because I know them. I would never kiss a strange horse. You can’t kiss on a first meet, right? There has to be a little trust earned first.

We’d love to introduce you to the herd so you can start building those connections.

Come Ride With Us!

Cindy 🐴

11/19/2025

Tonight, here in Pasadena we’re finally having some much-needed rain. At Dun-Pikin that means the horses are in for the night. Stella and Layla set the stalls up for the horses to stay in before bringing them in for the night. Even though they all have run-ins outside, once the weather turns cooler and rain is predicted the horses are in day or night. After all, that’s why we built a barn. When I walked down the aisleway it felt kinda cozy. None of the horses seemed to mind being in.

Before I left the barn this evening I stopped and listened. Layla was waiting for a student to come for a lesson, so it was very quiet in the barn. All I could hear were the horses munching their hay. If you’ve never heard that sound you’ve really missed out.

That sound along with the barn smells makes the barn take on an almost magical atmosphere. At least for this horse person. I think that sound along with the sound of the rain on the metal roof could lull me to sleep.

Even after the last lesson is over, and the rain is falling, the barn is where the magic happens. These quiet nights are just a pause before we get back to horsin' around...Come Ride With Us!

Cindy 🐴

11/18/2025

If you follow Dun-Pikin you’re probably tired of hearing about Hay Huts. The horses are now almost finished the first round we put out in the new hut, so I just had to report how happy I am. I’ve wanted new Hay Huts for a while now, and when we finally decided we could afford them we saw several new options available now.

First is the new ring on the top of the hut. Before, you had to man handle the Hay Hut over to put the hay in. You can now just put the hay spike through the ring on the top and lift. No muscle required, the tractor does all the work.

The next is the new hay net system. They now offer hay nets that attach directly into the top of the hut. The net then attaches around the bottom of the hut. As the horses eat, the net simply drops to the ground. The only hay that can come out is what falls out of the horse’s mouths. Since Friday afternoon when the hay was first put out in the hut, there has been zero waste. It’s been amazing to me.

We have used hay nets for a while now just around the bale itself. Those nets did cut down on the waste but there was always still way too much. Now with the net directly attached to the top of the hut and then attached at the bottom there is no way for the hay to come out of the hut.

I admit I had my doubts about investing in the nets when Rick wanted to buy them. Rick puts out the hay rounds, so I deferred to him. If he thought, they would work I was in. He was right, as usual. With the new nets, now that the net is attached you simply put the bale on a pallet, cut the netting off, and drop the hut with the attached net over the bale and you’re done. Easy … Peasy!

It's not just about saving money on wasted hay, although that's a huge bonus. It's also about making daily chores easier. The new hay huts make me happy!

Come Ride With Us!
Cindy 🐴

11/17/2025

Horses have a way of bringing people together and creating lasting friendships. Pictured here is Anna on Shine, Katie on Kate and Megan on Arlo. All three met because of horses. All three found friendship because of horses and all three spent many hours trail riding together. It was with Anna and Megan that Katie discovered a love for trail riding.

This picture was taken 2 years ago today. Though Katie can no longer ride because of her injury, all three still remain friends and continue to enjoy horses together. Their friendship began in the barn and on horseback. It shows that the experience of horses continues long after the saddle is put away.

We love seeing the friendships that blossom here at Dun-Pikin, and we encourage everyone to share in the fun. Come Ride With Us!

Cindy 🐴

11/16/2025

When we first built Dun-Pikin 25 years ago, our big dream was to be a boarding barn. While lessons, pony parties and our equine therapy partnership are now a big part of our offerings, boarding horses was, and remains, a part of what we do. We've been truly lucky over the years to have hosted wonderful horse owners, and we've met and made many lifelong friends right here at the barn.

I've often thought about what makes a great boarder, and the answer is simple: it's the folks who contribute to the positive, supportive atmosphere we all love. Beyond the obvious things like paying on time and respecting the property, it’s the nice people who come with good attitudes, respect the farm's rules, and keep the barn drama-free that make Dun-Pikin feel like home.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about all the little things our boarders do that make a big difference in running the farm smoothly—especially on those busy days! When you're feeding, things can get frantic, so when you take the time to prep your supplements in advance, breaking those pesky safety seals, removing extra packaging, or even pre-bagging daily packs, it saves so much time. Seriously, a huge thank you to everyone who does this—it helps us feed your horses faster and more efficiently!

It's the same with keeping the common areas tidy. We truly appreciate it when they help us out by breaking down and walking any cardboard (from those new bell boots or coolers!) straight out to the recycling bin instead of leaving it by the trash. When everyone pitches in on these small, easy tasks, it adds up to a huge improvement in everyone’s day.

I'm really happy with all of our current boarders. They are the best—stepping up and always willing to lend a hand with anything I need. Thank you all for being such a wonderful part of the Dun-Pikin family. Come Ride With Us!

Cindy 🐴

Address

4808 Mountain Road
Pasadena, MD
21122

Website

http://www.dun-pikin.com/, https://www.rickholt.net/discover/

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Our Story

Dun-Pikin Farm is a small family operated horse boarding and lesson barn in Pasadena, Maryland. We offer beginner and intermediate riding lessons for children and adults. Horse training. Boarding. Pony Pal program. Pony parties. Pony rides. Stop by and see us some time (visit by appointment only.) We'll see you 'Down on the Farm!" Dun-Pikin Farm is a Maryland Horse Industry Board Certified Horse Discovery Center.