I have been a boarder at River Ridge Farm for the last seven years. My horses have all had the very…read morebest of care. The feed and hay is always top-notch and the horses are carefully monitored with regard to weight, not too lean, not too heavy. Supplements and meds are given per request, without question. Turnout is daily, with careful consideration of inclement weather. All fencing is safe. Horses are closely observed in case of illness. There is a stall that has a video cam for 24 hour monitoring of horses if need arises. Stalls are large and airy, cleaned daily and well-bedded. There is a large indoor arena and 10 miles of state park riding trails across the road. I have never had an issue with anything in seven years. This is as close to perfect as it gets!

From the owner: " Many Boarding Specialties Available " 12-ft x 12-ft Matted…read moreStalls with Overhead Fan Hookups, 12-ft Concrete Isles 3-ft x 3-ft x 7-ft Personal Tack Locker for Each Boarder Insulated Roof and Walls Within The Stall Area Skylights Throughout The Stall Area and Indoor Riding Arena No Set Hours Of Operation & No Hidden Charges Stalls Bedded Adequately with Pine Shavings - Bulk Supply on Hand Horses Are Hand Walked To & From Paddocks for Turnout Each Day Double Fenced Paddocks- No Common Fence Lines Horses Fed Three Times A Day - Full Line of Premium Horse Feed Supplements Feed per Instruction, At No Extra Charge 12-ft x 24-ft Observation Room With Heat & Air Conditioning, Refrigerator, Satalite TV, and Microwave Surround Sound System w/Sirius XM Radio throughout the barn and indoor arena Automatic Pyranha Fly Spray System Throughout Stall Area and Isles Indoor Riding Arena (70-ft x 150-ft) 12-Miles of Horse Trails Just Across The Street 20-Acres of Hay - No Rationing - Ample Supply

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.

I absolutely love the barn. The horses can be turned out in groups together. They get daily…read moreturnout, as well as pasture rotation. There's an indoor arena, an outdoor arena, and a bridle path. The owner is very knowledgable and cares greatly for the well being of the horses. I'm here almost daily doing groundwork with my horses, and while I see a lot of people, the barn is rarely busy which provides and excellent atmosphere for training. They also offer riding lessons and horse training.

Lovely peaceful horseback ride on the property's trail with such a friendly crew Cassie and Abby…read more My toddler had such a great time feeding the goats and first horseback ride. Such a cool and unique experience here that we were looking for!! So glad we got to visit and found this spot!!

First time ever, no experience horseback riding experience and it was AMAZING!!! Found this place…read morefrom a deep dive on google. There website had no time slots showing but I called and they answered and said they have availability for the day I was hoping for. Great customer service from the moment they answered the phone to the moment we stepped off of the property. Well organized and such a fun time. Very well worth it and would definitely be coming back!! My boyfriend was completely mortified and scared to get on the horse and asked a million and one questions and every single staff was reassuring but also honest. He rode the horse with confidence because of the staff training and attentiveness. He would definitely come back and said he was the most amazing thing he's done his whole life. Every single animal on the ranch is also well taken care off and amazingly well manners, from the dogs to the random Turkey on site. Every single one was gentle and sweet. They also take pictures of you throughout the trail and provide you FREE of charge by texting them to you. HOW CONVENIENT!!! And the pictures are SOOOO GOOD! This also happened to be my step-son's birthday and they were wonderful and sweet enough to give him a horse shoe for good luck after the ride it was so unexpected and he completely was so excited. From a teenager being excited to ride horses and receive a horseshoe this says a lot!!

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 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.

Christy is a really special person. Her immense dedication to caring for every animal at the farm…read moreis both obvious and inspiring. I feel really lucky to have found her, she's an excellent instructor. Going down to see her and the horses is the high point of my week. I would recommend her a thousand times!

Christy Nahser is one of the most kind human beings I have ever met. I have know her for more than…read more25 years . At times I have known her to find a cat on the side of the road, or a goose, or dog and certainly horses, and take them in or to the vet and nurse them back to health. She is for sure a horse whisperer, I have never know such care and compassion she shows to each and every horse that is in her care at her barn. If you are looking to board your horse or take riding lessons Christy Nahser is the best out there! If you just need a place to be at peace for anxiety or depression just being at Chrislin Farms will give you peace! Looking into the horses eyes is something special. Give Christy a call and once you speak to her you will see what I am talking about 630-802-4996