I could not believe there was a horse stable this close to my house. They have a LOT of horses and…read moreponies. There were 5 people in my group and Anna was our guide. She was amazing! The ride was leisurely and relaxing but still fun. They recommend dressing for the weather but wearing jeans and gym shoes, which was perfect. My horse was Sammy (ironic) and my husband's was Denny. I also had a connection with Sanchez (although that may be because I was feeding him tons of apples and mints). I wish we would have known about the carrots and apples but you can bring your own and make friends with all of the beautiful horses! I can't wait to go back.

My daughter did a trail ride. She has several years of riding experience so we have seen all sorts…read moreof barns. While the ride was fine and the trainer was friendly, I was SHOCKED at the condition of the barn. The smell of urine was overwhelming. The stalls looked like they had not been mucked out in weeks. Tons of poop in the stalls. Animals just looked sad and depressed. The barn and arena were dark and depressing. Absolutely no outdoor space for the animals. I'm shocked people board horses there. Conditions are terrible. There were about 30 farm animal just standing around in a dark arena. Reminded me of a nursing home. Very depressing. Everything just looked neglected.

I was looking for a special gift for my niece and nephew. A month of lessons for each was very…read morereasonable, and included riding helmet rental. Lovely gift card was provided to give to the kids, and full instructions for their mom. This center is VERY popular: there is a waiting list. The barn and riding range are heated and open year round, so I am sure the kids will enjoy spending time learning something new.

My daughter took riding lessons here and she loved it. It is…read morepretty pricey even with the group. The instructors were very helpful and professional. The horses are beautiful and well taken care of. Virginia is the owner and full of passion, that's what made us love horses & riding even more. It's definitely worth trying out if you're interested in riding and have never had any experience.

I've taken my daughter twice, this time my mom went as well. The staff is great, the horses are…read morebeautiful and well trained. Both times had a very nice ride.

I had a great time with Carol as our guide. Even with absolutely no experience in riding horses, it…read morewas very easy to learn, and enjoyable! 10/10 would recommend!

My sister held my twin niece & nephews birthday party here this summer - what a fun day all the…read morekids had! The 8 & 9 year olds did a horse trail ride, and the little kids 4-6 did a pony ride. Then the really nice man that worked there drove us all in a cool wagon to petting farm to feed goats! We set up on picnic tables with food, and dessert- the kids loved roasting hotdogs over the big fire pits- ended the day with Smores- such a fun day and would love to come back!!!

I had a great experience horse back riding the trail, I was in a wonderful group of 9. Genie…read morescheduled me for a 1:00 pm trail ride, Amanda and Brenna was the instructor's of our group's trail ride, they were awesome instructor's.

I absolutely love the barn. The horses can be turned out in groups together. They get daily…read moreturnout, as well as pasture rotation. There's an indoor arena, an outdoor arena, and a bridle path. The owner is very knowledgable and cares greatly for the well being of the horses. I'm here almost daily doing groundwork with my horses, and while I see a lot of people, the barn is rarely busy which provides and excellent atmosphere for training. They also offer riding lessons and horse training.

Shannon is awesome! She is the best trainer in the south burbs in my opinion…read more She's friendly, punctual and my daughter really likes her. She's learned so much just after a few lessons. Very nice, well kept place.

I contacted Shannon earlier this summer via email and she responded within 24hrs. Moreover, her…read morew/in 24 hour response time has continued through the summer; whether by email, phone, or text. We set up lessons for 4 kids initially, which eventually became 5. Shannon was more than flexible and understanding of having to reschedule due to extreme heat on one scheduled lesson day, of one kid not being able to attend a lesson, or wanting to add another kid last minute. At any one lesson we had at least 3 kids and up to 5. Needless to say we have done SEVERAL lessons over the course of the summer. Each of the kids (ages almost 3 up to 9 yrs) has loved their experience with Shannon and her horses at Downtown Equestrian Center. All of the kids came to Shannon as complete novices. Their confidence and abilities have grown with each lesson. So far they have learned how to brush the horse, clean the hooves, saddle the horse (w help due to height &/or age), walk the horse out/in (again, assisted for the youngest), mount/dismount the horse, proper posture and hold, then ride the horse (walk, trot, stop, back up, turn, circle, walk over bars). The 7 & 9 year olds are now able to ride the horse without a lead assisting/guiding. This was a huge moment for them and sent their confidence/self-esteem through the roof. Shannon and her staff are also very thoughtful about their choices when pairing the kids with the horses. They take into consideration the horse's personality, age, size, & work for the day; the size and age of the kids are also factors in pairing. Even though one of the kids might have a particular preference, if that horse already rode for a lesson that day it does not go out again. That said, Shannon & her staff do their best to accommodate the kids, especially when they have bonded with a particular horse. The kids have now learned to ride 2-3 horses; learning their personality, temperament, and ride. I should also note that Shannon has helmets for the kids to use during lessons (also a must), which I appreciate since none of the kids yet own one. Of course, there are moments where Shannon will have to correct the kids; however, she never raises her voice-- she changes her tone, much like a parent needing to refocus their child's attention. Due to the number of kids and lessons, we have also had the pleasure of working with many of Shannon's staff. Each person has been kind and patient while working with the kids; moreover, they have been knowledgable and willing to teach the kids. A family member who has worked with horses & at equestrian centers for years came to the first lesson. She was pleased with the barn, lessons, horses, and overall conditions. Shannon was always respectful, even when their two "styles" differed. To address another review: Yes, it can be confusing upon your first arrival-- Are you at the right place? (There isn't much signage, especially near the entrance) Where do you go once there? (There are several buildings) Who are you looking for? After parking, all we had to do was ask for Shannon and one of her staff politely told us where we could go/wait while she went to get Shannon. (For those wondering, there is a small "office" type room in the barn (with helmets & gear) that we now go to upon arrival.) Overall, the kids adore Downtown Equestrian Center and like having "Miss Shannon" as their instructor (as well as her staff). They are very comfortable there and have greatly enjoyed their experiences beyond words. I have appreciated Shannon's communication, style of interaction & instruction w the kids (she differentiates well for the youngest to oldest), flexibility, and interaction w the adults present. Moreover, I think there is something to be said about the way an instructor treats/interacts with the student relating to how they treat/interact with the horses. Our experience has been very positive; this leads me to believe she is kind and thoughtful when it comes to caring for her horses. I know that more regularly scheduled lessons on our part will allow Shannon to create lessons that further build upon each other. We are looking forward to all that will be learned in future lessons with Shannon, her staff, and horses.

We recently celebrated our daughter's 9th birthday at Nova Quarter Horses, and it was an absolutely…read morewonderful experience. With a group of 20 third-grade girls, I was initially concerned about keeping everyone engaged and safe, especially since more than half of them had never ridden a horse before. Nova's team surpassed all expectations. They were incredibly organized, attentive, and made sure each child felt comfortable and secure throughout the event. The staff at Nova Quarter Horses made the girls' first riding experience unforgettable. Each child had several turns riding different horses, and the instructors were patient and encouraging, creating a positive atmosphere that allowed even the most hesitant riders to participate and enjoy themselves. Our daughter described the party as "perfect," and I couldn't agree more! The facility itself is ideal for hosting birthday parties. Nova has a spacious party area where they arranged tables to accommodate our group with one long table that seated 21 comfortably. Parents were able to relax in a fantastic viewing area, which offered a great vantage point to watch both the riding and the party festivities. This thoughtful setup made the celebration enjoyable for both children and adults. Beyond horseback riding, Nova organized a fun scavenger hunt in the barn, giving the girls an opportunity to explore, meet all the horses, and learn more about the facility. This added element of adventure made the party even more special and engaging for everyone involved. I highly recommend Nova Quarter Horses for anyone looking to host a unique, fun, and well-managed birthday party. The staff's professionalism, dedication to safety, and ability to create a magical experience for children make them stand out. We are grateful for the memories made and look forward to returning in the future!

Nova Quarter is definitely the place to be if you love horses. Lorri and Sam run an amazing…read morebusiness and the horses are so well taken care of. There are so many events, camps and opportunities for all ages. The large, newer indoor arena is amazing! Go check them out!