Somerset County's Lord Stirling Stable in Basking Ridge will host its first “I Love Horses” Valentine Introductory Ride next Sunday, Feb. 12, for a guided tour and western-style ride along the stable's scenic trails that is suitable for those with little or no riding experience.

The time-honored romance between riders and their steeds is the reason for this celebratory ride, just a few days before Valentine's Day.

Check-in time for this ride is 1 p.m. on Sunday, and the ride itself is scheduled for 1:30 to 3 p.m Lord Stirling Stable is located at 256 S. Maple Ave. in Basking Ridge.  

Registration already opened this week in the stable office and will continue through next Thursday, Feb. 9, as space permits. The fee for the ride is $35 for Somerset County residents and $45 for non-residents.

Individuals with little or no riding experience are welcome to enjoy a brief group lesson with one of Lord Stirling Stable’s certified riding instructors, to be followed by a one-hour guided ride through the scenic trails of the park.

Trail guides will be happy to answer questions and attempt to identify the various plants, birds and animals that may be encountered along the trails, according to information from the stable.

To participate, youth and adults must weigh less than 240 pounds and be at least nine years old. Riders between ages nine and 18 years old must be registered by a parent or legal guardian. Participants ages nine to 11 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian on the ride.

A certified equestrian helmet and shoes or boots with hard, smooth soles and a definite heel are required and may be borrowed from the stable office for the ride.

For more information, contact the stable office at 908-766-5955, or call NJ Relay 711 for individuals with a hearing or speech impairment. Information on this and other events of the Somerset County Park Commission can be found online on the park commission website.