The Rusty Buckle Petting Zoo & Pony Parties
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
The Rusty Buckle is a unique, family-owned petting zoo distinguished by its deeply personal, hands-on animal interactions and exceptional animal welfare. It's a working farm where the passionate owners and their children actively engage with visitors, often going above and beyond to provide memorable experiences, especially with pony rides and direct animal care. It's not just an attraction; it's a family's 'beautiful home' opened to the community, fostering genuine connections between children and a diverse array of well-loved animals.
Key Highlights
- ✓Diverse and friendly animals that actively seek attention, including goats, bunnies, ponies, donkeys, pigs (Thelma & Louise), a pardoned turkey, and horses (Cash).
- ✓Exceptional animal welfare, with the family prioritizing animal needs and health 'first and foremost', even rescuing animals like 'Bun Bun' the bunny.
- ✓Highly engaged, knowledgeable, and friendly family staff (including their children) who share fun facts, answer questions, and provide personalized attention.
- ✓Offers highly popular pony rides, with kind and helpful staff assisting children.
- ✓Available for mobile petting zoo events, bringing a variety of adorable animals directly to private events in locations like Rumford or public events like 'Wickford Water-Fire'.
- ✓On-site visits are described as 'wallet friendly', offering good value for money.
- ✓Staff has been known to allow children to help with animal care (e.g., brushing Cash the horse), even outside official hours.
Standout Features
- ⭐**Engaging Pony Rides:** A significant draw for children, often assisted by the owner's kind and sweet children.
- ⭐**Diverse & Friendly Animal Collection:** Includes goats, bunnies, pigs (Thelma & Louise), ponies, a donkey, a pardoned turkey, and horses (Cash), all well-cared for and interactive.
- ⭐**Personalized Animal Interaction:** Staff encourages questions, shares facts, and offers unique opportunities for children to assist with animal care.
- ⭐**Mobile Petting Zoo Service:** A convenient option for bringing the petting zoo experience to private parties or local events.
- ⭐**Authentic Family-Run Atmosphere:** The passion and involvement of the entire family create a welcoming and memorable experience (when open).
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →**ALWAYS Check Facebook for Hours:** This is the most reliable source for up-to-date operating hours; do not rely on Google Maps or their website.
- →**Call Ahead for Unscheduled Visits:** If you're unsure about hours or making a spontaneous trip, a quick phone call is highly recommended to avoid disappointment.
- →**Leave Pets at Home:** The farm has a strict policy against visitors bringing their own dogs, even if well-behaved.
- →**Be Prepared for a Working Farm Environment:** Understand that this is a family's home and working farm, not a large commercial park. Respect their schedule and boundaries.
- →**Engage with the Staff:** The family and their children are knowledgeable and genuinely happy to share information and passion for their animals.
- →**Look for Mobile Event Appearances:** Check their Facebook page for opportunities to visit them at local public events (e.g., 'Wickford Water-Fire').
Things to Consider
- ⚠**Inconsistent & Unreliable Hours:** Google Maps and the farm's website may display incorrect or outdated open hours. The farm is a working farm with limited, sometimes fluctuating, public access.
- ⚠**Unwelcoming Staff Demeanor When Closed:** There's a risk of encountering staff who are less welcoming, and potentially perceived as 'arrogant and condescending', if you arrive when they are closed and interrupting farm chores.
- ⚠**Strict No-Pets Policy for Visitors:** Bringing your own dogs, even quiet ones, can lead to immediate requests to leave, potentially causing distress.
- ⚠**Potential for Upset Children:** Unannounced visits during closed hours can result in abrupt dismissal, leading to significant disappointment and upset for young children.
Price & Value
Described as 'wallet friendly' for on-site visits, suggesting excellent value for the personalized, interactive experience offered. While no specific entrance fees are mentioned, the cost is implied to be reasonable. Pricing for mobile petting zoo services is not specified but would likely be a premium service for events.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accommodations for special needs are mentioned. As a working farm, pathways may be uneven or unpaved, potentially challenging for wheelchairs or specialized strollers.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No explicit food or drink policy is mentioned. As a farm, there's unlikely to be dedicated food service beyond potentially small, simple snacks, but no stated prohibition on bringing your own.
🚗Parking Info
- •Not explicitly mentioned, but as a farm, on-site parking is implied. No details regarding quantity of spots or cost are provided.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Not explicitly mentioned, but the nature of a family-run farm with limited public hours and highly personalized interactions suggests it is generally not a large, crowded commercial venue. The focus on individual attention (e.g., helping brush a horse after hours) implies a more intimate setting.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Implicitly high animal safety due to the family's explicit commitment to 'animals needs and health FIRST AND FOREMOST'. Animals are described as 'taken care of & friendly'.
- •Staff (including the owners' children) actively supervise pony rides and general interactions, suggesting direct oversight.
- •No explicit mention of first-aid stations, emergency procedures, or specific security measures.
⏰When to Avoid
- • **Spontaneous visits without checking Facebook first:** High risk of arriving when they are closed and experiencing a negative interaction.
- • **Relying solely on Google Maps or the farm's website for current open hours.**
- • **Bringing any pets, especially dogs, to the farm.**
- • Expecting a large, commercial petting zoo with extensive, fixed public hours.
- • Visiting if your child is prone to significant distress from unexpected closures or strict rules.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Mobile Petting Zoo
Our hand-raised farm animals (goats, mini donkey, bunnies, chickens, ducks – babies with mommas during kidding season) come to your location for petting, feeding, and brushing.
Includes:
- •goats (including babies during kidding season)
- •mini donkey
- •bunnies
- •chickens
- •ducks
- •petting animals
- •feeding animals
- •brushing animals
Mobile Pony Rides
One pony comes to your location for riding, brushing, and feeding treats. Ponies can be dressed for princess, unicorn, or cowboy themes.
Includes:
- •1 pony for riding
- •brushing pony
- •feeding treats to pony
- •themed pony dressing (princess, unicorn, cowboy)
Mobile Petting Zoo & Pony Rides
Enjoy all the farm animals for brushing and cuddling while also getting to ride a pony at your location.
Includes:
- •farm animals (goats, mini donkey, bunnies, chickens, ducks)
- •pony rides
- •brushing animals
- •cuddling animals
On Farm Petting Zoo
Spend time with farm animals in the petting zoo field. Meet and brush the goat herd, mini horses, and mini donkeys. Join bunnies in their pen, pet pigs, and interact with Jimmie the mini highland cow, emu couple, pheasants, and peacocks.
Includes:
- •goat herd
- •mini horses
- •mini donkeys
- •bunnies
- •pigs
- •mini highland cows (Jimmie)
- •emu couple
- •pheasants
- •peacocks
- •brushing animals
- •playing with animals
- •petting animals
On Farm Pony Rides
Children can enjoy a pony ride during open farm days.
Includes:
- •pony ride
Tractor Drawn Hay Rides
Duration: 15-20 minutes
A tractor-drawn hay ride through the woods, offering a chance to see deer.
Includes:
- •tractor drawn hay ride through the woods
Barrel Train Rides
Children can sit in their own barrel and 'drive' on the barrel train ride.
Includes:
- •barrel train ride
PARTY ON THE FARM
Host your birthday, graduation, or family gathering on the farm with no worries about set up and breakdown. Private events are available where the farm is reserved for you and your guests only.
Includes:
- •petting zoo (optional)
- •private farm access (optional)
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Goat Yoga
Dates coming soon!
A yoga class featuring Nigerian Dwarf goats jumping around, providing joy and laughter.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • A Release and Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnity Agreement must be completed in full by any adult (18+) intending to visit or obtain services. Adults must sign for themselves AND for any accompanying children.
- • Heavy rain and/or lightning will result in instant cancellation of an event (before or during) for the safety of animals and staff.
📅Booking Policy
- • Message to register campers for Farm Camp Summer 2025.
- • Reserve a spot for on-farm events.
- • Private events available upon request.
- • For mobile event inquiries, provide: location (Town/City), date (flexible?), and interested package/special requests.
- • Calling/texting ahead is recommended for on-farm pony rides.
Photos
What People Say
What's Great
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Natasha Pilon
5 months agoMe and my daughter found the petting zoo this summer and quickly became frequent visitors! Not only is it wallet friendly, they have such a good mixture of animals who absolutely love the attention! There has yet to be a visit where we leave without a smile and great memories! Not only that, the family/staff who owns and runs the farm are AMAZING. Not only are the parent knowledgeable and friendly, but their children are always open for questions or to just tell you fun facts about their favorite animals. You can tell the whole family has a true passion for the animals, the farm, and their community! I’d like to mention that I’ve never had an issue following their hours (I actively look at their Facebook page to try to plan a visit), and as a farm lover I totally understand that it would be impossible to give the animals the level of care they are provided now if they were constantly available to the public! So kudos to the Rusty Buckle family for putting their animals needs and health FIRST AND FOREMOST! Also thank you for providing a safe and loving home for the bunny, Bun Bun, that I needed to help find a home for! Your family gave no hesitation to take her in and you continue to love and care for her better than anyone else I could’ve left her with! If you’re looking for a fun place, friendly staff, and good memories I highly recommend the Rusty Buckle petting zoo!! Tell Thelma and Louise I sent you!😉🐷
Caitriona Crawford
10 months agoHands down the best petting zoo we have had, and nicest people. They came with a pony, donkey, goats, bunny’s, a pig & even a pardoned turkey. All the animals were adorable, and the kids went wild. Great communication, and showed up when they said they would. Can’t wait to have them at our next event in Rumford.
Brian Takita
5 months agoThe animals are taken care of & friendly. The people not so much. The hours on Google said they were open. Their website didn't say they were closed on Sunday. I arrived with my 3 year old daughter. Called them, got the answering machine. Left a message. Got out of the car to look at the animals. Goats & pony's came up to up & were friendly. Rabbit was running around. Rooster was nice. Beautiful animals. Anyways a truck pulled up. I said hello. A woman said hi & we're closed. Got farm chores. I asked when are they open. She said check the website (I did & Google). Her tone of voice was arrogant & condescending. So fine I asked can we look at the animals for a bit so my 3 year old does not get upset that have to suddenly leave. She said 1 minute. So we are looking at the animals & a 13 year old boy told us we had to leave. Our 2 dogs who were quiet were a problem for them. I said ok give me a second because I have a 3 year old. My daughter got very upset. I'm fine respecting their space. However there was no indication they were closed when we arrived. Their Google hours said they were open their website didn't say they were closed. The arrogant & semi hostile attitude around my 3 year old daughter is uncalled for. 5 starts for their beautiful & friendly & healthy animals. -1 stars for the attitude of the humans. Averages out to 2 starts
Lucy Hebert
5 months agoI was looking for a farm to take my children to and found rusty buckle. Not only did they love the animals but they absolutely went crazy for the pony rides! This is a family owned farm and one of the boys helped my daughters on the pony’s-he told them all about riding horses and was so sweet and kind! We will absolutely be back-it’s so convenient that they post their hours on Facebook. It’s so amazing that they would open their beautiful home! ❤️
Santina Leathers
5 months agoWe have been to this farm more than once, even traveled to wickford water-fire just because they would be there. Never disappointed when we go. Our girls love it there. The family that runs the farm is the most welcoming and very involved with their visitors. The owner even continued to let my daughter play and help brush and take care of one of their horses (cash) after they closed and we definitely overstayed open hours and never once asked us to leave. Would highly recommend this family and farm to everyone. Excellent experience everytime!! Would give ten stars!