We just had a family Trail Ride at Forest View Farms. Six of us and our trail guide, Sarah, set out on the beautiful paths of the adjacent Forest Preserve. We ranged in age from 10 to 77, and the ride was a first experience for two of our grandchildren. It was a very pleasant experience! Forest View Farms is a working farm. The ubiquitous staff keeps everything running smoothly...and there is a lot going on. Pony Rides, Petting Zoo, Trail Rides and Private Lessons keep the large staff constantly busy. Be aware that as a working farm with animals, you will have flies, and their working farm cats are evident as they do their jobs! The bathrooms are...well...'outhousy', and that did cost a star in my review. Our horses were patient and gentle. We did our best to make them proud! Our trail guide, Sarah, was so good! Her guidance and commentary were professional and entertaining. We would recommend Forest View Farms for your Trail Riding experience! read more

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My sister held my twin niece & nephews birthday party here this summer - what a fun day all the kids had! The 8 & 9 year olds did a horse trail ride, and the little kids 4-6 did a pony ride. Then the really nice man that worked there drove us all in a cool wagon to petting farm to feed goats! We set up on picnic tables with food, and dessert- the kids loved roasting hotdogs over the big fire pits- ended the day with Smores- such a fun day and would love to come back!!! read more

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I had a great experience horse back riding the trail, I was in a wonderful group of 9. Genie scheduled me for a 1:00 pm trail ride, Amanda and Brenna was the instructor's of our group's trail ride, they were awesome instructor's. read more

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I had the pleasure of adding a trail ride to my experience with Forest View Farms. We had a reservation, checked in, and had a bit of a wait for the return of the previous trail ride group. Once they were back, we were assisted with mounting our horses. My horse, Dakota, was just the right size for me, and responded well to my instructions (it was quite a few years since I last rode a horse!) Trail guide Amanda was patient and knowledgeable, giving us tips for how to ride safely and effectively. Our ride through a local Forest Preserve trail was fun and peaceful, and lasted about an hour. This was a fun experience! read more

Forest View Farms - Horse lessons - Horse Boarding Near Me - Tinley Park, Illinois

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Super fun trail ride! This place is so cute, the ladies there are pretty nice, the horses were well cared for and seemed happy. I took my friend for a trail ride, and it was super fun! The only reason I gave 4 instead of 5 stars was because it's by the highway and kinda loud (which they can't help! Just a bummer) and I wish I would've been able to ride closer to my friend. We all had to stay in a straight line for safety, but everyone who came together seemed to get mixed up. Overall, it was super fun though and I would come back for another trail ride! read more

Was looking for something fun to do with the kids. Called to verify the farm was open given it's a holiday weekend was placed on eternal hold. Arrived to a poorly maintained farm and paid for petting zoo and pony rides. The petting zoo was unkempt and dirty. read more

The ranch was badly kept and it was horse poop everywhere which meant the flies were out of cute control. They flew in my car had flies attacking us trying to get out of there. Also my horse was too old to riding and he was slow didn't trot. He also kept stopping and running me into trees. It was overpriced for the quality of the ranch. We also had to pull the pony ourselves. Not impressed wouldn't recommend. I only gave 2 stars because my kids enjoyed it. read more

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The customer service over the phone is honestly disgraceful. I called to ask 2 questions and was put on hold for 15 minutes. Then someone picked up the phone, said hello, and hung up as I was trying to ask them if I could make a reservation. Boooo read more

There were approximately 10 ppl. I walked in the door," HELLO ". Not one person respond back. Also, the employee who lead us through the trail: she continuously complained and she was rude, oh, and she mentioned about," tips" approx. 4-5 times as if we weren't going to tip her. We tipped her $25, then she changed her rudeness into niceness. I guess maybe because we were BLACK read more

Came here on a Saturday morning for an 11:45 group ride reservation. Check in was a little confusing and it took us a while to figure out who even worked there. Once the ride started though, it was worth the $30/person! It was a small group, five of us altogether with two guides. Fell in love with my horse Dallas, who was particularly calm and well behaved. The trail is about two miles long and weaves through both the forest and along the highway. I would definitely come back for more rides in the future and maybe try out one of their private rides for only $10 more! read more

Forest View Farms - Horse Boarding Near Me - Tinley Park, Illinois

Took my daughter here for her birthday. Bought her a pony ride. It was reasonably priced at $10 for 15 minutes. Was given the pony and basically sent off on our own with no guidance for the entire ride - which I actually did not mind. The reason I'm leaving this review with so little stars is because of the condition of the farm. The "petting zoo" area was absolutely depressing!!! The animals were kept in a shaded barn in gated sectioned areas that were horrifically overcrowded!!! The goats and sheep were literally so jam-packed into their areas it was sad!!! I don't know how often they are taken out of those areas to stretch their legs (if ever) but omg, what a sad and depressing sight to see!! The little pigs were also kept in a small, dark, dirty corner in the barn. I felt bad for the animals. I get it's a barn but the conditions of it were atrociously filthy and unkept. Have some pride in your business and the animals you keep! Especially considering it's open to the public why wouldn't you?! I have no real opinion on the staff, in fact I can't say too much about them as they weren't particularly rude or overly nice. They were neutral and bland if anything. Did I feel welcome or like a valued customer, however? No. The horse-barn where the horses are kept was actually disgusting! Poor things. Ceilings were COVERED in yuck. Maintenance of this place needs some SERIOUS work. Sad. read more

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This is my first time at a farm with horseback riding and a petting zoo. I loved the experience even though I'm not the biggest fan of nature and farms. The horse backing ride was through a nature preserve. Our instructor was super friendly and nice. It was enjoyable since it was only 5 people plus the instructor on the route. The path was about an hour long. It was super relaxing. I'm sad that the petting zoo only had big animals. Although all were super cute. The person who takes care of these animals was super friendly and funny. She would tell us the backstory of some of the animals. I would definitely come back. Super affordable for new experiences. Paying with cash is $3 cheaper. Petting zoo is $3. Horseback riding is $25. read more

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The petting zoo is small, dirty, and they only let you stay there 30 minutes. You have to make a reservation. It is hard to enjoy it because the are so many flies and mosquitoes. Will not recommend or be going back. read more

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I booked a pony party, it was great! Staff very friendly and professional. They arrived 15 minutes early and my grand daughter was super excited. Price was very affordable compared to others. I highly recommend them. read more

This had to be one of my worst horseback riding experience ever! They gave me a horse called King. King didn't like the trails wanted to spend his time walking on the grassy area. So I had to duck branches, lean to avoid trees, etc. when attempting to gallop uphill, King simply quit half way up. So my granddaughter who was on a horse behind me couldn't pass me because King didn't want to be the last horse. So what a terrible ride for my granddaughter. So I mention this to the woman behind the counter, she was pretty much indifferent to the whole thing. She could care less. Would I return here, NO. This is not a way to treat customers! read more

Don't take care of their horses or other animals!! The horses are over crowded in small areas not brushed before ridden. Saddle kept on long periods of time. Hooves are over grown. Animals cramped in! read more

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Forest View Farms is my happy place! For 5 1/2 years my horse has been boarded there with wonderful attention from the trainers who helped me calm down an irritated gelding who came from 4 years in a pasture with cows, to a warm stall with daily turnout. Terry and Jesse helped him remember how to be ridden, and taught this (15 yrs of trail riding experience) retired lady how to ride in an arena. A warm arena is perfect for winter riding! Terry was willing to teach me many horse riding disciplines - riding patterns, figuring out trail obstacles and learning how to barrel race. We also tried a little jumping. They even built some trail obstacles and trailered my horse to a Working Equitation Trail Obstacle Schooling show. Now I am riding in western pleasure shows. I would highly recommend Forest View Farms as a great place for horse owners to board. The trainers are willing and experienced to help you solve your horse's problems and teach you the discipline you and your horse are interested in. It is also a great place to learn how to improve your riding skills. If you are looking for a great Christmas present or Birthday present - Buy some riding lessons for a loved one! read more

We rented animals for a birthday party and Forest View Farms couldn't have done a better job! They were so professional, easy to work with, friendly and prompt. It honestly seemed too good to be true because it was so seamless. The kids were so excited - especially to see a "unicorn"! We highly recommend them! read more

I wanted to take the time to write a review about my experience with Forest View Farms since there are a lot of less than favorable reviews listed. I had my daughters 3rd birthday party here and the staff were AMAZING and so attentive. We had the fire lit under the pavilion and there was a gentleman keeping a close eye on it to make sure it was always goning strong. We had another gentleman in charge of the pony rides, wagin ride and petting zoo for the kids and he was great too. Very friendly and he asked me what I wanted to do first and let me be in charge of my party. They were considerate enough to put a cover over the top of the wagon so the little kids wouldn't be afraid during the wagon ride (they have a lot of Halloween decorations along that trail for their haunted hayrides). I went to the property for a visit before my party so I would know what to bring the day of. I brought a long table for my food and a small card table for the gifts - the picnic tables they provide was enough seating for my 30 guests. When we were in the pavilion doing food and gifts there was a horse running in a pen which was great to watch. A lady took her horse into that pen for a ride and let my party guests pet her horse. Don't judge a book by it's cover. This place is really great and we had a wonderful experience read more

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Forest View Farms was wonderful for horseback riding. It is first-come, first-serve; we got lucky only having to wait for them to prep the horses on a gorgeous 74 degree fall Saturday. We fortunately only went with our group of four and the trail guide through the forest preserve trails, who let us trot and canter on our horses. Some of the horses were more motivated than others, but they made sure to keep the slower, stubborn horse between others who walked a normal pace. Remington was great and such a beautiful horse. The grounds were typical stables, a bit dilapidated, but the staff were nice and humble. The price is right being only $22 cash and $24 credit/debit. We'll definitely be back for relaxing and enjoyable rides. read more

I don't know much about horseback riding, but I do know plenty about haunted houses and hayrides, and this review is only for the Fall Festival that Forest View does in October. I was looking for a haunted hayride that wasn't far from the city, and Forest View appeared to be the closest. It was an easy drive (quick on a Saturday evening, and not at all difficult to find) and our group of four got in quickly - maybe 5-10 minutes in line, followed by 10 minutes of waiting to get on a wagon - at about 8:00 on Halloween weekend without making reservations ahead of time. You can make reservations with a credit card over the phone, pay in line with cash once you get there, or pay with a card in their nearby office, which I did. It's very reasonably priced ($10 each) and a longer ride than other places I've been. The ride itself has a fun atmosphere and is scary without being too much for those who scare easily. (Our wagon had adults, teenagers, and a few younger kids with parents, and everyone seemed to have fun.) There's also an additional haunted house, "The Beast," ($8 each, or $16 each for it and the hayride) which is more intense. We waited 5-10 minutes in line, and the walk-through, while shorter than the hayride, was a good amount of time. Two of us did The Beast, while the other less-enthused-about-being-scared two waited nearby at the campfires. I'd definitely recommend doing both. Hope to be back! read more

I wouldn't give your money to this establishment. The livery horses are kept ankle deep in their own manure and urine. They dump the manure and dirty shavings they clean from the borders stalls into the massive pen where the livery horses are kept. There are too many horses kept in that area for it's size. They sprinkle a literal dusting of shavings on the ground after the one time a week they actually clean the thing out. It's kind of a joke really, I don't know why they even bother. At the end of last winter, I saw many horses there with large thick patches of caked manure embedded in their coats. It's nothing that would kill a horse,but it is a bit cruel and careless in you ask me. The vet rarely visits the animals, and animals that should be euthanized are kept alive to save on the cost. Besides the horses are the animals in the petting zoo. They are kept in pens where there isn't even enough room for them to walk, they just hop over one another. They breed in these pens and the newborn animals get trampled to death because there simply isn't any room. The ponies and draft horses are kept in similar make shift pens, and the hooves of these animals are allowed to grow until they curl out. Very poor horsemanship. There are other places in the area that give lessons or lessons on trail. It may cost a little more, but you'll probably have a better time if it's cleaner and the animals are healthier. Yeah, maybe at Forest View they let you trot and canter on trail, but it's because the trail guide wants you to give them a big tip. The safety of the horses and the riders should be better considered. I hate to say this kind of stuff about a place I used to love to spend time, but a word of it couldn't be denied. If you think of animals as objects or possessions, then maybe this kind of treatment is okay with you. I just think our pets and service animals deserve a little better, at least some bedding and enough space to lie down while they rest. read more

phone line does not work. very hard to book a reservation. have been trying to call for the past few days now; and I haven't even received a call back. very disappointed. read more

I've debated doing this review because everyone that works there is truly very nice. However, I really felt I was somewhat taken advantage of and they are VERY overpriced for their parties. I would hate to see anyone else lose out like I did. We booked a Winter in the Barn Party, and my initial conversation was VERY different from what showed up on my contract 3 weeks later (even though it was promised for a week later). By that point, I already has sent out invites, so we opted to go forward, even though a $125 charge was incorrectly explained to me. They did take about $30 off my bill by not charging for "non-participating adults." So for over $300, I had a fairly cold barn with dirty tables for 2.5 hours. They kids had a 5 minute wagon ride, and each child got a 30-second pony ride. I'm not kidding, 30 seconds. If I had rented 2 ponies for 2 hours for $260, the kids would've ridden so many times they would have been bored of it. I'm not even remotely sure how they price their parties. My final recommendation is they might be okay for pony rentals (never did that), but WAY WAY WAY overpriced for parties on their property. read more

I was so excited to take my grand kids to a petting zoo where forest view was bringing their animals. The animals looked clean and healthy BUT they dragged them from the trailer to a tiny pen by the horns and skin?? At one point there was 10-15 goats lama chickens all stuffed in an 8x8 enclosure. How did they have them loaded in the tiny trailer to travel from oak forest to new Lenox? So super sad. There is no reason this should have happened read more

Went horseback riding last week at this place. The woman at the window was very friendly and nice has she handed us all this paperwork basically stating that if we die they aren't responsible. lol Anyway, my horse was sweetheart. She was a beautiful horse. Unfortunately she was really slow and pokey and no amount of kicking helped. Our guide finally had to instruct me to try to swipe at her neck with the reins. It was a mess. I was basically lagging behind the whole time. Then to make matter worse, I'm pretty sure something was wrong with Sweetheart's leg and/or hoof causing her to walk and trot funny. This mixed with the extra hard saddles they use made for a truly uncomfortable experience. Let's just say I was sore for days after. Also, while on the trail my stirrup slipped off TWICE. Speaking of the trail it is covered in horse crap. Seriously? Why is no one picking this mess up? Who wants to take a nice horseback ride on a trail covered in shit? Finally, our guide was nice but she made it clear that she worked on tips. It was a bit intimidating and when we got back from the ride she just got off her horse and left. She didn't even stick around to see if we needed help getting off the horse. Overall, this was not a good experience and I've been horseback riding several times the most recent time being in August. This place really needs to step it up. P.S. The parking lot is also covered in manure. We were swiping flies out of our car for at least an hour after we left. read more

Great place to go if you want to go horseback riding. Nice 25-30 min ride. Oscar was a good horse. He did everything I ask. Keep that in mind. The rates not bad at all. If you have nephew/niece or your own children they also have pony rides at this location. Private rides are the best because you can go fast if you want. read more

I went today and had the time of my life.. My guide rider was Kayla, she is an amazing and fun person.. will be looking to return back again next week!! Very peaceful and fun atmosphere read more

I don't normally yelp, but I was so appalled by this place that I felt the need to. 1 star is too many. 1. Office stinks, the smell wafted through the open window that was used for exchanging paperwork for the trail rides. 2. Women's bathroom was disgusting. There were cleaning products in there but I don't think it has ever been cleaned. There were spider webs behind the toilets which included spider eggs and live spiders. It smelled in there and was just gross. 3. What is with the clientele? People were driving through the parking lot revving their engines while we were standing there on our horses. Idiots! Then it was like a concert for who had the best bass on their souped ride. Gross -and weird to see on a farm. Those are general comments from my first impressions. For these next few comments let me preface them by saying that I grew up with horses and have worked with them my whole life, so yea I am a bit opinionated about their well being. 3. Upon entering the barn, I was greeted with a bunch of skinny, bony horses standing listlessly around. 4. Barn was filthy, yes I know it is a barn.... But c'mon people, have a little pride in your facilities! 5. My horse, Wally aka Mountain, was old with bones sticking out everywhere. Didn't listen at all, I know he is a trail horse but he loved to have his face stuck in the horses butt that was ahead of us, and anytime I tried to pull up or turn him it was as if I wasn't there. 6. All of our horses were FILTHY. 7. Tack was filthy and cheap. My horse had on a plastic bridle, which I had to get down and fix because our trail guide didn't notice the noseband and curb chain was just hanging there undone. A few of the other bridles that were on my friends horses were also twisted inside out and needed to be adjusted. 8. Went around to the back after the trail ride was over, and noticed that there were more skinny horses hanging around. They did have hay around them but what was left looked like straw. This is what killed me.... The horses and mini ponies hooves. They were so overgrown that they came out and started turning up on the ends. This is uncomfortable for the horse and not healthy. I get that In the summer it can be hard to keep weight on horses, but there is no excuse for their feet being that neglected. This is a working farm with a lot of traffic and there is no reason that it should have been such a mess. Having a farm takes work and one needs to have pride in what they own esp if it is geared towards the public eye. read more

Called last minute to book a pony for my daughter's birthday party and they were able to accommodate my needs! They fit me into the schedule and the pony was a total hit! I will definitely be using them in the future, whether it be for animal rental or just a visit to the farm to have a fun day out with the kids! read more

First time ever on a guided trail ride and it was awesome. Our guide was so knowledgeable - Beca, thank you!!!

Definitely recommend this place. It was a fun date, and double date that I went on. The guy tour leaders are hilarious, but the girl leaders were way to serious about everything. It smells of course, which was the only thing that really bothered me. Don't go into the office, because it stinks worse than the barn. read more

I was in need of a last minute replacement for a horse and carriage for an event I was having that same day and I called Forest View Farms and they could not have been more friendly and helpful. They worked magic and found drivers, and hitched up their beautiful horses and came to our rescue. They were friendly, accommodating and most of all really saved us when we lost our last minute reservation! Thank you Forest View Farms!! read more

This was my second experience with the haunted hayride at Forest View Farms and it was even better than the last one. They are organized from the start with parking ushers and planned my group's event timing to cover all three attractions-haunted mine, hayride, and zombie hunt. Clientele is a mixed crowd of families, teens, and adults. That said, the fear factor is just scary enough for adults to be startled, but not so scary that kids will be up all night. The haunted mine was new for me and I loved it! It's brief, but there are plenty of live characters popping out. They only allow 4 people at a time so there's no place to hide. I'd address the two negative posts here, because I think they went the same night my big group was there and they're actually referring to us. As I said, there are mixed age groups. You're also allowed to bring alcohol if you're of age as long as it's not in a glass bottle. We brought beer and started drinking in the parking lot. Some of us were better behaved than others. Since we rented a private hayride, we also had a fire pit reserved. Yes, there are probably a half dozen fire pits and plenty of picnic benches. Bring snacks and s'mores fixings to turn the outing into a full event. Freddy spent a lot of time interacting with all the parties and I thought did a really good job, too. He was posing for pictures, scaring people a bit and he definitely wasn't drunk! Zombie hunt was the first time for me this year, and it was fun. I really appreciated that they turned off the air until it was appropriate to shoot. I may have tried to use the gun a little early, but they keep you from being able to shoot cars on the road, homes, or other people. My gun jammed up once, but they give you instructions how to chamber (like any other handgun) to clear. Drill sergeant/military theme was super cute! Yes, there could have been more live zombies, but there was a point where you just felt bad for the actors. They have no defense and they're getting nailed all night. I imagine it's not easy to find actors who can manage the beating. After all the attractions, my group closed down the joint drinking by the fire pit. I feel bad for the Farm because it looks like Heather and Guillermo mistook us for being representative of the professionalism of this place. Regardless, we had a great time last night and I recommend! read more

This review is strictly for the "pumpkin" farm advertised. This is clearly a horse stable and perhaps there are fields in the rear somewhere but we got no help or acknowledgement upon entering the dirty, cat urine smelly office and couldn't stand the smell long enough to wait more than 5 minutes for someone to greet us. There were at least 5 employees standing around eating pizza and not a single one made eye contact. Weird! read more

I went with a group of friends to do the zombie paintball and it was the worst experience I've had. We drove an hour to get there and according to the advertisement " you get to shoot at hoardes of zombies with paintballs". We were on a truck with cheap paintball guns and shot around 10 zombies at most during the whopping 10 minute ride. On top of that, when the employee who loaded the paintballs spilled half of them on the ground I notified her and she refused to put more in. I want a refund and will be contacting them along with the BBB due to the false advertising and overall terrible experience. I suggest never going to this place again. So rude and terrible business. read more

First time there with my son's daycare for a field trip. Since we were the only field trip group, the staff was really courteous. I will say that with the right investor, this farm could really be something. The hayride was kinda disappointing as I was expecting to see more animals or a field of animals. Overall, for the time we were there (3 hrs), it was an OK trip. read more

This was my first time going horseback riding and it was so much fun I'm ready to go again! We did the group trail ride and it was six of us and two guides. They brought out horses for beginners and gave one to us according to our size. We went up and down hills, trotted some and spent almost an hour on the trail. They tell you how to handle your horse in the beginning very briefly. Make sure to bring cash to tip the guides because that's how they get paid. My horse was Lebby and was very well behaved. Both guides we had were very friendly and made sure the group stayed together. I fell in love with her...a real beauty! read more

I was terribly disappointed with Forest View Farms' petting zoo. The grounds are downright filthy. It is difficult to safely walk without stepping into a pile of excrement- my 2 year old's shoes were covered in it after a few minutes. The animals lay in filth, literally covered in flies. They appear lethargic and malnourished at best, and downright ill at worst. Trash bins were full and covered in flies. There were several school groups present; such a terrible shame that our children are exposed to such awful conditions in an attempt to educate them about the natural world. The lesson they will take from Forest View Farms is chilling, and says more about animal captivity and maltreatment than about the gifts these creatures have provided for humankind. read more

I board my horse here and he went from being a high strung sad horse to a happy horse when we moved him to Forest View Farms. My daughter is now an excellent rider due to a great teacher, and is happiest when she's over at FVF! I enjoy the casual and friendly atmosphere and feel very relaxed and like family there. The owners care very deeply for all of their animals and want everyone to have a great experience with the horse world! I can say this place restored my faith in stables and the people that run them! Everyone is honest and friendly and we found a second "home" here and are thankful for a place that our horse is happy (He's a changed fellow :) and my daughter is happy and I am glad we found. read more