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Visiting Lawton Stables on Hilton Head Island with Kids

If you are heading to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, do your family a favor and check out Lawton Stables.  The stables offer horse and pony rides, and a kid-friendly animal farm.

What is Lawton Stables?

Lawton Stables is a family-friendly horse stable offering year-round pony and horse rides. There is also an animal farm where you can feed the animals along with horse boarding.  Open 6 days per week, be sure to check their website for current hours as they vary by season. 

One thing I’d like to mention is the care of the animals at Lawton Stables.  The animals have 24-hour vet care and are rotated off-site. When not working they roam and play on a separate 24-acre facility.

Where is Lawton Stables?

The stables are located in the Sea Pines resort area of Hilton Head. There is a $9 gate fee to enter Sea Pines, unless you have a guest pass (offered by certain hotels and rentals).  This fee gets you access to the 5000-acre Sea Pines community for the entire day.

Pony Rides

Lawton Stables offers pony rides for kids 7 and under (minimum 18 months old and able to sit independently). Please note, kids must weight less than 65 lbs (for the safety of the ponies).  The friendly Shetland ponies are beautiful and helmets are provided. Rides cost $15 and include 2 walking loops around the track, led by staff members.  Closed-toed shoes must be worn for safety.  

My kids have never ridden a horse or pony, and I felt very safe with my 4 and 7-year-olds riding for the first time.  There were other small children ahead of us who did well also. The stables truly seemed to cater to riders of all abilities.

There are no reservations for the pony rides, it is first come, first served.  We were there on a busy summer day and waited about 10 minutes, not bad at all.  While we waited, the kids met one of the ponies who was on break in his stable and were thrilled to be able to pet him.  

Pony ride hours vary by season and day of the week, so be sure to check the Lawton Stables website to plan for your visit.  Little A loved this activity, it was the highlight of her week in Hilton Head. 

Horse Trail Rides

For older kids, 8 and up, and adults, Lawton Stables offers western-style trail rides on their horses.  Reservations are required and can be made online. Please note the weight limit is 240 pounds per rider, for the safety of the horses. Trail rides occur 4 times per day, so be sure to reserve in advance of your trip. 

Trail rides cost $80 and consist of a 1-hour guided ride through the over 600-acre Sea Pines Forest Preserve led by trail guides.  We haven’t done this as the kids are too young, but it looks incredible! I am sure the wooded trail ride would be much appreciated in the hot summer months.

Carriage Rides

The final riding option at Lawton Stables is a carriage ride.  Rides must be reserved online, cost $80, and last 60 minutes.  Up to 4 people can ride, and there is no age or weight limit. The carriage ride also travels through the Sea Pines Forest Preserve.

Animal Farm

The free animal farm is a highlight at Lawton Stables!  Showcasing goats, miniature cows, pot-bellied pigs, alpacas, ponies, chickens, and miniature donkeys, this small animal farm is perfect for kids to visit and feed the animals.  

You can buy feed at the feed machine on the front porch, for 50 cents per handful and feed the animals!  All of the animals we met were very gentle and beautiful.  This activity is accredited by the Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Birthday Parties

Lawton Stables does host weekend birthday parties during the low season on Hilton Head, from November 1 to February 28.  Parties are held from 12-3 pm and cost $200 for up to 6 kids.  Additional guests cost $30 per person.  However, the limit is 12 rides for the safety of the animals. 

Parties include 1 hour of unlimited pony rides, as described above and 1 hour in the picnic area along with access to the animal farm, and a bucket of feed included.  While balloons are not allowed for the safety of the animals, other decorations are encouraged and you can bring in food and snacks. 

Lawton Stables

If you are heading to the Sea Pines area of Hilton Head Island during your vacation, I would highly recommend Lawton Stables as a stop on your journey.  I would say 1-2 hours is likely sufficient with little kids, to ride the ponies and feed the animals.  Those taking a horse or carriage ride may stay longer, given the ride duration is an hour, plus the animal farm.

Wondering what else to do on your family’s vacation to Hilton Head Island? Check out the following posts all about this kid-friendly beach vacation destination:

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