Addenbrooke Park
Location
Website
PDF Map
I could not find an official trail map but Google maps captures the trails really well.
Trail Map
Park Fees
Free!
Trailer Parking
There is a huge gravel lot for horse trailers just south of the main entrance by the horse arena.
Bathrooms
I didn't see any by the horse arena. There should be bathrooms in another part of the park.
Water
Yes, there is a spigot by the arena as well as hitching rails.
Horse Arena
The arena fence looked like soft rubber on wood posts. The latch to the arena gate looked like you could open and close it while mounted. There were some barrels in the arena.
Mounting
I got on Sam from the picnic table.
Footing
Nice sand or packed dirt footing. Soft, ok for barefoot horses.
Horse Hazards
There was a odd cement object in the parking lot that was fenced off. We rode by some soccer and baseball fields that were unoccupied. Sam and I rode during the day during the week. This would have been a pretty spooky ride if there were people on the playing fields. We did pass some suburban backyards and were a little close to the road at one part of the trail. This is a good trail for training your horse to be better with urban obstacles and is easier than Rock Creek. The horse trail was separate from the walking and biking trail.
Chosen Trail
Sam and I rode this trail on a very windy day. He was a rock-star as always. It took us 15 minutes to walk/trot from the parking lot to the north-west loop of the trail. We then cantered the loop for 30 minutes and then headed back to the parking lot. We rode for an hour total but if you are just going out and back it should take less than 40 minutes.
Trail Experience
Starting out from the arena and parking lot the trail was a nice dirt path that was well labeled.
At the first fork we stayed left on the dirt trail, I wasn't sure which way to go at first, then saw a trail marker further on. Both trails going left went to the same place. There was a tall fence and playing field to our right.
We crossed a bridge then continued left by the trail-marker.
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We picked up a trot on this wonderful, soft dirt path. There are urban backyards to our left.
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Going down the hill we crossed S. Kipling Frontage Road. There was traffic on S. Kipling St but the Frontage Rd was a little bit of a buffer.
This is the first very small loop by the road. This would be a good trotting loop if you are getting your horse used to cars.
We continued next to the road to cross to the North-West trail loop. We choose to go counter-clockwise. We trotted first then cantered.
We passed a creek with a dam to the right. Sam gave the dam a little side-eye. Then the trees block the view of hikers or bikers on the cement trail opposite the creek. It is possible your horse could find this scary if they cannot see approaching pedestrians.
This is from the top of the hill as we loop around to connect back with the original trail. We did pass a building on the right but the trail curves left, away from it. This loop was wonderful! Good footing and nothing too spooky. We cantered the loop until Sam was a little tired.
Heading back to the trailer took < 15 minutes. We went across the street, up the hill, around the playing fields by the houses, over the bridge and back to the parking lot and arena.
Trail Experience
I really enjoyed this trail! I LOVE the cantering loop at the north-west part of the park. I rode it on a day with 15-20 mph winds and was fairly cold until we started cantering. Sam was super solid with the urban obstacles and enjoyed his canter with select stops for apple treats. I would bring your bombproof trail horse if you go on a weekend when there are people playing in the fields. If I lived closer this may be my go-to ride when I wanted to long-trot or canter outside of an arena.
Rating
Moderately easy during the week with no games on the fields. Good for horses that are used to urban obstacles, traffic, bridges and pedestrians. Good for training if you bring a bomb-proof buddy because the trail is exclusively for horses and the playing fields and pedestrian trail is a little farther away from the horse trail.