I will admit, the negative reviews made me a little apprehensive to book a trail ride here but I am…read moreso glad I did. While I sympathize with those whose experiences were different than mine, I encourage others to ignore the reviews, book a ride and make up your own mind. For us, the distance from downtown St. Louis to here was great and I would have no problem coming here often. The second half of the drive has a scenic view of the river and is worth the commute in itself. I loved how quiet and peaceful the location is even with all of the restaurants etc nearby. Unlike another reviewer, we had absolutely no issue finding the stables using Apple Maps. The stables are located right off of the main road and easy to spot ahead of your turn. We were told to arrive 30 mins or so before our scheduled ride and were greeted warmly by the owner and his incredibly friendly cat. We felt comfortable and any anxiety from bad reviews melted away instantly. The owner and our trail guide were patient with us newbies...answering all of our questions and making sure we were comfortable before we set off. The horses are well cared for and docile. Phones are not allowed while riding but the owner kindly offered to take any photos we wanted before and after our ride. This small gesture made our day and I love having those photos to look back on. The trail was beautiful and the horses handled it with ease. The only issue we encountered had absolutely nothing to do with the company/staff but nature being nature. The horse flies were intense and if you're anything like me, you may want to schedule your ride during months where they aren't so bad. However, weeks later, I am still so impressed with and in awe of how my horse and our trail guide handled the seemingly endless freak outs I had every time a horse fly appeared. At times I was on the verge of tears, in full panic mode, screeching, dodging bites, recklessly moving from side to side and yet my horse remained calm and collected. I know it had to have been annoying to listen to and witness but our trail guide told stories and jokes to calm me down, he got many of the flies away from me and my horse and made the whole ride a positive experience in spite of those darn flies. 100% would come here again. Please give this place a chance and support these wonderful horses!

I regret having to write this review, but I feel compelled to share my experience to help others…read moreavoid the disappointment my family faced. We booked a horseback riding trip for three on Saturday, June 1, 2024. On the morning of our ride, Aaron, the manager, called to inform us that the trip was cancelled due to poor trail conditions following a rainy week. I understood and agreed that riding would be unwise under those conditions. Aaron asked if we would like to reschedule, and despite living more than two hours away from the stables, we initially agreed. However, we did not reschedule immediately because we were unsure when we could return to Grafton. Their cancellation policy clearly states there are no refunds if guests cancel within two weeks of the reservation. Two days later, on Monday morning, I called the stables to request a refund, realizing that a trip to Grafton would not be feasible in the foreseeable future. Aaron informed me that a refund was not possible because I had not requested it during his initial call about the cancellation. I found this policy confusing and unreasonable. The company cancelled the trip, not us, and since we did not reschedule at the time, the two-week cancellation policy should not apply. There is no mention of this specific scenario on their website or in their fine print. Despite numerous conversations with Aaron over the past three and a half weeks, I have not received a refund of $165 for a trip that will not happen. Each time, I was promised a call from the owner, which never materialized. Even if we could reschedule, I would be hesitant to put my family's well-being in the hands of someone who has demonstrated a lack of patience, responsibility, and effort to resolve the issue. This is the first review I have ever written, but after giving the management of Pere Marquette Riding Stables ample time to rectify the situation, I feel compelled to warn others. Aaron informed me just 15 minutes ago that the owner would not be calling me back or issuing a refund and then hung up the phone. While I'm sure the horses are great and the trails are beautiful, I strongly recommend considering other options and working with a business that values its customers. I also wish we had read other reviews before booking, as it appears we are not the first to encounter such issues with this company.

Kraus farms takes advantage of the nearby conservation area and treats it as their personal…read moreproperty, ruining the experience for others. They're profiting off of public land payed for by tax payers and ruining the ecology of the area. They also contracted road repairs and stage all of their materials in the parking lot, it's been almost a full year of them blocking almost all of the parking.

the best place ever my daughter rides there she ardors it, the barn assistants are so niceread more

The National Equestrian Center has become such an important part of our lives. My daughter shows…read moreher horses here, and this facility has helped her discover a passion that gives her confidence, motivation, and a reason to stay active. One of the things I love most about this community is the friendships that have grown here. The girls who compete are incredibly supportive of one another. They may be competing against each other in the ring, but outside of competition they cheer each other on, encourage one another, and have built genuine friendships. It has been amazing to watch that kind of sportsmanship and community develop. The facility itself is always well maintained and clean. It's clear that a lot of care goes into creating a welcoming environment for both competitors and spectators. The center also has a positive impact beyond the facility itself. Many people travel from out of town to compete, stay in the surrounding area, and support local businesses, which brings a lot of value to the community. The concession stand is another highlight. It is so much more than the typical event food you might expect. There are a variety of options, and the food feels thoughtfully prepared rather than just standard prepackaged items. Between the concession stand and the local restaurants nearby, the events bring a lot of business to the area. We absolutely love the National Equestrian Center. It's more than just a place to compete--it's a place where riders build confidence, friendships are formed, and the horse community comes together. It has become a huge part of the equestrian world, not only locally but also for competitors who travel from all over to be part of these events.

I wish I had been here for a horse event. However, I did get to visit this center for The Vintage…read moreMarket Days. It's a great place for the Vintage Market, because this place is huge. I love horses, so it was fun to just be around a place that I knew horses are. I had to walk through the back doors to enter the event, so I got to walk all the way down the stalls. What a great place for horses. It was so clean and organized. Now as for the Vintage Market...had a great time! It was the tenth year anniversary so everything was decorated so cute. There was a live band and lots of food trucks. I had a wonderful time! The Equestrian center is a fantastic place for horses and for events!

QLD owner and trainer Marketa Matthews always has the best interests of the horse in mind. Daily…read moreturnout on beautiful green pastures make for very happy horses. She moved her business to this new location in August 2014. She lives in an apartment connected to the main barn, and personally checks on the horses multiple times every day. Marketa specializes in the type of riding known as dressage. The United States Dressage Federation says, "Dressage is a French term meaning "training" and its purpose is to develop the horse's natural athletic ability and willingness to work making him calm, supple and attentive to his rider." Marketa helps riders to have fun and be safe while learning to get the best performance from their horses, regardless of the horse's and rider's fitness and athleticism at the time they start working together. Her calm and patient teaching style builds confidence in both horse and rider. She has helped me to be a better partner with my horse, and has inspired me to get more fit myself as she brought my horse along in fitness and training. Most exciting is that she has taken me from being terrified of horse showing to looking forward to the next show.

I have known Charlie and Marketa Matthews for many years, and can't say enough good about them and…read moretheir dressage facility. I've had my horse there since the first week they opened. QLD is the ideal mix of professional quality and attention to details (such as spotless stalls, high quality hay and feed, impeccably maintained huge pastures, and top of the line footing for the indoor and outdoor arenas) and a relaxed, supportive atmosphere. The barns are very well maintained, always very clean and inviting. Lounge area is well-maintained with many amenities. Tack rooms are brand new and even during hot, humid St. Louis summers, there is no humidity inside them. I appreciate that my expensive tack stays in perfect condition. Marketa is an exceptional trainer, positive and knowledgeable for both horse and rider. My horse and I have thrived at QLD. The atmosphere is happy and positive and focuses on learning and supporting each other. We host clinics monthly, including those taught by Olympic trainer Michael Barisone and the amazing teacher/rider Jennifer Kaiser. Charlie works like a horse (!) keeping on top of all the various projects around the farm, as well as maintaining the polo barns/horses. We also have fun together, enjoy training in the arenas or hacking in the open fields, and know our horses are always well cared for. Charlie and Marketa live on the property, so there is 24/7 supervision of the horses. No more driving hours to fill my horse's water buckets in summer, or check on him in winter. No skimping on hay or shavings either. I know that my horse has the highest quality care, and this gives me 100% peace of mind.

Very nice barn with indoor and outdoor rings, pastures and paddocks. Well cared for horses with…read morelots of knowledgeable people around. This location is great too! Near Greensfelder Park!

Very unprofessional. Misrepresent what they are selling and look to take advantage of the less…read moreeducated. I questioned about a horse dragging her feet which was obviously visible the way her feet were worn and the shoes she had for 3 week we filed down like a knife blade on the front. When these issues were brought up the owner Kelly Hart blew up on us and then accused the people I was shopping with of not being able to afford $2200 for a crippled horse that she "appraised' at $4500. This horse wasn't worth $800 on the market and anyone with horse sense wouldn't pay that much.

Couldn't say enough about this place! Horses are so well taken care of, and the owner is truly…read morepassionate about caring for these animals and making sure they get the very best!

I started going here to take lessons about a year ago it's a fantastic place. Very friendly staff…read moreand people who really care about horses. I recommend this place to anybody who is wanting take lessons or board their horses.

What a great place to learn English riding. The trainers are great. The girls do a great job…read morekeeping the stables. The cats own the joint. Such a convenient place with patient coaching to learn to ride. If you're in the area and are looking for equestrian professionals this is the place.

My kid stayed healthy and happy at Kiddie Academy. Very safe, clean, disciplined and highly…read morecommitted to teach kids good behavior. My kid loved Lunch at Kiddie academy. Chicken and Turkey are her favorite.

EDIT: We requested a meeting with the Operations Director (Gina) on Friday that was unfortunately…read morecancelled due to her being sick. We were looking forward to at least hearing their stance on the issue and trying to come to a resolution. Instead, we were contacted by someone completely unrelated to the O'fallon location and they asked for clarification regarding this review. It was then decided we would have a meeting with that person because Gina was still ill. Long story short, our son is no longer enrolled at Kiddie Academy because of the unprofessionalism shown by Chassidy and Lindsey (director and assistant director) and their inability to supervise or even communicate with parents regarding their children. After we requested a refund for the month of November we started getting the run around, even though our son never attended a single day in November. They kept saying they "abide by the state minimum" and I don't know about everyone else here but but when it comes to my children and especially for what they charge I don't expect the minimum anything. If you truly love your children I urge you to think twice before enrolling in Kiddie Academy. Original Review: My youngest son has been attending Kiddie Academy O'fallon for a while now. Today marks the 3rd time in less than 2 months he's gotten bit while in their care. The school refuses to address the problems or give us an action plan as to what is being done about it. When brought to the schools attention their resolution was "well you can always pull your child from the school" Beware: if you don't want your children being bit find somewhere else to send them.