LOVE, LOVE, LOVE NCEC! Started riding there a few months ago and could not be happier. Karen and…read moreher daughter, the owners, are fantastic and making a special place even better. And Marin is the best trainer I've ever had! She had an amazing understanding of both horse and rider, and teaches to help you understand too. Every lesson builds on the last, and I learn something new every week -- awesome for someone who has ridden for a long time. On a scale of 1-5 stars, wish I could give NCEC a perfect 10!

My instructor was amazing but DO NOT SIGN ANY CONTRACT. They need to get themselves together first…read more They simply are new and not ready to be offering contracted agreements. The communication is TERRIBLE with the owner. I signed a contract that it appeared she had not even read. I did not receive promised services and the owner acted like I was crazy for referencing the missing services. "I don't know where you ever got the idea that..." So I sent a picture of my signed agreement with the exact thing she told me she had no idea why I expected it. The communication was terrible from day 1 and rapidly got even worse. I was regularly not on the schedule for lessons despite my constant emailing and messaging to confirm...and the fact that I was a contracted student with a standing regular lesson time! (the owner handles the schedule).Once I showed up and nobody was there and nobody had let me know there was no lesson. I came from 40 min away so it was a total waste of my day. I did get a prompt refund after sending the picture of my contract proving the owner wrong. Sad because my instructor and the horses were amazing. This could have been such a fulfilling experience for a first time rider.

Best trainer to go to get results with your horse. Honest and trust worthy. You get a lot of…read moreinformation from his lessons. Reliable horseman.

Beautiful farm to ride at and best sunsets around.read more

If you're looking for a laid-back no drama facility to board your horse, relax on amazing trails or…read moretake lessons, then look no further than Hidden Spring Farm! Lighted arena with great footing, dressage ring, open field jumps and great trails. What more could you want?!? Full board to pasture board, they have you covered! You and your horse become part of the family. No matter your skill level they have you covered with lessons from beginner to advanced.

First the good. The two barn ladies are very good and do the best they can with 30+ horses. Most…read morefacilities this size run with more help, but when you understand how they take care of your horse you'll understand how they do it with only two people. Unless you have a very strong minded large gelding, I would recommend not letting them put your horse in the backfield. Those horses are big and aggressive. If you pay $650 for stall board, that only means that they will eat inside. Horses are not led into the stalls, they run into the stalls and they leave the stall doors open all day which leaves opportunity for multiple horses to get into one stall. Somewhere in this practice my horse was injured, it was unwitnessed but when I left two hours prior to feeding time the horse was perfectly sound and when I came back he was dragging his left front leg. Unless you pay extra charges they will not put your horse in during the day when it's hot, they will not put your horse in during storms. That's pasture board to me. Second read that board contract very carefully, any additional services always cost more money they are up front about that, but no concessions are made even when your horses left 3 weeks prior to their end date. They do not have any holding pens for incoming horses, so there is no quarantine area. There is no small paddocks for rehabbing horses for individual turn out, so it's not a good rehab facility in my opinion. Outside arena is very pretty, but it is very deep in the back left hand corner. Trails were very nice. All in all I'm going to say that it wasn't worth the money I've spent, owners are not long-term professional horse people, but if you like an air conditioned bathroom it's a great place.

This whole place is complete Bullshit! They kicked me and my 21 yr old horse out over Chhistmas! He…read moredied on Feb 1. They didn't care- I did not know they had been advertising his spot Before they even got told me " You're out." I had been there for 15 years. Do Not look at a pretty bathroom. They are very good with " cosmetics. " Ask somone/Disgustng,!!

Pasture Boarders Beware…read more Jim's barn is beautiful with gorgeous indoor and outdoor arenas. There is a tack room for boarders, and slots for tacking up as well as several wash stalls. He has one person working for him, Pancha, who feeds all the horses, cleans stalls, and generally takes care of things. The horses in the barn seem well cared for. The pasture has 2 run-ins that seem in good shape, and 17 acres to spread out on with seemingly good grass. The water trough was a little questionable... There is only one other horse on pasture board and it's his horse (RED FLAG). There are lessons on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays - if you want to ride on those days, outdoor arena only. Feed for pasture boarders is grain in pans 20ft apart. I expressed that I was concerned about that because one of my 2 eats significantly more than the other, and the one who gets less will steal food. Jim stated (his idea) that there was a paddock in the field where one horse could go in to eat so he wouldn't steal food. He stated that I would have to pay his help extra for her time. I made sure to tell him that one of my horses was 18hh. He didn't seem to have a problem with it and asked more questions about his breeding. I asked if he would feed supplements and he said yes. I also asked about using an open stall temporarily while I tacked up one of my 2 horses and he said yes as long as I cleaned up after myself. I moved in and everything seemed fine. Jim was very pleasant and easy to talk to. I felt very comfortable with him and our decision to move there. I watched a few lessons - he was very kind and patient. I helped Pancha feed the horses that evening and the next morning so that they could get used to their new routine and one of them going into the paddock. We talked the whole time (in what little Spanish I know) and she even was showing me pictures of her family. I brought my horses inside to ride and put one in the "preapproved stall". I gave him a flake of hay to munch on while he was waiting (it is explicitly stated on the website that grain AND HAY are included in board). While I was tacking up my other horse, Jim walked in and told me "you're expecting too much as pasture board horses and you need to leave". I tried to fumble through a question as to why and he simply stated that I expected to much and Pancha was not comfortable working around my horses. I said ok, I'll try to find another barn as soon as I can, but it may be next week sometime to which he replied "the sooner the better, you need to get out". I told him that I had given a flake of hay to my horse and offered to buy a bale (EVEN THOUGH HAY IS SUPPOSEDLY INCLUDED IN BOARD per the website) and Jim stated that I was stealing..... I immediately packed up my trailer and left after being there less than 24 hours. He went from being very friendly and easy to talk to, to INCREDIBLY rude and hurtful in a very short period of time. I think the real issue is that I was too much of a presence in the barn. I never saw any other boarder there, and in the boarders tack room, pretty much everything was covered in dust. He is obviously used to doing things his way and in his routine, and I was interrupting that. I also don't think he really wants to deal with pasture board horses. So, if you have a horse that you need stall board for and don't plan to ride often, this is the place for you. They will be well taken care of. I think if you just want lesson, this is also a great place to come. Otherwise, stay away.

Jim is a terrific teacher He is particularly patient and gentle in his criticism. The facilities…read moreare terrific, safe and convenient for those who live in Chapel Hill and Durham. Although Jim is best at teaching English but he was willing to take me on as an older adult who just wanted to refine his Western riding. Kind man with a good manner

We've had many horses here over the years and have been nothing but thrilled with their care. The…read moreplace is beautiful and safe. I can't say enough good things.