If you're looking for the best instruction for yourself or your children look no further. My…read moredaughter started off riding around 3 years old in their pony pal program and then went on to private lessons with the owner of Windermere, Jen. She was absolutely amazing at teaching my daughter, who was 4, how to ride safely but be able to still have fun. Now my daughter is 7 and has been receiving group lessons with Emma. Emma has been fantastic, caring and compassionate to the 4 girls who all ride together. She may have to say things 3-4 times but never once has she gotten frustrated at the girls for not understanding. Windermere has become a second home to My daughter and everyone at Windermere truly cares about the horses and the riders. We have never once had a bad experience or have been treated rude. We wouldn't go anywhere else and have referred many people to the barn who also have had the same experience!!

Very friendly atmosphere! If your looking for somewhere to learn the fundamentals while having fun…read moreand making friends, this is the place for you. I know from being at this barn regularly that everyone is welcome no matter the level of riding experience you have. Stop in and watch a lesson being given or walk through the hallways and listen to the light hearted banter amongst the students to see for yourself.

My experience with Day Dreams Farm (DDF) was incredibly unpleasant. In fairness & hindsight, I…read morepreviously had NO experience in dealing with any registered or unregistered 'horse rescue' group. I was contacted by a friend of 20+ years that was dying of kidney failure that needed to disperse his 16 Thoroughbreds within a very short timeframe per a court order issued by the township. I had lost my own horse barn in a fire the previous fall, was presently jumping through all the required red hoops with the local township zoning boards & ordinances in order to get my new barn built & get my own 16 horses returned to my farm, yet I put a great deal of time & energy into phone calls & emails in order to help my friend & his horses. Originally all conversations transpired between the owner & myself, however, eventually a great deal of confusion arose as conversations transpired between the owner & the Michigan Horse Coalition, the owner & DDF, the Coalition & DDF as well. I also mistakenly believed that the rescue group would work WITH me to help get the horses off the farm temporarily into farms (like CANTER does) while continuing to find permanent homes that would ultimately pay for these horses which would help the owner pay his existing medical bills. That was not to happen. Instead, I was steamrolled over. The horse owner specifically requested that I conduct all of the paperwork on all of the horses with the Jockey Club on his behalf, especially since I was on record as the registered agent. I agreed to take the owner's stallion, honor the owner's breeding contracts for the 2012 & 2013 breeding years on behalf of the owner, continue to advertise the stallion & stand the stallion on the owner's behalf. In addition, I agreed to take the owner's 6 unbroke & unregistered yearlings, register them with the Jockey Club in the owner's name, break them to saddle, starting gate & have them race track broke on behalf of the owner. I found homes for several other horses including 2 older mares with a friend of mine that had recently moved to Kentucky & was opening a facility with inner city kids. I agreed to pay for the health certificates & coggins testing for the 2 mares, & she agreed to pick them up & transport them. The coalition & DDF convinced the owner that these horses were better off with them, especially as my friend might actually be sending them for slaughter. A DDF representative who was incredibly abrasive reported that some of the horses suffered from face paralysis, bones sticking out of their feet, & cushings disease, made numerous remarks on Facebook concerning the condition of the facility & the horses, including the lack of grain &/or hay, & the inability to get into the farm via the driveway with their 4 wheel drive truck even though the owner drove a little car in there 2x a day every day. Statements were also made concerning the fact that 4 mares were pregnant & if they weren't removed immediately they were convinced they would deliver their foals on the trailer leaving the farm. (Seems to me the none of the mares delivered for several weeks) When disagreements arose, I contacted the owner & since he owed me money, I agreed to take the 3 horses that were sired by my own 2 stallions that were already picked up by DDF. He called me back the next day & said the DDF owner drove back up to his farm in the middle of the week to take him to lunch & convinced him to sign those 3 particular horses over to her. At that point, I threw up my hands & walked away. I sacrificed a great deal of time & energy & even though I've run a successful business and horsewoman for over 30 years, I was insulted by a representative of this organization - in writing - called a deranged crackwhore, batshit crazy, a whackjob psychopath on prozac that can go fuck herself & even threatened with a 12 gauge & stated "I'll fucking kill you". For a professional organization, this was NOT professional. Then when some one defended me, SHE was called my alter ego. And THEY called ME crazy?! This is not a rescue that I would donate to.

I want to give this place 5 stars. I really do. There's just a few things holding me back…read more If you're looking to ride horses in the GP area, and are willing to shell out an extra car payment a month, then this is the place to go. They accept riders of all ages and ability. However, I do believe there is currently a wait list. The property is huge and very welcoming. I do suggest calling and setting up a tour, if possible. The schooling staff couldn't be more nice and helpful. If and when you or your littles do get into a class, there are indoor viewing lounges to watch the lessons and keep warm or cool, depending on the season. You can also observe from inside the arena as to be able to hear all that is going on. The lounges are quite cozy with plenty of comfortable seating and some playthings to keep any siblings entertained. But do make sure they are entertained as horseplay and loud noises are a big no-no around the 700lb+ animals that can get spooked and spill a rider. The students are expected to help get the horses ready (tacked) for each lesson. As well as getting the horses untacked afterwards. Depending on the age and ability of the student, the staff will help and teach along the way. But as you/they progress this responsibility falls to the student. Parents will have to assist or at least accompany the student for about a half hour prior and at the end. Now, for the "bad" bits... -Some of the other rooms and areas of the property need a lot of love. As I said, it is a huge property that obviously was a bit run down by previous ownership. There does seem to be constant upgrading and in due time it should all be quite nice. -The barn, in particular can be VERY dirty at times. Lots of cobwebs and poop and birds and bird droppings and dust. A lot of dust. This is no barn for a clean freak. I assume it comes with the territory. -The prices for lesson packages are astronomical. We're talking upwards of $100 per weekly lesson. With a little research, one could find the same type/style of lesson at half the cost elsewhere. But, as noted earlier, the facility itself and the ideal location (especially for Grosse Pointers with gobs of disposable income) justify some of the high pricing. Otherwise, you're traveling at least 25 minutes to next closest location. -The entire facility is also shared with Boarders. People who keep their horses stabled at the barn. The school horses only take up about 25% percent of the stalls. The boarders walk around as if they own the place (they kinda do) and some have no qualms about telling you how they think you should be acting at their "club". However, some are equally as pleasant and helpful. They do tend to occupy one side of the very large U shaped barn. The school is only on the other side. So, interaction is quite minimal. -One other minor issue is the fact that there is no "Western Style" riding focus. It's all Dressage and Jumping. All in all, if you've got the money to spend and a healthy stick-to-it-iveness attitude, this is the place for you.

What a beautiful place! We were trying to find trail riding but my daughter is too young and it's…read morequite far away. This place is very close and suggested we come watch the showings. Friendly staff and seating/viewing area for 3 arenas. Popcorn, couches and tables, huge flatscreen tv in the viewing lounge. Riders were also friendly!! The young man that assists in the stables was especially friendly and helpful. One rider let the kids pet her beautiful show horse... their first time being so close with one! I think I loved it more than they did! Thank you so much for the experience!

This is the best horse facility I have ever taken lessons at. I have visited many stables around…read morethe country in the last few years but none compare to Brilliant Reflection Farm. Everything is beautifully cleaned, organized, maintained and the arenas are a dream to ride in. Combine the great facilities with trainer Barb Reis who is not just an excellent rider herself but also an amazing trainer giving you and the horse confidence to build on and improve significantly. The environment at the farm is very welcoming, stress free and has lots of good energy! It's so hard to find. I would recommend Barb and Brilliant Reflection Farm to anybody from beginner without own horse to professional riders. Enjoy! Have lots of fun at Brilliant Reflection Farm!!

From the owner: Our boarding and training facility is located in Groveland Township, Oakland County, MI, close to…read moreGenesee and Lapeer Counties, north of Detroit and south of Flint convenient to I-75, US 23 and I-69. The horse farm is set on 12.5 acres of rolling hill pastures that include pasture and stall boarding and an indoor riding arena which backs up to the Holly Recreation Area - close to Metro Detroit cities . We offer stall boarding or pasture board (year round but on a limited basis) for all breeds of horses. We cater to riders of all levels who want to bond with their horses and form a partnership, regardless of discipline. We have begun using biomechanics to help riders learn how to use their body to communicate with the horse in a way he understands.