Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship
As darkness settled over Better Days Ranch, horses made their way through a wooded trail illuminated by Halloween lights and decorations. The crisp October evening offered a unique twist on a familiar holiday tradition: Trick-or-treating on horseback.
Hosted by Better Days Ranch and Equine Services in Addison, the third annual Halloween trail rides bring riders of all experience levels together for a festive evening while generating revenue for improvements to the ranch.
The tradition began in 2024 to raise money to build a new riding arena, which was completed in the fall of 2025.
Anna Willenbaker, owner of Better Days Ranch, said the idea grew out of efforts to expand the operation’s offerings.
“We were all trying to brainstorm a way to fundraise and have an effort to bring improvements, like the arena, to the farm,” Willenbaker said.
Her fiance, Kobe Loftus, gets credit for coming up with the spooky rides while the couple were walking through the farm and preparing to decorate for Halloween.
“Something clicked in my head,” Loftus said.
He wondered whether they could combine horseback riding with a Halloween experience. Willenbaker wasn’t immediately convinced.
“Her first instinct was absolutely not,” Loftus said. “Like way too much of a liability. Horses and scary don’t work.”
Preparing the rides involves more than just decorating the trail. Students also spend time getting the horses comfortable with the unfamiliar sights and sounds of Halloween.
Horses can get nervous, which makes preparation especially important for the nighttime rides.
“It teaches the kids responsibility, coming out here and helping set all this up with us,” Loftus said.
Watching students put in the work and successfully guide their horses through the decorated trails gives the students something to take pride in, he added.
Skeletons and cloaked figures handing out candy added to the Halloween atmosphere as riders traveled through the decorated woods on one of the rides earlier this month. Peyton Collie spent part of the evening handing out KitKats and Tootsie Rolls to passing riders.
Collie, whose family takes lessons at the ranch, said the event offers families a chance to experience horseback riding while bringing the town together.
“It definitely embraces the local community aspect,” he said. “It gives kids something to do at this time of night, during Halloween, getting excited and getting everyone engaged.”
His wife, Karen Collie, and their children also joined in the fun, helping out at the event after previously taking the horses through the decorated trail.
“The trail ride is pretty cool with all the lights and riding on the back of the horse,” she said.
Karen Collie added that one of her favorite things about Better Days Ranch is its welcoming atmosphere.
“I think it’s the family friendly atmosphere, and how they include everybody, and it’s just very comfortable here,” she said.
Beyond the Halloween festivities, Willenbaker said events like the trail rides help strengthen the community surrounding Better Days Ranch.
The ranch offers lessons for all ages with riders currently ranging from 3 to 72. It also offers a 4-H program that encourages young riders to develop responsibility and other life skills.
Willenbaker said she has enjoyed watching families and community members come together to support the students and the ranch’s growth.
“If we didn’t have the community that we had, there’s no way that Better Days would be what it is today,” she said.
Loftus agreed.
“It is essentially, like, a big family we have, and it is a beautiful thing,” he said.
Money from this year’s Halloween trail rides will help pay for a new covered structure over the ranch’s round arena, allowing riding lessons to continue more comfortably through Vermont’s colder months.
But for now, Willenbaker is enjoying fall, one of her favorite seasons for horseback riding.
“I feel like just the crisp weather, and without the flies, it just makes for the perfect combination,” she said.
Better Days Ranch hosts its Halloween trail rides every weekend throughout October. To sign up visit this registration link.