I have been a student and a boarder at CW Equestrian Center now for just over three years. I have…read morebeen a boarder at many, many places and this is by far the best boarding and training facility that I have been apart of. This is a positive, healthy environment for the humans and the horses. They are always attentive to what your horse needs and they go above and beyond to make this a welcome place to board and ride your horse. The owner / operator provides wonderful lessons that have progressed my riding and my relationship with my horse. If you are looking for a place to board or take lessons, I would high encourage you to give CW Equestrian Center a call. They are excellent!

I am a professional in the horse industry and have been involved in horses in the Metro East for…read morethe last 23 years. In all that time, I've never been at a barn this wonderful. The horse care is absolutely the best in the area. My horse was one of the first on the property when they opened. She was only 3 at the time and thanks to the amazing care that Crystal provides and the safe, horse friendly environment of the barn, my horse has grown into a well adjusted beautiful 6 year old. My coaches have commented on how healthy she looks and how good natured she is, which would not exist without CWEC. The barn is a zero drama environment, which is VERY difficult to get in a boarding barn and is due to Crystal managing the barn in a professional, transparent manner and making sure she fosters an environment that does not tolerate drama. Crystal has a lot of medical knowledge about horses as well and is very attentive to her boarders, so I never worry when I go out of town as I know Crystal will have it covered. In addition, Crystal is an attentive and caring instructor who prioritizes safety. Her students have many opportunities to attend shows both on and off the property. The facility is beautiful, clean, and safe and has good footing that is well maintained in both the outdoor and indoor arenas. We would truly be lost without Crystal and our CW family.

Jena is an excellent riding coach and operates a great stable. Our pony Chip is well taken care of…read moreand his demeanor has improved so much since we started boarding him there. Everyone there is like one big happy family!

From the owner: "Briarstone is boutique hunter jumper barn that caters to each client individually. We offer…read morelessons, training, boarding, and sales. Training to accommodate the very beginner rider to those showing on the National level. Custom boarding is fitted to each horse's individual needs. With several feedings/day and daily turnout. Lessons, clinics, and camps are all offered on site as well as a yearly schooling show series. Please feel free to call and contact us for a tour!"

My family had a great time today at the fall festival! They had baby goats, bunnies, kittens, and a…read moreunicorn! How neat. They put lots of detail into the games and crafts. The hay ride was awesome, it took you around quite a bit of the farm, and you seen a lot of horses at the end. I can't wait to see what other events are hosted here! Everyone was very nice, the man driving the tractor was extraordinary and very informative, he even let me know they offer horse lessons here! How awesome.

the main trainer is mean to horses she hits them just because a horse moved when tacking up i…read morewill never go back there!!!

I couldn't help but notice that any negative reviews were under the OLD management. Danyel and Matt…read moreNEW management have done wonders for this facility in so many ways. The knowledge, love and compassion that they have for each and every horse there is impressive. They bring new life to this facility that it was in desperate need of. They are the hardest working barn managers that I have ever met and I have boarded my horses for over 20 years. They have put their heart and soul into making sure that this barn is safe, pleasant and well maintained. They are professional, knowledgeable, compassionate, empathetic and go the extra mile in everything that they do. The care that they provide is amazing. I guarantee you that Danyel knows every horses name and special needs on that property. She takes a lot of pride in the services that they provide and it shows. The facility is very clean. They also offer lessons and training which I highly recommend. Danyel personally trained one of my rescue horses that came from horrific conditions of neglect and abuse. When we first brought him home you couldn't even get close to him without him striking out. He was terrified. After 90 of him being with Danyel she was riding him bareback around the property. He went on to become an amazing horse. She was gentle and kind with him and asked him all the right questions. He responded to that. I highly recommend her for training.

I had my horse at valley mount ranch from August 2024-February 2025. we moved closer to my house…read morefor a few months then came back to valley mount. we LOVE the atmosphere at valley mount ranch. There is very little-no drama and everyone I mean EVERYONE is so so kind and respectful. we have never had any issues here. Danyel and Matt are the best people. they are the only people(along with my boss) that I 100% trust with my horses. 100% reccomend valley mount.

Beautiful facility. Barn recently updated. Great place to board horses, take hunter/jumper lessons,…read moreand get involved with A great community of people. The staff have extensive knowledge of horses and are quick to spot problems if they arise. Lessons are fun and riders learn the safe ways to interact with these beautiful animals. A wonderful family atmosphere. Not a high pressure barn but opportunities to lease, purchase and show are available. Lesson horses are well taken care of and enjoy their job.

Wonderful Riding Academy, grounds and arenas are beautiful. Staff are so friendly. Class sizes are…read moresmall.

QLD owner and trainer Marketa Matthews always has the best interests of the horse in mind. Daily…read moreturnout on beautiful green pastures make for very happy horses. She moved her business to this new location in August 2014. She lives in an apartment connected to the main barn, and personally checks on the horses multiple times every day. Marketa specializes in the type of riding known as dressage. The United States Dressage Federation says, "Dressage is a French term meaning "training" and its purpose is to develop the horse's natural athletic ability and willingness to work making him calm, supple and attentive to his rider." Marketa helps riders to have fun and be safe while learning to get the best performance from their horses, regardless of the horse's and rider's fitness and athleticism at the time they start working together. Her calm and patient teaching style builds confidence in both horse and rider. She has helped me to be a better partner with my horse, and has inspired me to get more fit myself as she brought my horse along in fitness and training. Most exciting is that she has taken me from being terrified of horse showing to looking forward to the next show.

I have known Charlie and Marketa Matthews for many years, and can't say enough good about them and…read moretheir dressage facility. I've had my horse there since the first week they opened. QLD is the ideal mix of professional quality and attention to details (such as spotless stalls, high quality hay and feed, impeccably maintained huge pastures, and top of the line footing for the indoor and outdoor arenas) and a relaxed, supportive atmosphere. The barns are very well maintained, always very clean and inviting. Lounge area is well-maintained with many amenities. Tack rooms are brand new and even during hot, humid St. Louis summers, there is no humidity inside them. I appreciate that my expensive tack stays in perfect condition. Marketa is an exceptional trainer, positive and knowledgeable for both horse and rider. My horse and I have thrived at QLD. The atmosphere is happy and positive and focuses on learning and supporting each other. We host clinics monthly, including those taught by Olympic trainer Michael Barisone and the amazing teacher/rider Jennifer Kaiser. Charlie works like a horse (!) keeping on top of all the various projects around the farm, as well as maintaining the polo barns/horses. We also have fun together, enjoy training in the arenas or hacking in the open fields, and know our horses are always well cared for. Charlie and Marketa live on the property, so there is 24/7 supervision of the horses. No more driving hours to fill my horse's water buckets in summer, or check on him in winter. No skimping on hay or shavings either. I know that my horse has the highest quality care, and this gives me 100% peace of mind.

I will admit, the negative reviews made me a little apprehensive to book a trail ride here but I am…read moreso glad I did. While I sympathize with those whose experiences were different than mine, I encourage others to ignore the reviews, book a ride and make up your own mind. For us, the distance from downtown St. Louis to here was great and I would have no problem coming here often. The second half of the drive has a scenic view of the river and is worth the commute in itself. I loved how quiet and peaceful the location is even with all of the restaurants etc nearby. Unlike another reviewer, we had absolutely no issue finding the stables using Apple Maps. The stables are located right off of the main road and easy to spot ahead of your turn. We were told to arrive 30 mins or so before our scheduled ride and were greeted warmly by the owner and his incredibly friendly cat. We felt comfortable and any anxiety from bad reviews melted away instantly. The owner and our trail guide were patient with us newbies...answering all of our questions and making sure we were comfortable before we set off. The horses are well cared for and docile. Phones are not allowed while riding but the owner kindly offered to take any photos we wanted before and after our ride. This small gesture made our day and I love having those photos to look back on. The trail was beautiful and the horses handled it with ease. The only issue we encountered had absolutely nothing to do with the company/staff but nature being nature. The horse flies were intense and if you're anything like me, you may want to schedule your ride during months where they aren't so bad. However, weeks later, I am still so impressed with and in awe of how my horse and our trail guide handled the seemingly endless freak outs I had every time a horse fly appeared. At times I was on the verge of tears, in full panic mode, screeching, dodging bites, recklessly moving from side to side and yet my horse remained calm and collected. I know it had to have been annoying to listen to and witness but our trail guide told stories and jokes to calm me down, he got many of the flies away from me and my horse and made the whole ride a positive experience in spite of those darn flies. 100% would come here again. Please give this place a chance and support these wonderful horses!

I regret having to write this review, but I feel compelled to share my experience to help others…read moreavoid the disappointment my family faced. We booked a horseback riding trip for three on Saturday, June 1, 2024. On the morning of our ride, Aaron, the manager, called to inform us that the trip was cancelled due to poor trail conditions following a rainy week. I understood and agreed that riding would be unwise under those conditions. Aaron asked if we would like to reschedule, and despite living more than two hours away from the stables, we initially agreed. However, we did not reschedule immediately because we were unsure when we could return to Grafton. Their cancellation policy clearly states there are no refunds if guests cancel within two weeks of the reservation. Two days later, on Monday morning, I called the stables to request a refund, realizing that a trip to Grafton would not be feasible in the foreseeable future. Aaron informed me that a refund was not possible because I had not requested it during his initial call about the cancellation. I found this policy confusing and unreasonable. The company cancelled the trip, not us, and since we did not reschedule at the time, the two-week cancellation policy should not apply. There is no mention of this specific scenario on their website or in their fine print. Despite numerous conversations with Aaron over the past three and a half weeks, I have not received a refund of $165 for a trip that will not happen. Each time, I was promised a call from the owner, which never materialized. Even if we could reschedule, I would be hesitant to put my family's well-being in the hands of someone who has demonstrated a lack of patience, responsibility, and effort to resolve the issue. This is the first review I have ever written, but after giving the management of Pere Marquette Riding Stables ample time to rectify the situation, I feel compelled to warn others. Aaron informed me just 15 minutes ago that the owner would not be calling me back or issuing a refund and then hung up the phone. While I'm sure the horses are great and the trails are beautiful, I strongly recommend considering other options and working with a business that values its customers. I also wish we had read other reviews before booking, as it appears we are not the first to encounter such issues with this company.