School horses are severely neglected and treated cruelly. They are underfed and used for classes malnourished and injured. Avoid at all costs read more

I was very disappointed with my experience at Glen Grove. I am a beginner rider in my mid-40s, and starting this journey at my age is already challenging enough. Unfortunately, the environment here made it even harder. My instructor, Paula, was consistently rude and dismissive. Before my first lesson, I asked multiple times what time I should arrive to begin grooming and preparing the horse. I could never get a clear answer. Each visit, I was told something different -- one day I was "too early," the next day I was "too late." It created stress before the lesson even started. There were also constant conflicting instructions. I was told at one point to interrupt the horse while eating because "he's a professional," but when I gently tried to halter him another day while he was drinking (thinking the same guidance applied), the horse reacted and I was loudly scolded in front of others. It was confusing, embarrassing, and discouraging. Whenever I tried to ask for help or clarification, Paula was usually in the office or occupied, and the teens working there were passive-aggressive or dismissive when approached. Yet later, I would be criticized for attempting tasks "without supervision," even though no one was ever actually available to supervise or teach me. It felt like I was being set up to fail. I genuinely wanted to learn. I was respectful, eager, prepared, and willing to take constructive feedback. Instead, I was met with inconsistency, raised voices, and a lack of support. When I eventually reached out to explain how I was feeling, I received no response at all, which was incredibly unprofessional. This environment was stressful, discouraging, and not conducive to learning. I would not recommend Glen Grove to anyone looking to actually learn -- especially beginners or adults -- unless you want to be berated instead of supported. read more

My daughter recently attended a camp here and (after waiting 48 hours for my nerves to simmer) I feel like I should share our experience. On the third day of camp, my daughter called me, in tears, telling me that she'd been bitten by her horse. I was skeptical, figuring that if she was really hurt, the camp would have called me, but then she sent me a picture, and I became alarmed. The picture looked bad. This had happened over an hour ago, and no one from Glen Grove had called me, and all they had done for my daughter was to give her give her an ice pack. I called Glen Grove, and Sue (I think she's the owner?) answered. She seemed annoyed that I had called and said that yes, my daughter had been bitten, but it was no big deal because it hadn't broken the skin. I told her that I had seen a picture of it and it looked like it needed to be treated, at which point she huffed, went over to my daughter, to another look, and said it just looked like a rug burn but if I was really worried about it "[she could] put alcohol on it, but it's going to hurt really bad." My daughter was right there - I could hear her yelping in fear in the background. After a few back and forths, I asked Sue to clean it with soap and water (that's what I read on the internet) and put some bacitracin on it. We hung up, no apologies, no assurances, she was just so annoyed that I was making a big deal of this. I am not a dramatic mom. I always assume that my kids actually did what they've been accused of, and I have been to the ER a bizzilion times for scrapes, stitches...you name it. I am not upset that a horse bit my kid at camp - stuff happens. But the way that this camp handled this issue was so unprofessional, so dismissive of any responsibility, I don't think that they should not be running a summer camp. I later heard from my daughter (and 2 other girls who told their moms) that later that afternoon Sue was trashing me to other parents - telling everyone about my "overreaction." Sue also told my daughter that her particular horse (Clover) doesn't like getting his hooves cleaned, so that's why he bit her (wait, that's part of the grooming she's supposed to do - and...hold on, has this happened before?!). Glen Grove has a lot of horses, and they are relatively convenient (right off of the highway) and the facilities are pretty nice. Maybe I just hit Sue on a bad day. But it takes a lot for me to get riled up and this had me on fire. read more

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I rode and worked here for a few years. Although the facility is nice, there is very little space for turnout and the space that they do have isn't utilized. During the few years I was there, I had more than 5 trainers. Aside from Emily (trainer), Cindy (owner), and Paula (head trainer), trainers frequently come and go, which is a reflection of the poor care the horses receive. Even without knowing much about horses, their condition speaks to the care they receive. Horses don't have properly fitting saddles which cause lots of pain. A horse died and the "replacement" used the exact same tack. Horses that "act up" likely due to pain are drugged using sedatives like ace, dorm, and Rompen. I've seen kids administering the drugs and even seen horses been drugged behind their owner's backs. The horses are either underweight or fat, very few have proper muscles due to being overworked or not being taught how to carry themselves properly. Water is disgusting and never gets dumped or buckets scrubbed. Glen Grove initially seems like a nice place, but the horses are terribly mistreated and it's a very shady business. read more

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As expected, they removed my review on Google Reviews. It's a shame that they are in such denial over what they do. Here it is again: It took me a very long time to work up the courage to write this review. I rode and worked at this barn as a child and am just starting to realize how horrible the conditions were for the horses in the lesson program. If you ride at this barn, you have the right to know that almost every lesson horse has likely been given acepromazine (ace) routinely (through pill form, intramuscular, and intravenous injection). For those of you who don't know, ace is a horse tranquilizer. In the "med room," there was a schedule that listed the horses that needed ace for the day. Often times, horses were getting injected multiple times a day. These injections were completed by unqualified teenage working students and instructors, sometimes resulting in serious scar tissue build-up on the horses' necks. Riding instructors were giving intravenous injections frequently. As a teenager, I was asked to fill needles with ace and walk them out to the head trainer "discreetly" during the middle of lessons so that other clients would not catch on. I'm absolutely sure that they will deny these claims and try to have this review removed (again). All I can tell you is that I remember Kiwi, Waldo, Apricot, Lily, and Mango all had routine ace administered to them (I was oftentimes tasked with giving them pills as a child). If you don't believe me, I ask for you to look at Waldo's neck. read more

A family friend gets private lessons so we were able to observe from afar and walk around the facility. There's an indoor and outdoor riding ring. That indoor one comes in handy unless you want to be riding in 5 ft. snow come winter! They offer a 30 min private session that beginners are encouraged to take before buying the hourly packages. The space surrounding the equestrian facility can be used for picnicking on gorgeous summer days. Lush greens and trees to shade you from the Chicago sun. Beware! The instructors take some of the horses through the trails close to where the picnic goers are. read more

I really should have made this review a long time ago. I'm not over this because these people still receive good business even though some of the employees have bad interpersonal skills. What happened was I was going on vacation for 3 weeks. I let an employee at Glen Grove know this ahead of time so that she can clear out my weekly lessons for those weeks. I remember she said, "And you're going to call us to schedule another lesson after you come back?" I answered yes. I later got a text from my instructor Jennifer asking me if I'm coming. I never scheduled a lesson, so I texted back no? I really should've asked her why she's asking me that, but I didn't. I didn't think it was important at the time. I looked at my card statement later on, and I saw I was charged $50 for their lesson. It was for the lesson I, myself did not schedule. The lesson that Jennifer asked me if I'm coming. I called Glen Grove soon after. The owner picked up. I told her I was charged for a lesson that I didn't go to and if I could get credit for it. I've gotten credit before when I was charged twice for 1 lesson. She instantly started berating me that I lost all thought of what I was going to say. Learn from my mistake. Constantly check your bank statements when doing business with Glen Grove, ask questions, and don't let an angry, aggressive person make you lose all thought that you don't explain your story. Aside from that, they really should have a bigger focus on getting people checked in for their lessons. Half the time I went there, the front desk person did business on the phone for 15 minutes and did not even look my way once while I waited for her to check me in. The other half of the time, they are nowhere to be found for 15-20 minutes. The last thing worthy to note is I've seen 2 trainers regularly having angry outbursts at other trainers. It bothered me that they don't treat their staff with respect. read more

I have rode here for nearly 4-5 years and I can say that the place is quite run down. I recently transferred over to another hunter/jumper stable called Freedom Woods which is not too far from Glen Grove, and I have to say that leaving was such a good experience for me. Anyway, the teachers don't exactly pay attention to their students either since half the time during the lesson, they're always on their phone. I wouldn't call them professionals at all. The best they'd do is teaching younger kids, not advanced riders. The facility is absolutely awful and unkempt. The aisle for the school horses is the most dirtiest. The school horses are also moody and overused, which serves as a high risk factor to the students. I've seen kids getting bucked off and bitten. The owner does NOT do a good job at keeping everything clean and she doesn't even bother buying new horses for the students there. There is ONE main indoor arena (the outdoor arena is hardly used) which also makes it difficult for the students, seeing how it's easy for them to crash into one another. Some days it can be quite filled and noisy, which can be such an inconvenience to the horses and the riders. I don't know, but some of the teenage girls who work there also have THE WORST attitudes. I barely speak to anyone there, yet for some reason I was given a hard time. I never felt welcomed in that stable. I wasn't comfortable either. Wouldn't recommend. read more

I now see why some of the reviews here were lackluster. I reached out to Glen Grove in May and June and was consistently told that someone would get back to me about summer camp. After repeatedly not hearing anything, I checked the website in July to discover that they are full for the whole summer. Pretty awful. I now need to find an alternative that will have me driving all day. read more

I've been riding here for a few months now and the absolute best part about Glen Grove is my trainer, Jen Diaz. She is incredibly talented at explaining the intricacies of riding and I'm quickly progressing to where I want to be. I highly recommend Jen as a trainer and most of their school horses are super sweet and fun to ride. Say hi to Marbles, Moose, and Fred if you stop by! :) read more

Glen Grove Equestrian Center - First ride at Glen Grove with Marbles! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

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I live near this facility and have always wanted to visit. Finally I decided I'll treat my niece to two lessons. Upon my arrival I was very pleased by the appearance of the facility. Unfortunately the customer service I got at the front desk was discouraging. I only got one lesson and will be trying other place. read more

Being closest to the city it's a money pit for parents who don't want to spend too much time in traffic. Don't expect to learn much. You pay $45 for 1/2 hour lesson and if you are 20 minutes on the horse you're lucky. Old trainers are rude and junior staff knows nothing. There is also a high turnaround for junior staff. Stables have only few horses they rotate for classes all the time. Horses are beautiful but old, tired and always inside. You won't jump or canter or go outside. Staff will pressure you to participate in semiannual tournaments. Tournaments fee starts at $100 and it's a trap because its glen grove only tournament. You are not expected to win, just to pay and participate. Don't waste your time and money on Glen Grove. It is just not worth a penny. read more

This place is not my choice of stables. The lesson horses are all overrun and the "trainers" are hardly professionals. The hay here is something more qualified for bedding, not food. Horses are not turned out with the board fee. You have to pay extra and even then the horse is barely out for a half hour. You cannot keep 40 animals on 5ish acres (if that) without any land. A lot of horses get sick a hurt because they never get out!! Their pony ride ponies are kept in a nasty dirty pen outside. On the plus side, the barn is heated and Sue, the desk lady is AMAZING. The owner is a bit bipolar, disorganized and straight up rude. There is also a serious drugging issue here. If you can't handle a horse, drug it! That is their method. It blows. Find another barn. read more

I tried so hard to make this place work, but they disappointed me so often that I decided to stop riding here. First of all, charging $40 for what Glen Grove calls a 30 minute riding "lesson" is ridiculous. There is barely any teaching going on. From my experience, and from what I witnessed, the instructors are disinterested and mostly watch the riders they are "teaching." Secondly, every one who works here is unfriendly. The instructors are generally apathetic, but they are better than the young "working-students" who hang around the barn. They are at best unhelpful and standoffish, but at worst rude, bratty, and totally unprofessional. They ignore everyone else at the barn and act like they own the place. I have even overheard them talking about inappropriate things and wild nights out in front of children taking lessons. I paid for my lessons myself, and chose to leave Glen Grove. But as a warning to parents sending their children: I noticed instructors virtually ignoring kids when the parents weren't present. They have them walk/trot around the arena with out saying anything more than "heels down" in the span of 15 minutes. If you are paying for a riding lesson, I would think there would be teaching involved. It is really too bad, because Glen Grove is one of the only barns located close to the city and the Northern suburbs. Yes, the barn is old, and it could be much better taken care of, but I could deal with all that. I just wish the people who worked there were nicer and at least pretended to care! read more

Went for pony rides. Was ignored as other people were given rides even though we had been there longer. Teenage girls came to change the hay and water and they had huge attitudes and said the horses needed rest NOW. We ended up leaving after waiting 45 minutes and not getting a ride. The kids working there are incredibly rude. read more

Let me start out by saying that everyone was very friendly and the barn was nice. I have been riding for a long time and after taking some time off I decided to start riding again, this was not the place to do it. I have no doubt this is a wonderful place for beginners but for anyone that is an experienced rider it is extremely overpriced and you will leave completely unsatisfied. The horses seem a bit overused and it seemed that they only do the bare minimum of jumping if you enjoy jumping like Ido. Another issue is that since there are about five "trainers" the ring was packed with other kids and it was hard to do anything without worrying about running into people. Long story short Beginners-yes Experienced- absolutely not read more

While this barn has gotten some bad reviews (usually all do) I am very happy with my instructor here. I used to ride Saddleseat and am now learning Hunt Seat. She has been great in providing direction in how to change my form for the new style of riding. I love how detailed she is in correcting my form, this is the most important thing to me. I am not sure how this barn measures up to others, I have only rode at a total of 4 different places, but it looks to be fairly well run. Many reviews have mentioned instructors on their phones not paying attention. I have not had that issue personally. I have noticed one in particular who comes to mind. I would say this place is worth a try, but if you find your instructor, or your child's instructor is on the phone all the time...find a new one. Learning to ride is technical and if your instructor is on the phone/texting, you are likely not learning proper riding. read more

I purchased a block of three lessons almost two years ago and I am so glad I did. It has been a childhood dream of mine to get back into English equestrian riding and this has been a great journey for me. Paula is a wonderful instructor and I have many new friends here. read more

I have been bringing my daughter here on and off for a few years. I have never felt welcome - merely intruding on their inner circle - but it didn't matter if my daughter was happy. Tonight my daughter left in tears because her instructor quit and never let us know. Sue, at the front desk said someone else tried to leave a message but the mailbox was full - not true. They had two weeks to alert us - even snail mail as they do not email. We showed up - no apology, no instructor to take over the lesson and a "maybe someone could do a lesson in an hour or so" - but not next week - we'd have to change to Monday which did not work. Again, they are intolerant if you are a few minutes late and will end the less on exactly on time ($50 for 15-20 min if you are stuck in traffic). Again that would be fine but my husband and I both have sat and waited up to 45 minutes for our lesson time and still it would end shorter than the 30 min. What really bothers me is that the instructor did not even call to say good bye and the Glen Grove said "don't kill the messenger". That is it. We would not recommend this place. read more

I usually don't write many reviews but I am so happy to be a student at this school. My instructor Heather is excellent - especially with teaching a newbie. The horses are gentle and the whole environment is friendly. It's an escape from my typical crazy day!! read more

Glen Grove Equestrian Center - Horseback Riding Near Me - Lake Forest, Illinois

We took the introductory lesson, we had a very affable and professional young lady named Hope for our instructor. It was a really fun experience. Everyone we interacted with was friendly and pleasant, including our horse, Moose. read more

I cannot say that my experience was perfect but satisfactory would be best way to describe. I saw improvement after lessons.

We love Glen Grove. Our instructor, Ewa, is wonderful with our 8 year old son. He absolutely loves his lessons!

I live very close to the Glen Grove Equestrian center and decided to try it for the first time with my son and his 3 cousins. We decided that the pony rides would best fit our needs. I paid with a card (which is a hassle at this location), while I was paying my son was standing beside me. I asked how long each pony ride lasted, so I could best estimate how many rides to purchase. The girl told me 5 - 10 minutes, so I bought two. Once we walk to the opposite side of the property to get on the ponies we are greeted by two very young teenagers. They told me that my son couldn't ride because the ponies that are in use today are small and can't carry more than 40 lbs, fine, no problem. We don't want to endanger an animal, but WHY didn't the first teenager who took my payment not ask me if the rider I was paying for was 40 lbs or over??? Make too much sense? Second, my brother loads his daughters onto their pony and one of the ponies had a bandaged eye. We asked what was wrong with the pony and the teenagers said, "He's sick, he has an eye infection." Maybe I'm crazy but isn't that animal cruelty? If the animal is sick let it rest until it is well. Third now the angry teenager leads the 5 -10 minute pony ride. They were back in two minutes, When we questioned why the ride was so short she became incredibly snotty and said she didn't know what we thought 5 minutes felt like, but that was clearly 5 minutes. So I said, "I'm timing the next ride, because this is ridiculous." The second group goes out and they quickly disappear into the woods and appear at the other side of the trail, waiting, just sitting there, When she officially stopped wasting time and appeared out of the trees 3 1/2 minutes passed. That included all of her stalling. I would never recommend a place to my friends with young children who apparently only hire teenagers with angst. All the adults that worked their were either in the store or giving horseback ridding lessons. Waste of time, waste of money. If I want to be around teenagers with an attitude problem I will return. read more

My granddaughter has been taking lessons at Glen Grove and I am very pleased with the progress that she has made, and the overall quality of the Equestrian Center. The facility is well-maintained, and the horses all look to be very well cared for - clean, well-fed, calm, well-tempered. The school horses are clearly well trained and instruction is well supervised. It is clear that safety is a primary emphasis in the instruction area. Both my grandaughter's instructor, Morris, and other teachers in the arena displayed high levels of professionalism while maintaining friendly yet firm interaction with their students. Beyond the actual riding instruction, I am impressed that lessons include instruction in the care of the horse. My granddaughter has accompanied the groom/attendant in taking her mount back to its stall, removing the saddle and other tack, performing basic grooming, and securing the horse back its stall. This interaction with the horse provides a better appreciation for all that is involved in the riding process. It is a real benefit to have access to such a fine facility in the northern suburbs. read more

The only nice instructor left. The rest are mean and demotivating for kids. There's is also a lot of wasted time during the beginning of the lessons. Sometimes took upwards of 10 minutes before my daughter actually got on the horse. The other review about "maybe" getting 20 minutes riding time from a half hour lesson is pretty accurate. One star for convenience to the city and the horses are very well mannered. read more

I've taken 5 years of horseback riding lessons at various other places, had my first lesson at Glen Grove and I'm a fan! I had a private 1/2 hour lesson for $40 and loved it. Prior I had taken group lessons at other barns on the southside and it always annoyed me when another rider was slow on the up take of what the instructor wanted and the rest of the class suffered. This was great! My trainer gave me tips while letting me ride at my level. I rode for the full half hour and can't wait to go back next week. read more

What happened during our visit: 1. My 2 year old son was bitten on the leg by a mean spirited pony. My son was petting the pony while it was eating hay but the owner was right next to us and didn't issue any warnings about the pony's tendency to bite. Later a girl who helps with the pony rides told me she has to be careful how she leads that pony because it likes to bite their backsides - she found this funny. 2. 15 minutes later the same pony kicked me in the stomach and grazed my 6 year old daughters leg as a teenage employee left to manage the operation backed the pony into our path. This was not a foot stomp but a full on two-legged kick and luckily I was far enough away that the hoof connected with my hip and abdomen at the height of the kick and most luckily my daughter was on my other side or she would have been kicked in the neck. 3. There was no expressions of concern or signs of remorse on the part of the owner or teenage staff for either incident. After my son was bitten and started crying the owner practically laughed and said "I guess he won't be riding after all." (That's when we should have left!) After I was kicked they said it's been a long day (for the pony), they get kicked all the time and I should have read the (non-existent) warnings which state that you ride at your own risk. Apparently it is posted in a hard to find office where pony-riding customers rarely go. 4. When we asked that, for the safety of other kids, the mal-tempered pony be given the rest of the day off (it was 3:30 and they close at 5pm), the owner pretended to put it in the barn but before we were even in our car she had it back out there giving rides. When my husband questioned her she said "I'm sorry you had a bad experience but I have a business to run". 5. The set-up where the pony rides were held that day, (between the barn and paddock) was haphazard, disorganized and had no postings regarding rules or safety precautions. Parents and kids were able to mill about - not a safe environment when an aggressive pony is involved. 6. We feel the owner and staff have a callous disregard for the safety of their pony riding customers namely young kids ages 6 and under. A pony that bites and kicks should not be allowed around kids. read more

I have been riding my entire life, growing up competing 3'3 - 3'6 in IHJA and USHJA Zone 10. When my horse passed away in 2011 I took a riding hiatus for a few years and ended up moving to Chicago for a job. It was a bit intimating because I only knew one person in Chicago. So, you know what they say... Feeling down? Saddle up! I started looking at barns and landed at Glen Grove just north of the city. They have a variety of lesson horses, ones specifically slated for advanced lessons. The trainers are great, I've been ride with Paula. I have also worked with Hilary and Christina - both are great trainers. If you're looking for a barn near Chicago I would highly recommend checking out Glen Grove!! read more

Glen Grove Equestrian Center is a wonderful place to ride, learn & connect with the Chicago horse community. I can't say enough about the level of training - instructors & staff are incredibly available to help you build your confidence & develop horsemanship skills in & out of the saddle. Grateful for my weekly opportunities to be apart of this Equestrian family! read more

Although we have only gone there for pony rides for my kids, I have found the place friendly and accessible. They let you in the barns and often people will stop to talk to kids and get them to understand horses and about what needs to happen in the barn to make the horses healthy and safe. The pony rides are for kids younger than 7 and are very reasonably priced ($5). read more

The horse seem very happy and well cared for, very conveniently located close to the city, prices good, teachers attentive.

It's hard to find barns that are good and close to get to from Chicago. Glen Grove is a great stable close to Chicago. I have been riding there for over two years and am very happy with my experience. I rode in high school and was looking to get back into it. I absolutely love my trainer Paula. She's taught me so much! The horses are also well trained, which is important when it comes to beginner riders. They focus on the English style of riding. Horseback riding is not easy and it takes time and patience to develop the skills to ride correctly. The trainers at Glen Grove take their time to make sure you are prepared and ready as you progress in the next steps your riding whether that be starting to canter or jumping. I have also made some great friends at the barn, which is an added bonus. read more

Last week, I had my first lesson at this barn. I was really scared because my last instructor did not treat me well at all. I arrived half and hour early because I thought there would be traffic on the highway but there wasn't. Instead of being ridiculed for arriving early, one of the working students showed me around and let me tack up my lesson horse. The horse was really nice and seemed well taken care of. The barn was really nice, and I know people complain about it being dirty, but it's a barn! It wasn't filthy or anything; there was just a little dust. Seriously people, it's a BARN! The dirt is the best part! In the arena, the trainer told me about the horse and was very friendly. Even though the lesson was supposed to be an evaluation, I still learned a lot. I know a lot of people complain about the arena being too crowded, but the trainers manage it really well, and it's an important skill to be able to ride in a group. Overall, I felt welcome and safe here, and the people are all really nice. The arena is even heated, which is always nice. :) read more

My daughter has been riding here for a few years now. And while I get along with the staff, I find that most of the trainers are apathetic towards doing much training. A couple of the trainers stand out; Alexa in particular is very patient and involved with her students. The lesson horses are overused and need better care. The overall impression is one of disorganization. read more

I love, Love , Love this place. My family and I always go there!!! I just cant find teh webpage so i can learn more about it. Does anyone know it???? Ya so anyways its a wonderful place and i really recomend it!!! On some other websites people say that they are cruel to the ponies in the back. They have to keep them out there so they can walk them around teh front of the building into teh woods for the pony rides. Plus the ponies are used to it. If you go there and pet and feed them their fine. I guess that the people who work there should clean out the ponies "place" better and keep it cleaner. But overall i think its a wonderful place!!! read more