Desert Acres Stables

About Desert Acres Stables

We are a training and boarding facility located in Cocoa, Florida. Desert Acres Stables is owned and operated by Donna Hakanson.

Our Facilities and Services

We have a first-class thirteen-stall barn with lights, plus a round pen, dressage field, cross-country fences, stadium jump course and barrel racing, all situated on seven acres of grass pastures plus trails galore! We offer riding lessons in dressage, jumping and western. Training clinics which specialize in the John Lyons and Pat Parelli methods are also available. Yearly Summer, Winter, and Spring Camps are available for ages 8 and up. Mini Riding Camps are also offered at various times throughout the year.

Reservations are required in advance for all activities

please call (321) 759-1605 to book!
please arrive 10 minutes early!

Our Team

Our professional trainer, Donna Hakanson, is a local resident who has lived here for many years. Donna has trained numerous champion horses and riders in both USEF rated and local shows. Our goal is to promote and provide quality instruction, exceptional horses, and consistent training through clinics, private, and group lessons.

Packages and Facilities

Private Riding Lessons

Whether you want horse riding lessons to learn how to ride or to show, we will start you in the right direction. We will travel to where your horse is located, usually $10 more for gas and time. Hard hats and boots are provided if they fit. Please wear long pants for lessons.

We offer English, Western, Jumping, Dressage, Hunter-Jumper and Barrel Racing lessons.

Lessons are priced as follows:

$40 for 30 minutes
$60 for 60 minutes

Please book in advance and arrive 10 minutes before lessons start – cash accepted

Trail Rides

Private Riding Lessons

$60 for 1 hour ride
$70 for 1.5 hour ride
$100 for 2 hour ride

The two hour trail ride can take us to a lake and a canal that we can ride through. Depending on the time of your trail ride, we may see deer, gopher tortoises, bobcats, turkeys, wild hogs, hawks, and eagles. During hunting seasons, please wear bright colored clothing. A saddle bag is provided for you to bring along, if needed for your camera/etc. We can take four to five riders at a time. Ages of riders start as young as 8. Guided trail rides consist of walk and trot. This will depend upon the riders’ abilities. We supply bottled water for the trail ride and we also put pictures on Facebook.

Cash or check only — No credit or debit cards, please!
Boots, or a shoe with a heel, are required for safety reasons. Long pants are also required
Weight limit is 200 lbs
Participant Waiver

Camps

Private Riding Lessons

Horse Boarding

LOTS of riding and instruction time! Mix and match days with other riders! All camps are 1 week long, with the options for:

$395 for Half Day (8:00 am – 12:00 pm)

Advance payment and reservations are required to hold your camp spot. Also, please ensure you have read and signed the waiver:
For winter and spring dates please call for dates!

Summer Camp 2024:

June 3 - June 7
June 10 - June 14
June 17 - June 21
June 24 - June 28

(No camps in July and August)

Horse Boarding

Full Board is $625 per month with coastal hay, peanut hay, turnout and salt minerals. Horses are not turned out on Sundays and their stalls are not cleaned. Please come out and enjoy your horse and clean their stall to keep their feet in good order. Board is due on the 1st of the month.

Facilities

Horse Boarding

Facilities

We have a 13 stall barn, full board, obstacle course, round pen, riding arena and riding areas, stadium and cross-country fences. We have a small regulation dressage arena. Lights, large tack room, bathroom, refrigerator, and 7 acres of grass. We also have 22,000 acres of trails to ride on.

Volunteers

Horse Boarding

Facilities

We do take volunteers, so please get in touch if you’d like to found out further information!