The roots of Biltmore’s equestrian legacy trace back to the Biltmore Forest Riding Club, originally located in the neighboring community of Biltmore Forest. This facility was established by Edith Vanderbilt, widow of George Vanderbilt, who repurposed part of the estate’s property to create a dedicated equestrian venue.

After Edith Vanderbilt entrusted Biltmore House to her daughter and son-in-law following their 1924 wedding, she moved to a home in Biltmore Forest. The equestrian facility later evolved into the Biltmore Forest Saddle and Bridle Club, which was adopted in the 1960s by Mimi Cecil, wife of George and Edith Vanderbilt’s grandson, William Cecil, Sr. In the 1980s, the facility relocated to its current estate location, where it was managed by Ginger Cecil, wife of Bill Cecil, Jr.

The Vanderbilt family’s passion for horses remains deeply woven into the fabric of Biltmore’s history. Today, we are honored to continue this tradition, preserving and celebrating the estate’s equestrian legacy for generations to come.

Biltmore’s equestrian activities are divided into two distinct departments: Deerpark Carriage and Trail Ride Barn and the Biltmore Equestrian Center (BEC).

The Carriage and Trail Barn offers guided trail and carriage rides using estate-owned horses, providing guests with a unique way to explore Biltmore’s breathtaking landscapes. Meanwhile, the Biltmore Equestrian Center (BEC) is a full-service boarding facility that also features a lesson program and hosts various events and clinics.

One of Biltmore’s standout features is its extensive equestrian trail system—one of the few exclusively equestrian trail networks in the country. Spanning approximately 80 miles, these trails are accessible daily to Equestrian Passholders through the Ride Biltmore program. Additionally, BEC hosts several endurance and trail competitions each year, further cementing Biltmore’s reputation as a premier equestrian destination.

Biltmore’s equestrian program is home to approximately 90 horses, with 55 at the Biltmore Equestrian Center (BEC) and 35 at the Deerpark Carriage and Trail Ride Barn. At times, their herd expands to nearly 110 horses, housed across four different farm locations on the estate.

Their guided trail rides feature a variety of horses, primarily Quarter Horses and draft crosses, known for their steady temperament and versatility. Their carriage horses are Belgian Drafts, a breed with deep historical ties to the estate—originally used to pull milk wagons. Many of these horses come from Amish farms in Ohio, ensuring they have a strong work ethic and a solid foundation for carriage driving.

Training & Lesson Programs

At BEC, they offer both full board and pasture board, catering to a range of equestrian needs. Their two on-staff instructors hold certifications from the British Horse Society (BHS) and specialize in dressage. Dressage is the primary focus of the lesson and training programs, though they also offer introductory jumping. While they do not have horses suited for higher-level jumping, the school horses are well-suited for flatwork and low-level jumping exercises.

Events & Competitions

From spring through fall, Biltmore hosts a diverse lineup of equestrian events, including:

• Endurance and Competitive Trail Rides sanctioned by AERC, FEI (Endurance), NATRC, and Ride & Tie
• Dressage Ride-a-Tests
• Hunter Jumper Schooling Series
• Clinics featuring disciplines such as Centered Riding and Natural Horsemanship
• Combined Schooling Shows
• “Friday Night Lights”—exclusive boarder events that blend education and social gatherings

With a rich equestrian history and a commitment to excellence, Biltmore continues to be a premier destination for riders of all disciplines and levels.

A Premier Equestrian Trail System

One of Biltmore’s most distinctive features is their extensive trail system, spanning approximately 80 miles as part of the Ride Biltmore program. Riders can purchase an Annual Equestrian Pass to bring their own horses and enjoy exclusive access to these trails, with additional options available for shorter visits.

Unlike most multi-use trail systems, Biltmore’s trails are dedicated primarily to equestrians. The only exception is a 3-mile section along the French Broad River, near the Lagoon and Antler Hill Village, which is open to all estate guests. Additionally, they maintain another 40 miles of trails on the west side of the estate, primarily used for competitions. These trails wind through land that also supports Biltmore’s agricultural programs, offering a truly unique and scenic riding experience.

The Team

Biltmore’s equestrian operations are supported by a dedicated team of professionals, with 20 staff members at BEC and 13 at Deerpark Carriage and Trail Ride Barn. They are also fortunate to have Ginger Cecil continue to serve as their advisor, ensuring that Biltmore’s equestrian traditions remain strong while evolving to meet the needs of their riders and guests.

Their Experience with StableSecretary

BEC first discovered StableSecretary through a simple Google search while Crew Leader Angela was looking for a barn management app. Angela’s goal was to find a more efficient way to store and access the horses’ records, as locating a horse’s history had previously been a challenge. Now, with StableSecretary, that information is just a few clicks away.

How They Use StableSecretary

“The health and service records are the features we rely on most. Each week, I check the reminders to stay ahead of our horses’ upcoming needs, ensuring that no critical care or maintenance is overlooked.” Angela, Crew Leader

One of her favorite features is the mobile app—having all the records and communication at their fingertips has been a game-changer. In the past, BEC kept digital health records, but they were only accessible from the office, which was impractical since they spend so much time outside. Now, Angela can access billing, medical records, and other important details in real time, eliminating the need for multiple text messages or waiting until they return to the office to input information.

StableSecretary has been incredibly easy to use and meets a wide variety of needs. It has become the central hub for managing horses’ records and tracking extra charges. They even use it to log health records for our barn cats and dogs, ensuring that all their animals receive proper care. Adding new medications, dewormers, and services is simple and intuitive.

Improving Organization & Efficiency

StableSecretary has transformed how BEC manages their barn, making the team significantly more organized and efficient. Recording health records is quick and seamless, allowing them to track due dates for treatments and review a horse’s history on the spot—which is especially helpful when working with the vet. For example, if a vet needs to know the last time a horse had hock injections, Angela can pull up the information instantly. Having a centralized system for health records and service tracking has streamlined vet visits. If there’s ever a question about a vaccine due date or medical history, the answer can be found in seconds. Their vets are always impressed by how easily they can access important details.

It’s also an invaluable tool for the staff and administrative assistant, who use it to track extra charges for billing. If someone needs to know a horse’s age, last dental exam, or vaccine schedule, they simply check StableSecretary. “It has become so integral to our workflow that staff regularly remind each other to “log it in StableSecretary” whenever an extra service is provided.” Angela, Crew Leader

The only feature BEC would love to see added is a secondary prompt before deleting a horse’s profile. A profile was accidentally deleted and the “undo” button missed. While StableSecretary’s support team was able to recover the most recent records, some still had to be manually re-entered from our paper med sheets. A confirmation pop-up before deletion would be a great safeguard against accidental data loss.

Customer Support & Overall Satisfaction

Over the past two years, BEC has reached out to StableSecretary’s customer support about three or four times—not often, but enough to know they provide exceptional service. BEC has found that the StableSecretary team is always prompt, responsive, and diligent in resolving any issues, typically within 24 hours. Every experience they’ve had with StableSecretary has been excellent.

Before StableSecretary, managing their horses’ health records was a time-consuming process. Notes were typed, texted to staff, emailed to necessary folks, saved in Word, and then entered into an Excel spreadsheet—where each horse had its own tab. Extra charges were recorded manually on a form in the breakroom, which the administrative assistant would later compile with other paper records.

“Now, StableSecretary has simplified everything. It has saved us countless hours and allowed us to keep better records with less effort. I highly recommend it to any equine facility looking for a more efficient, organized, and user-friendly barn management system.” Angela, Crew Leader