Amazing! The guides really know what they are doing and have great horse sense! Hoses were healthy and happy and trails were great! Bring your your whole family read more

Chain O'Lakes State Park Stables - Sun set at the stable - Horseback Riding Near Me - Spring Grove, Illinois

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Great day to do a trail ride. The staff is courteous and attentive. Our group of 5 were ready to ride in just minutes after arriving due to the efficient staff. Our guides Chris & Lucas were a pleasure to ride with. For a beautiful walk in the woods, try this business. Thanks! read more

They don't deserve to run a business this way. Today is Monday, the third day of Labor Day. My wife felt from a horse. Two workers led the group of 12 visiting horse riders. When my wife's horse ran into the field, she cried for help. The workers were not ready for this. Then she flew off the horse. When I ran to search for my wife in the high grass, she was lying unable to move. All this time, the whole group was out of control. Horses were all nervous. Right now it is 9 pm. I am writing from ER right now. The bruise is about coconut size, literally sticking out. And they did not come to us while we were at their site. When I approached to ask what is next, one of three workers knowing what happened asked me "what is your question". What? Then later when we decided to go to ER, I called them for a question. They did not hear me. When I came closer and asked for ice their response was "You are not allowed in this area. We don't have any ice". I had never met such business workers before. I heard one worker commented the nervous behavior of the horses saying "This was apparently busy weekend." Well I tell you what. It is a risky business. If you know the horses are tired and the risk of high then don't let them with visitors. I will check with the injury lawyer tomorrow. read more

5 of the 7 horses on my trail ride bucked the riders (one being a child). My horse fell on me. This is not a safe place. One family was already part way through writing their statement down and getting refunded before any staff came back for me. Another rider on the group helped me back. Negative a million stars. read more

The stable just reopened with new owners! We went on a very nice 1 hour ride. The new owners are very nice and professional. It was a Beautiful day! read more

Chain O'Lakes State Park Stables - New owners at the stable! They just reopened and are ready for business! They are very nice and professional. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Spring Grove, Illinois

I read some of the reviews and sorry to hear ppl had a bad experirnce. I went last spring to ride & i had a great time i would have bn there more but finacially its not in my budget. I had a knowledgeable l friendly guide.. . The horse I rodeis a retired barrel racer named 2 feathers. he was a blast to ride .. im going again in a few days and will request him. read more

Chain O'Lakes State Park Stables - Me & 2feathers .I will be going again soon.hopfully 2feathers will be avalible to ride.. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Spring Grove, Illinois

This review is for the 40-minute trail ride Groupon offered by the stables. Overall, a majorly disappointing experience. Be aware November 1st is their last day of the season. I'd had this Groupon for two weeks before calling to make a reservation and I was told I could either make it for tomorrow (Nov. 1st) or wait until they reopened in January. Considering that I didn't want wait three months for a trail ride in negative degree weather, I made the last-minute reservation for 4pm, which they LOST, much like the previous reviewer's. My friend and I were told it would be a 45 minute wait - we actually didn't make it out onto the trail for another hour. By this time, it was pitch dark, so we rode the whole 40 minutes while barely able to see the ass of horse in front of us, much less anything scenic. Since we had both dressed for a ride in the afternoon sun, we were freezing. The horses clearly knew it was their last ride of the day - they originally put me on a horse so antsy, he had to be swapped out for another (but not before the guide trying to tighten my saddle PUNCHED MY HORSE IN THE NECK because he was so frustrated - WITH ME ON THE HORSE... WHAT?!). The other guides on the ride with us seemed friendly, but my friend said she could hear the one riding the mustang dropping f-bombs left and right while talking to his two friends riding behind her. Unprofessional much? I was pleased to get back to my equestrian roots, but this place left a lot to be desired. read more

I really wanted to like it here. The people were nice, from the lady who met us to the girls who took us out. However, I believe the horses need some more training before they should be allowed to have a human on their back. This was the most active trail ride I've ever been on (and I've done more than I could count). I'm so happy that no one got hurt. read more

We went horseback riding and had a great experience. Reasonably priced and staff was attentive. We will definitely be back for a longer ride! read more

The old vender was very rude but things went well and you always got a ride on time . The new venders are not rude but no one seems to know how to do most anything. Most rides go out 60 to 90 minutes late and no one seems to know how to run a business. The ride is very good and very nice ride. Not good for special needs people because they get yelled at when they don't understand... because there special needs. Today there is no rides because owner hurt her self. read more

There are other reviews in the Chain o lakes state park relating to the Stables and experiences, but this review is strictly about the stables and riding. We camped here over July 4th weekend and the kids wanted to go riding (12 & 13) . I had agreed to let them do this. I called at 9am when they opened and they said they do not take reservations and that there was currently no wait. ok- drive the 10 minutes from the campsite to get there....line of people. Still moving pretty well- and it is a holiday weekend. Okay.....no biggie. Fill out forms and agree to let my kids do the 1 1/2 hour ride ($50.00/ea) again knew what I signed up for. After filling out the forms, there was another line to get helmets (which are optional & free) (but should probably be madatory at least for minors). Then after the helmet line you have to wait even longer while they decide which horse you should get. Once you *FINALLY* get a horse name, you can go wait in line (Again) at the gate where you can at some point get on your horse....long process. The people getting / caring for the horses were on their cell phones, eating food and pretty much ignoring customers. (My kids later told me that they were high school students who had previously volunteered there - which doesn't excuse rudeness) My kids were on their horses and left for their ride at 11am. I told them I would be back at 12:30 to get them. (Actuallly I planned to come back sooner as I forgot my camera and wanted pictures of them) I came back at 12:10 and they were running towards the car saying they were done, and had been back a while already. I explained it was only 12:10 and took them back to the stables. I explain (after waiting in line *AGAIN*) to the person there that I paid for 1 1/2 hours and that they only got an hour.....wait...wait...wait....get a manager. Response. Well do you want them to go for another 1/2 hour (eye roll from trail leader)? it will be a wait....or do you want us to refund the difference? Ended up refunding the difference which is not enough for them to do another minumum ride on another day (we live close) Disappointed in lack of professionalism. It is great to hire kids to help during summer- but teach coach and train them to be respectful to customers. It is the customers who pay their salary. Even the management was fairly unprofessional. On a positive note, the horses seem very well cared for, and the people there seem to truly love working with them. I hope they get it together in the future. read more

Not worth it. If you have another place to ride, go there. The management and the workers are extremely rude. They treat their horses just as badly as their customers. read more

Very nice trail, great feeling. Just a little bit neglected stables, which would welcome little bit of cleaning and organizing. Tour and Guide excellent though. Horses too!!, of course. read more

I just got back from a ride today and it was terrible!!! I got bit! I have rode horses numerous times but have never gotten bit. I understand that they are animals but I was on my horse waiting to begin the ride and another horse bit me ( I guess he was trying to bite the horse I was on.) I was treated terribly. Becky ( the women who appeared in charge) was rude. She said that it could not have happened. I had to pull up my jeans and show her the mark. It was unreal how she treated me. I am concerned about the lack and understanding the instructors had regarding their horses. Clearly, young children should be careful if they ride here...Thanks goodness I was not with my boys. The State Park should be concerned as well. Seems as if it is an accident waiting to happen. I did take pictures of the bit and reported it. read more

Disappointed by their lack of customer service. Owner Jo would not extend GroupOn deal to a riding partner, when I was unable to purchase an additional voucher. She didn't seem to want to be bothered. Nice trails, wish there were other options for trail rides in this park. read more

I made reservations for my daughter and me to ride at 2 pm with a Groupon over the phone. When we arrived on time, the rude woman who works there and took our reservations told us to wait. We watched as she assigned other people to horses to go out on the 2 pm ride. When I asked if we should be filling out the waiver she told me we couldn't go on the ride because they didn't have enough horses. I reminded her we had reservations and was told that the other people got there before us. I told her she should make certain to have enough horses for people who reserved them. I then asked if everyone in the group had reservations and she admitted they didn't. I got furious at that point. I asked her why she would take walk ups before those with reservations and was told that they paid full price. Don't go here. They don't care if you make reservations and will treat you terribly if you have a Groupon. By the way, I drove an hour round trip and paid a babysitter to watch my toddler. All money gone because of this woman. Plus I've been going here for years without Groupons and know that they treat you very different. It's blatant discrimination and I will not do business with such a place ever again. read more

I took my daughter for a mother-daughter day. I have been riding for a long time and my daughter has ridden a few times. Her horse was not cooperative, which happens. However, the girl in charge of the ride was so rude my daughter decided she didn't want to keep going. We had paid for an hour, but after the 40 minutes were done and the other riders were done, my daughter did not want to continue due to the way she was being treated by the guide. My daughter was unfortunately placed right behind the guide and was spoken to in a condescending rude tone the entire time. The leader would roll her eyes, ignore my daughter, tell her she was doing everything wrong, became angry at my daughter when her horse refused to cooperate, etc. It was enough that I don't know when I will be able to get my daughter on a horse again. I can 't believe how rude she was to a child! They need to have someone lead the trail ride that is patient with kids and is much more flexible. read more