I saw these ponies at an event I was at recently and it made me upset to see the conditions of said…read moreponies. First, the ponies were transported in a tiny little space. Then, the ponies were situated in a VERY SMALL enclosure. They looked like they wanted to get out and looked sad. I just hope the ponies are being treated humanly.

It would be nice if they weren't racist. Extremely racist. The phone woman was rude …read more.... Short.... Quoted me $150 extra over online pricing. I'm an African American..... In turn I had my Caucasian friend call and not to my surprise..... $100 less than my price. Sad ... Very sad . Shakita Travis

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.

My friends had their small family wedding here. They went through the process of getting a permit…read morefor their fall Saturday morning gathering. The park rangers took down their signs. SIgh....we did not let this dampen the joyous occasion. It's a beautiful park and great for family, pets, kids and simply just to go for a walk.

Still great place to board and for lessons, but they discontinued trail rides. The surrounding…read moreforest preserves sadly make riders feel unwelcome as peds, bikes don't want to share the trails. It's a shame so many people fear horses

I've been riding here for the past 6 years and I loved it, every horse is well mannered and some…read morepeople are as well. I have quit at this barn because of fat shaming by a lady, which I will not name. Because of this, I have lost all confidence in riding. I also do not recommend camps, any of them. Prices go up while everything stays the same or even becomes worse.

Where should I start? I got a Living Social deal and decided…read moreto try them with my girlfriend who is an experienced Hunter/Jumper rider. Let me just preface that their regular prices are so good I drove from Chicago, and will again. First of all, if you think you are at the entrance, but not sure because no one answers your knocking on the door, just walk in. We spent 10 minutes hoping someone was around while their two goats followed me. One of the owners came out and got us and I had to leave my goat girlfriend who escorted me along their property. The owners (a couple, forgot their names) were very nice, which is a treat because I have gone to other places for riding and in my experience most horse people are arrogant and don't have patience for beginners. Not the case here, very kind, patient, and a sense of humor to boot (no pun intended). They do all kinds of training, western, english, dressage, and they train their customer's horses daily. Horses were well maintained, as were the stables. I was retaught how to post, and I cantered for the first time. Smallish arena, but music was playing and it was relatively easy to hear the instructors, who were the owners. My girlfriend and I got to ride together for the first time, and even though it wasn't a scenic trail, it was very fun. Worth the trip Worth the money Worth a look I will be back, at least to see my goat friends.

My family and I found Country Meadows about 12 years ago, I was 9 years old and had been riding at…read morea barn through the local park district of my town. Someone had told us about Country Meadows and that we should really check it out if I wanted to continue horseback riding. We took a trip to see the barn and meet the owners and right away we decided we wanted to have a lesson there. I remember from my first lesson, how happy I was and how safe I felt on the horse and in their barn. I had just one, hour long lesson and I never went back to my previous barn. The owners Mike and Dale, and trainer Julie make it feel like home. They are all so friendly and loving and really want you to grow and become a great rider. They are like family; they support you, help you achieve your goals, and really genuinely care about you as a rider and a person. From my first lesson to now I've grown so much as a rider and a person. I have learned and grown to be so much more confident and outgoing. Continuely connecting with so many of their friendly and happy horses. And really became a rider that I always hoped I could become. Every horse you will ride teaches you something new and different and really challenges you as a rider. With the training and attention to detail they give you during your lesson, you will find yourself starting to get a hang of it and becoming a better rider every lesson. They take great pride in the way their horses are taken care of and getting the treatment and love they deserve. Their red barn is so gorgeous with beautiful wooden stalls and siding, the viewing room is very clean and nice and heated for cold winter days with a large window for you to be able to watch your children, spouse, or friends ride. They have a heated indoor arena that is very long and big so that you have lots of space to ride if there are a few other people in your lesson. They also have a beautiful large outdoor arena for lessons when theres a nice sunny summer day. They have the sweetest dogs that will come greet you with lots of kisses and some very vocal chickens in their second barn across the indoor arena that you'll want to meet. If you are looking for a barn that will teach you and help you learn to be a great rider, who are friendly and really truly care about the rider and that persons lesson and progress. This is definitely without a doubt the barn for you. I am so grateful and really just thankful I found this barn 12 years ago and the people in it because it really is a family away from my family. Honestly I do not think I would be the rider I am today if it wasn't for finding Country Meadow Farm!

Located in Homer Glen,this park is huge with over 600 acres. There are crushed limestone…read moretrails,picnic shelters and a huge dog park. We were disappointed tho that the 3.5 mile loop trail did not have any access to the actual marsh to see the various birds and wildlife in the area. There is plenty of parking as well as public restrooms.

We were in the area and wanted to walk a bit and celebrate a beautiful first full day of spring…read more The trails here are an easy walk as long as you pay attention to horse leavings. Many birds to see and hear as well. The trails don't let you go close to the marsh for waterfowl viewing unfortunately. The fenced in dog park is huge.

No better place on earth to board your horse! I have boarded there for nearly 35 years, and my…read morehorses get only the best. Martha Hoyt is a fantastic trainer, from babies to seasoned show horses. Instructors (Allie, Anne, Patty) give expert guidance and care whether in group classes or private lessons. The horses receive exceptional care with feeding and stall cleaning. If you're wondering, pay a visit and see this little piece of horsie Heaven for yourself.

READ THE FILTERED REVIEWS before you make a decision. I've been riding at PHRS for six years and…read morebought my horse there. He gets top notch care from the staff and I never have to worry about whether he's fed or if his stall is cleaned. The trainers there are also good. They listen to your goals and try to help you achieve them. For show riders they emphasize that winning isn't everything, it's about good sportsmanship and having your best ride. That attitude has created a barn full of supportive riders. School shows are held four times a year, and many of the classes are held in the outdoor arena if the weather is nice. I enjoy the wide variety of classes that are available. There's always a chance to try something new. This is a barn that is steeped in tradition. When they say it's a family affair they truly mean it. The staff and riders do their best to make everyone feel like family. Don't base your opinions off of a few unflitered reviews when there are tons of positive reviews that didn't make it past Yelp's ridiculous system! When in doubt, go out there and see for yourself.

Excellent place to get started with your horseback riding experience...for all ages. They have…read moregreat friendly rescued horses and certainly make the experience memorable. I would encourage them to add an element of what it is like to keep a horse on their trail rides to encourage and intrigue first time riders.

This is the 2nd year we have had Sarah's ponies out to our Autumn Fair Fundraising event. Her…read morestaff, once again, was phenomenal. Nicole was very communicative with me and she was able to get the pony wheel and petting zoo set up quickly and efficiently with her staff. Thank you!