“It was 1964 and my dad won a pony named Stormy,” Letterloah said. “I remember that day. Stormy was my pony. Since then, I have ‘eat, breathe and live’ horses.”
Since then, Letterloah developed a business that gallops and trots.
Located at 7214 NC Hwy. 210 in Rocky Point, Desperado Horse Farm offers more than 500 acres of trails.
“We are opened sun-up to sundown,” he said.
His customers come from all over the county and from all walks of life.
“Children ages 5 years old and up can have their own horse to ride,” he said.
In the summer, tourists book horseback rides. The remainder of the year the trails and horses are rented by locals and military.
Letterloah takes the lead horse and gives prospective riders a few quick instructions.
“Toes up. Heels down,” he said are the most important instructions. “I control the tempo. If the riders are comfortable going a little faster, then we can speed up. We’re not racing here. We’re enjoying the ride and nature along the forest trails.”
Letterloah has purposely selected and trained his horses. He currently has 10 horses available for trail riding. The majority of his horses were born and raised on his farm. He trained them and he knows how to pair up horses with prospective riders.
Letterloah said Desperado Horse Farm offers natural trails and well-trained horses for safe ride that is still exciting and fun.
“We are a unique business,” he said. “We let people walk, trot and gallop – if they are comfortable. Anyone can ride a horse here, even those without experience.”
Letterloah said it is extremely important to him that riders at Desperado Horse Farm have an exceptional time.
“When I hear a child say, ‘This is the best day of my life’ that’s success to me,” he said.
For more information about Desperado Horse Farm, call Chris Letterloah at 910-617-3563. He urges prospective riders to call ahead so the horses are readied for their arrival. His email address is desperadofarm@aol.com, but he prefers telephone calls for an immediate response.
Horseback riding just 20 minutes from Wilmington.
