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.

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!

Talk about quaint environments and pleasant walks. This is a go to. Year round this place to enjoy…read moreyour day with friends, family or the special someone.

I love hiking here on a spring, summer or fall day. This is a Moderate hiking course on an unpaved…read morepath. So prepare as far as shoes goes. This path is dog friendly and horse friendly. There are little rest areas with benches along the way. They even have a water bottle filling station. Over all this hiking path is a little under 3miles but had a great intensity level with a beautiful view

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.

I have never in my life had such a terrible experience until riding at AZ Acres. Simultaneously, my…read moredaughter took a lesson while I casually rode. The instructor was rude, insulting, and belittling to both my 7 year old daughter and me. I made it very clear that she's not an experienced rider and needs more instruction as she's learning. Olivia's tone was short, accusatory, and impatient. My daughter left in tears. I cannot stress enough how much this place should be avoided.

Look, if you're an adult in Plainfield/Shorewood/Joliet and you're thinking about taking lessons…read morebecause you want to compete or you just want to become an all around better rider, this is the place to do it. And they can do group lessons if you want to take a spouse, friend, child, stranger you just met, etc. etc. The facilities themselves are very nice and the stables are always pretty dang clean. They have an indoor arena too so that's a huge plus in these winter months. There are quite a few grooms here so if you have any questions you always have someone to ask, but beyond that Megan does a great job of walking you step by step through tacking up and care to ensure you're doing it right and are using the correct equipment on each horse. The lessons are top notch. You work with different horses week to week and Megan is excellent at giving corrections while your riding. Lessons differ from day to day and they offer both English and Western, but Megan does an amazing job at remembering where your at and what you still need work on. I'm never pushed to do something I'm not comfortable with, but the option to push yourself is always there (if you've shown you'd be able to handle it). I always feel like my safety is considered while riding here which I can only imagine would be even more reassuring if you have your kids riding. Also worth noting, they offer summer camps for the kiddos.

We had an absolute amazing time on this trail! Not only was the guide amazing, the whole adventure…read morewas scenic and worth every penny. All the horses were very well taken care of, extremely soft, and super well behaved. The trails were both wide open and woodsy, and overall a rustic experience that made you feel like you were one with nature. I would recommend this for anybody, whether they are a beginner or well-versed in riding horses. I went into it being a little bit nervous, but felt like a natural within a few minutes. We could not have asked for a better day and I look forward to the next time we get to experience this adventure again. A+

The ride was good, the staff didn't really talk to us when we first arrived or even when we were…read moredone. The ride we booked supposedly came with a bonfire. We were not guided or talked to about the bonfire everyone just left.

My experience as a first time customer at this Double J stables was very unpleasant. I didn't know…read moreit was mandatory to wear boots while riding. I never received an email stating equipment needed and I was never told I must bring boots. The stable manager who goes by the name of CC was condescending, dismissive, hypersensitive and seriously lacks customer service skills. She did not make me feel welcome. I took time out of my busy schedule for my lesson and drove all the way from Chicago that day and she didn't care. She refused to do anything to lessen the blow of me waisting time, gas, & money. If offered some type of compensation like one free introductory ride, half price upon your return, or SOMETHING to show understanding, I would have happily rescheduled to come back another day with boots. However, I chose to leave due to her behavior and unaccommodating nature. If you want a stable that appreciates your patronage, and cares about you the customer, go somewhere else. There are plenty of other stables that will welcome you and treat you like a valued customer.

If you want your child to have a unique and magical experience, look no further! Someone could…read moreseriously write a children's book about this special place. It's wonderful. :) The first program my daughter attended was their Animal Adventure summer camp. She loved it so much we decided to enroll her in Farmhand 101, which is a class she has been attending once a week. In this class they get to do age appropriate farm chores and get to know all the animals. There are a myriad different animals to befriend! (My personal favorite being Cindy the turkey!) They all have fun names and you can tell they are very loved and well cared for. The instructors are very knowledgeable and kind. They all have lots of experience working with animals and share a lot of great information with their students. There's a wide variety of classes, many on weekdays being for homeschooled kids, which I really appreciate! I could go on and on about how great this place is, but you'll just have to go see it for yourself!

Wonderful staff Wonderful horses…read more Fun times for kids and parents I have Autism and ADD and mobility issues riding Elvis has helped me improve so much. I love him so much. I have such a strong connection with Elvis and everyone at RSR. I'm very grateful to be a part of something so Amazing for kids lIke me.

Such a great facility! The owner is so kind and inclusive. The horses are well kept and happy :)…read more I would recommend to anyone wanting to ride!!!