Shannon is awesome! She is the best trainer in the south burbs in my opinion. 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. read more

I contacted Shannon earlier this summer via email and she responded within 24hrs. Moreover, her w/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. read more

I have been to many barns in my life for horseback riding lessons and I can honestly say that my experience at Downtown Equestrian Center has surpassed all others! Shannon is an excellent instructor, who is very knowledgeable and extremely talented at what she does. I drive 90 miles round trip to Frankfort every week to take lessons with Shannon, to better my riding. There are plenty of barns that are closer to the city and to my house, but Downtown Equestrian Center is simply the best. The environment is wonderful, the horses are healthy and happy, and Shannon is a fantastic instructor. I would recommend anyone to go to her! read more

Great place. My daughter has riden here for 2 years. It is clean, the horses are beautiful, well taken care of and so sweet. The owner, Shannon, is enthusiastic and friendly. It's a wonderful place and i would definitely recommend it. read more

this is my favorite place ever and it's great for kids lessons or adult lessons and all the in between! The trainer shannon Sullivan is very professional and always takes care of any concerns you may have! I very much recommend this barn!! read more

Horseback riding was on my bucket list, so when I saw a Living Social Deal for it on jumped on it. This place is not to far from my house. I did have a little bit of a hard time getting hold of someone, to book the lesson and when I got there it hard to find the person I was suppose to have the lesson with. However once the lesson got started it was great, I had such a great time and Shannon was really patient since it was my first time riding. I really enjoyed myself I think I found a new hobby and plan to go back again. read more

Great barn! Took a lesson yesterday with Beata, it was amazing. Got taught a lot of new things and got a lot of tips. Definitely improved since. The employees were so welcoming, and were there if you needed help. Horses are well kept. Shannon was very nice! Definitely a well kept barn! I would definitely recommend Downtown Equestrian! read more

My friend and I took advantage of the Groupon deal that was available recently. We just had our 1 hour lesson and it was awesome! Shannon was super patient and nice with us and everyone in the stable were really friendly. My friend and I can't wait to go back again :) read more

Bought 3 lessons here. First day there I met Shannon, she picked a horse, asked me to get on and had me go in circles in the barn while she instructed two young riders. Never saying anything more to me... no lesson, no instructions, not even an introduction. I never went back. read more

I am very glad to have found this barn. The horses are well cared for, the facilities are very nice and all of the folks we've encountered have been fantastic. My daughter has had a great experience with every lesson and looks forward to continuing on. read more

I have ridden, taken lessons, and shareboarded at several of the local barns over the years including Nova, Fitzjoy, and a couple of smaller private barns, and have switched around a lot due to being unhappy at these other places for one reason or another. A friend of mine owns a horse at DEC and suggested I come there to ride and I am so glad she did because I absolutely love it. The barn, horses, equipment, and property are clean and extremely well cared for. It is a friendly environment where everyone is willing to help out with anything you may need. I have never once felt uncomfortable. Shannon is the owner, and anyone who can say a bad word about her has obviously never met her. She is professional, hard working, knowledgeable, and very dedicated to her business. She is always at the barn interacting with horses and riders. Yes, she texts, but it's 2012 and even my 85 year old grandmother texts. I'm sure she would gladly return a call if you asked her to, as well. And if she doesn't respond immediately, it's probably because she's teaching a lesson or training a horse, both of which she does very well. This is a place for both brand new beginners and those looking to compete. I currently shareboard a horse at DEC and I am so glad I found this place. It is the best barn in the area and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to take lessons or board their horse in a friendly, fun environment. read more