K-Trails Will No Longer Operate Koteewi Park Horse Barn In ‘23

Noblesville’s John Stewart said he’s enjoyed the “great ride.”

But he said that K-Trails Equestrian Adventures — which he has owned and operated for six seasons — would no longer manage the horse barn at Hamilton County Parks & Recreation’s Strawtown Koteewi Park in Noblesville.

“We have loved the experience and believe we positively impacted the community,” he said. Stewart will continue to operate K-Trails Global Adventures, focusing on upscale global riding excursions.

“We have made this decision so that we can focus on a new business offering curated riding holidays at western ranches and global destinations, including Patagonia, Iceland, New Zealand, India, Mongolia, Italy, Kenya and South Africa,” Stewart wrote in a letter on Wednesday to customers on the K-Trails website and social media.

“We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Hamilton County Parks and Recreation for partnering with us over the past seven years to provide horseback riding experiences, pony rides, corporate events, birthday parties, cowboy cookouts with western entertainment, cowboy dining and campfire and s’mores and more to the public. It has been an honor to work with such a dedicated and supportive team,” Stewart wrote.

His main goal in opening the business in 2017 was to introduce people to horses in an educational and enjoyable manner, and to provide employment opportunities to young people and horse enthusiasts, he said.

Stewart hired “hardworking and talented” youth from 4-H, FFA, Scouts and other organizations, as well as people on the autism spectrum and others dealing with mental health challenges.

“It has been a true adventure and labor of love for the entire Stewart family, and we wish nothing but success to the next operator of the barn,” he said.

Stewart, since I’ve known him, has always gotten a big grin on his face and his eyes light up when the conversation turns to youth learning about horses. He started a three-day Wrangler program at the beginning of the fifth season in 2021 for youth and adult wranglers for participants to learn how to gather, feed, groom and tack horses and learn the joy of “muck duty” when they shoveled horse poop while having an awesome experience.

Stewart always said, “A day at the barn is better than a day on the couch playing video games.”

Stewart, 57, who grew up in a Carmel neighborhood, graduated from Carmel High School in 1984 and rode his first horse at Boy Scout camp.

“I liked the way I felt on a horse. I said, ‘Someday, I want this.’ But it wasn’t until I had my own kids that I could afford to have my own horse,” Stewart said.

Then Stewart saddled up in 2017 and created K-Trails Equestrian Adventures, which offered trail-riding experiences to all ages at the 800-acre Strawtown Koteewi Park. Guided trail rides, sunset rides, pony rides, corporate outings, family reunions and birthday parties were among K-Trails’ offerings.

The Wayne-Fall Lions Club member and Headless Horseman rider of 16 years at Conner Prairie started the business — which partnered with Koteewi Stable & Trails at the park — because he wanted more youth and families enjoying the outdoors and to give kids “a great experience” like he had as a kid.”

Stewart, a Boy Scout and world traveler who has traveled to more than 40 countries in his lifetime, founded K-Trails Global Adventures, which offers horseback-riding experiences around the world, during K-Trails’ third season. Each of the trips, which are more of an “upscale glamping experience,” are focused on cultural experiences where Stewart knows the local host or guide. For example, while travelers might be in the saddle for eight days in India, their overnight accommodations are in a palace.

The Stewart family owns a “hobby farm” near Durbin with more than 50 animals, including horses, goats, chickens, ducks, rabbits, Kune-Kune pigs, dogs and a burro.

He and his wife, Suzanne, of 33 years, have three kids, Julianne, Andrew and Jay Daniel. He opened K-Trails also to provide an opportunity for his own sons, who are on the autism spectrum (and now grown), “to learn about entrepreneurship and working with horses and people.”

Despite owning horses, insurance, labor and running a business that was “very expensive,” Stewart was among a growing number of parents of youth on the autism spectrum who created their own “sheltered employment” opportunities for their children as these children transitioned into adulthood.

He always told me what makes him smile most was “seeing when young people do something that builds their self-confidence.”

The Hamilton County Parks Department will seek a new vendor for the equestrian facility at Koteewi Park.

-Betsy Reason writes about people, places and things in Hamilton County. Contact Betsy Reason at betsy@thetimes24-7.com.