West Deer diner welcomes riders and their horses

You might not be able to lead a horse to water and make it drink, but West Deer’s Gerry Vaerewyck led his horses to Deer Creek Diner and got a free hot drink for himself.

As he and two friends were headed home from horseback riding in Deer Lakes Park last Sunday, Leslie and Jeffrey Rhodes spotted the trio and their horses trotting down Creighton-Russellton Road.

It was freezing outside, so Jeffrey Rhodes stepped outside the diner — owned by his wife, Leslie — and asked the riders if they wanted to come inside for a hot drink to warm up. The diner gave them hot chocolate, coffee and French fries free of charge.

“It was really nice of them to do that,” Vaerewyck said.

To show his gratitude, Vaerewyck posted a photo of the three horses tied off in the diner’s parking lot on the West Deer/East Deer Current Events public Facebook group. Vaerewyck owns all three horses, named Jackie, Oakley and Prada.

“Deer Creek Diner gives great service whether you arrive on foot, by car or …,” Vaerewyck wrote in the post, which had received more than 450 likes and more than 40 comments as of early Friday afternoon.

“Only in West Deer!” one person commented.

Vaerewyck lives in West Deer’s Culmerville section, and often rides his horses around the township.

He said it’s not unusual to see horses, tractors and ATVs on the roads. People move to West Deer because they love the rural atmosphere.

“They’re willing to spend an extra 30 seconds going down a road behind a horse to have that sort of environment,” he said.

Sunday wasn’t the first time people on horseback have stopped by the diner, but everyone was excited to see them, Leslie Rhodes said. Her waitresses fed them carrots, French fries and other treats.

“Everybody’s happy that we do this kind of stuff and invite people,” she said. “That’s what we’re here for.”

Vaerewyck also takes his horses into neighborhoods including Pittsburgh’s Homewood and Point Breeze to let children pet them. People have offered to feed them carrots and apples and give them water.

“There are people who are like, ‘Oh my god, I’ve never seen a horse up close before,’” Vaerewyck said.

Vaerewyck said people who have seen the Facebook post have called and asked him to ride his horses around more. He invites people who don’t own their own horses to come ride with him.

“Little kids will come out on front porches and we’ll actually ride over to the porch so they can rub their noses and stuff,” Vaerewyck said. “It’s nice. That’s an experience that a lot of people don’t get.”