I cannot recommend Freedom Woods, nor my instructor, Steven, highly enough!! I had limited opportunities to ride over my lifetime, but at 51, a couple of months ago, I signed up for formal lessons under Steven's tutelage. He is an incredible instructor, who rightly places the horses's welfare and comfort level, and the rider's safety, above all else. He clearly factors in my (in) experience and age as well as the various horses' ages, temperaments, personal quirks, and any extreme seasonal weather, to make sure both myself and the horse are safe, comfortable, relaxed, and having fun - and every ride has demonstrated that, crystal clear. He will not hesitate to point out any mistakes I am making, especially when they may impact the horse's comfort level - which is exactly what should happen. He then gives very concise and clear explanation of the mistake, as well as what the correct approach should be, and often circles back later to make sure the correct approach was understood or to verbally let me know I properly understood and implemented it. The horses I have ridden so far are honestly perfect - I call one the Cadillac of horses haha - so any issues with my rides are entirely on me not communicating properly to my horse or following Steven's directions properly. I am old enough to muddle things up in my mind when I'm trying to think, ride, and listen all at once these days, but I can see he is factoring that in as well constantly, and he works piecemeal on specific aspects of riding so I get repetition and practice...and hopefully something sticks to the flypaper in my brain! I also feel like every single lesson offers the chance for improvements, however small - small not because of the stellar horses or teaching haha but because this student has so far to go and isn't the fastest learner!! Even so, it is awesome and empowering to feel I'm maybe a teeny tiny bit of a better rider in some way, every time I dismount after a lesson here. I tell Steven the same thing every week because it is my heartfelt truth - this is the best part of my week! What a joy!! I cannot recommend Freedom Woods highly enough! read more

Ive been riding every day since summer and have completely transformed not just as a person, but as a rider. Everyone is so kind and welcoming. I was very anxious due to my high stakes tech job and this stable healed me. I volunteer in their hippotherapy program which has done wonders for the children that need it. Thank you to the family of Freedom Woods :) read more

My daughter Emma rides here two days a week and I couldn't be happier with their service and attention to detail in regards to my daughter's training. We were on a waitlist for about 6 months because a lot of people want to ride here but it was worth the wait! The horses are amazing and my daughter loves coming every week. Couldn't be happier. read more

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I visited Freedom woods today I had left them an email over a month ago with no response When i let the male instructor know i very much wanted to become a good rider.. proficient in riding so i could join a horseback riding tour in europe he said he'd been doing this all his life and no riders are good He snidely said he has know perhaps 5 or 6 good riders all his life! He told me they had no horse available for me or someone my size, as he looked me up and down-they only had childrens horses Suggested i take a few days and go to Galena to ride and maybe a draft horse He made me feel gigantic He did his best to make me feel badly and was so arrogant it was stunning...but truthfully-he didn't even have to try You could see that sort of dtreatment came easily for him He is not a nice mant He kept repeating the above to be sure he had hammered home his message I got into the car shaking and wanting to cry I'm a very friendly person...there was no need for his attitude No need to treat me that way How terrible you have to be to crush a persons dream If i accomplish my goal and become a good rider i may buy a horse but i can tell you no matter how close this stable may be to my home, i will never board it at Freedom Woods Stunningly rude I can't imagine working with him in any way and no matter, as apparently they have all the business they need How sad and disappointing read more

I rode at Freedom Woods for 3, almost 4 years before I moved and let me tell you it was the best experience I have ever had. I had no experience or exposure to horses when I started riding and Alex, Emma, Julie, Molly, and especially Steve shaped me into the best rider I could be. I love the community or riders, instructors, and even stable hands they had. I love all of the horses there, especially Bella and Elsa, and I learned so much there. I took all my first steps in riding there! My first trot to my last jump. I even got my nickname there that everyone, even my friends call me, Fritts, which is my last name. The facilities they have there are absolutely amazing. Other than riding, my favorite part about the barn is Summer! Summer is Dr. Lee's dog and is always laying under the front desk. She is the sweetest dog I've ever met!! I love everything about Freedom Woods and I definitely recommend riding there if you see this review, maybe you'll even see me riding there when I come visit! In the photos you'll see the cutest and sweetest horses ever! There are so many other horses to meet, too! read more

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Nothing heals a broken heart like a horse. I just wanted to thank Julia and Molly for showing me around Freedom Woods today. It meant a lot to me and helped me grieve the recent death of a dear family member. It was a beautiful day. Thank you to Huey, Bella, Bowdie and Beatrix also; for their strong horse heartbeats. read more

Tried to get into contact with them multiple times with 0 response. Their phone didn't even have a voicemail that wasn't full to leave a voicemail and request a call back. I'm disappointed, I was super interested in riding there. read more

I've been taking lessons here a few times a week for about 2 months, after taking a 12-year hiatus from riding. I was worried after reading some of the negative reviews posted here (in the hidden reviews section), but I have nothing but positive things to say about my experience so far. My trainer is Betsy, and she's phenomenal. Re-learning how to ride as an adult is completely different than learning as a child, and Betsy is great at articulating any adjustments I need to make. I've made a lot of progress during my short time back in the saddle, and I have her to thank. The school horses appear to be healthy and well-fed. They are limited in terms of how many hours per day/days per week they can be ridden, so they aren't overworked like the school horses at a lot of other barns I've ridden at. Their stalls are clean and appear to be mucked regularly. They also have little individual drinking fountains so their water is always fresh. The tack appears to be in good condition and organized. Also, it's my understanding that the school horses DO get turnout, so I'm not sure why another review says they don't? I don't have experience with boarding, but I know they have been doing a lot of construction lately, and most of the stalls are new or in the process of being re-built. The new stalls look great, and I'm sure the barn will look amazing once it's finished. Last but not least, Kathy and Jill and the front desk are both awesome! read more

I appreciate the convenience of the location for lessons but the staff that book the appoitments etc are less than professional. I've seen older school horses do back to back lessons and not being properly cooled after their workouts and be out back into their stalls saddles etc left on and allowed to eat while not properly cooled. In terms of the turn out...its a joke...their idea of turn out is an hour or two a day in a dry grassless lot. This is not how horses should be kept and it is not a good example for any equine learning facility to set! If you want to get into horses you should expect to drive at least 30 to 45 minutes out,of the city. Horses need to be constantly moving that is how their bodies are made. read more

After riding there for a few months I'm coming to realize how overworked the schooling ponies are. A horse should not be taken out for multiple lessons (especially jumping lessons in the SUMMER). I found myself scheduling my lessons for really early so I would get a fresh horse. read more

RIDERS BEWARE!! I have been riding here for only several months before noticing how horribly these horses are treated! They are overworked, to the point where they trip and fall during lessons. After their lessons they are put back into their stall with tack on- this is not normal. They stand in their own feces as their stalls are bedded with hay rather than shavings, which is not absorbent at all, causing thrush (bacteria) on their hooves. I have heard some horror stories that happened just recently about owners' horses who were mistreated by the vet, at the direction of the owner. The owner, is a stubborn awful person with complete disregard to her animals' wellbeing. If you can refrain from boarding/taking lessons in this stable perhaps the owners will realize that their awful behavior is costing them money, since it's the only thing they seem to care about. read more

I am not a well-heeled horse owner or a professional equestrian. I am just a Dad who has frequented this facility over the past 3 1/2 years with my daughter who takes a riding lesson 1x per week and volunteers to help in the barn, at birthday parties, etc. It is a family-owned business, with all of the good and bad tendencies of all family-owned businesses. The owner is around a lot, especially on the weekends when I am there, and I have found him to be personable and attentive. The owner's daughter is considered the premier trainer at the facility - she works with students who own their horses and compete in shows. At times she behaves like a diva who must learn better customer service skills if she is to take over the management of this facility. Yep, I said it. She is also a talented trainer who is in high demand by riders who want to win blue ribbons at horse shows. There has been significant turnover of the training staff during the past several years. I don't know the normal tenure of a horse trainer at a given facility but the turnover seems a bit excessive. That being said, my daughter has enjoyed her trainers at Freedom Woods - past and present - and the current roster is a great crew. A shout-out to the owner's son who gives a very focused and intense lesson without ever raising his voice in frustration. My daughter's riding has thrived under his guidance. Several school horses have died during our time at this facility. Not my area of expertise, but I do not believe this was caused by neglect. My hunch is that school horses are a commodity and typically purchased during the latter part of their lifespan. The school horses appear to receive excellent care and are doted upon by the students. The stalls are cleaned regularly by the grooms. I have never seen a rat or a mouse but assume this is inevitable in a stable. Freedom Woods has embarked in several refurbishment projects over the past several years, and this is a good thing. The parking lot drainage issues have been resolved, new stalls are being built, new exterior paint and siding. These enhancements have gone a long way to remedy the "dingy" appearance. Front Desk operations: I am most impressed with the friendly, helpful, knowledgeable front desk staff. My only suggestion is to modernize the reservations and accounting systems. It is 2013 - - there's an app for that! Overall, we have really enjoyed our time spent at the barn. It has become a fixture of our weekends. If your son or daughter has an interest in riding, I recommend giving Freedom Woods a chance. We are happy we did. read more

WHAT a hell hole. I boarded at this barn for just under a year and in my time there, 4 horses died including mine from colic. There is no turn out, the school horses live in their own feces and urine and the arena's are over crowded. Best part yet is the barn owners piece of work owner who is stuck up and abuses her horses (jumping a 3 year old warmblood 4 and a half feet and not warming her horses up). They drug a lot here, too, and just have a horrible set up. People are rude and there are way too many politics. Board is overpriced and nowhere near worth the money. read more

I board and take lessons at Freedom Woods. My horse has been VERY well taken care of. The stalls are clean and the grooms have a pleasant way with him and me as well. Being right on the trails is wonderful it's like going on vacation in the north woods! I have had outstanding lessons with Betsy. Even though the majority of horses and riders are not western pleasure those of us who like to escape to the trails are treated with courtesy and respect. I would highly recommend Freedom Woods for lessons and boarding. read more

I took lessons on the school horses here for about two years, but finally left the barn after several disappointing months. First off, my last trainer frequently cancelled my (and many other students') lessons without notifying me. He also clearly wasn't invested in my training, cutting lessons short (but charging full price), failing to understand what I wanted to accomplish with my lessons and consistently putting me on horses that didn't fit my temperament. In the end I became increasingly afraid of jumping and felt I wasn't improving at all. The barn is quite run down and the horses do not seem very happy. The riding arena is over-crowded a lot of the time, you often can't find halters, lead ropes, and brushes to use on the school horses. Sometimes the tack is missing and you have to use ill-fitting saddles and bridles. Overall the barn is poorly managed - don't spend your money here! read more

My 7 year old daughter has been taking classes at Freedom Woods for a few months now and she loves it! I also like the convenient location.

I started riding at Freedom Woods about 6 years ago and I continue to visit there and ride when I come back from college. I have loved everything about the barn from how they care for their horses to how professional the trainers are. I have always been treated with respect and have been helped when I needed it. The front desk is extremely friendly as well as the horses. Freedom Woods has really allowed me to grow and achieve new levels in the equestrian field, it is because of them that I am the rider that I am today. I have competed at many high caliber horse shows with not just FW but with my barn I ride at while I am at college and have always come home in the ribbons. This is an excellent barn for anyone who is interested in learning how to ride because they truly help you achieve all your equestrian goals. read more

I started riding here 10 years ago. Once a week, one half hour and no expectations. Now, I ride 2-3 hours a week, jump and have a blast. Best times of my week. This place really wants you to grow as a rider--safely. You may go other places and jump sooner, but is sooner safer? The pros here want to make sure your fundamentals are solid to be safest for you, the horse and the other riders. Betsy and Ashleen are amazing, as are the other instructors. This place is close--I can ride in the AM and get to a lunch meeting downtown. Don't expect rolling hills--it's 20 minutes from downtown. But expect well-cared for horses, great instructors and an easy break from the "real" world. They take beginners to show team members, so don't be intimidated like I was at first. The staff is fantastic, people who ride there are cool and instructors are top-notch. Love this place! read more

I have been taking lessons at Freedom Woods for 13 years and started as an adult and have been enjoyed my time at the barn as well as the staff. Many have been there many years and have/had children who take lessons or take lessons there themselves. While this is not a place you can eat off the floor it is well maintained overall. I have a weekly morning lesson and the grooms are diligently cleaning stalls and laying down fresh straw or shavings. There is a lot to do and the grooms and staff seem to be in constant motion. I do not own or shareboard so I cannot comment much on that aspect but over the last few years there have been a number of improvements. Gradually, all the indoor stalls have been replaced, turnout areas have been added and there are now at least 5, and there are 2 indoor arenas and 1 outdoor. I have had a number of instructors over the years, admittedly some better than others and there is some turnover but that is a fact of life in this industry. I have found that I have to communicate with the instructor about what I my goals are and that usually yields results. They can have a lot of students so I can't always expect them to recall what I did in my last lesson. You do have to be somewhat flexible as emergencies do happen, a sick horse or a bad fall do require immediate attention and the instructors and staff do try to make sure you get your allotted lesson time. I've seen a lot happen here over the years, and while I was not present during some of the encounters mentioned below, I do find them hard to swallow. There are 2 sides to every story and emotions can run high. I feel the staff has the safety an well being of the students and horse as a priority and genuinely want you to enjoy what you are doing. That is enough for me. read more

My daughter has ridden here for the past 4 years. The place has gone totally down hill. The owner clearly does not care about the quality of the riding program for the student riders- he has repeatedly refused to buy new horses for the students, despite both parents and trainers asking. If there is a horse that spooks when another horse gets too close and throws students on a regular basis, than that is not an appropriate horse teaching horse! The trainer turnover is terrible so we are done there. It's too bad but the owner clearly doesn't care about student safety and won't invest in more student horses. (He seems to be focused on the borders- I'd bet they have a better experience there than student riders.) read more

Although I am not boarding a horse at this stable, based on my experience I would have to completely disagree with the previous review. I have found the people who teach and work here to be nothing but professional, smart, thoughtful, hard-working and respectful to human and horse a like. Kathy at the front desk is efficient and works to accomodate schedules. I am so impressed with how intelligent , experienced and patient the instructors--Sandy, Laura, etc.-- are. I did not find this to be true at other stables, so it was refreshing. I think the previous reviewer needs to remember that you get out of it what you put into it. If you treat others with respect and courtesy, most of the time you will get it back. read more

I started riding here about two months ago, 2-3 times weekly. So far, I have nothing but praise for the instructors, how this facility is run, and my overall experience has been fantastic! In non-horse communities like Chicago, it's very difficult to find a stable that is close to the city, has reasonable availability, fair rates and people to that make it fun -Freedom Woods is a rare find. Love it! read more

I have the same story most adult riders do (and by "adult", I mean 30 years old) -- I started riding when I was 5 years old, rode through high school and stopped right before college. Almost 8 years later, I was working in the city and wanted to pick riding back up. My childhood trainer was no longer around, so I started looking for a new barn. I ended up traveling to the south side to a saddlebred barn, because that is all I could find near the city. The saddlebred barn was nice, but they weren't exactly trained in jumping, but I didn't care - it was nice just to be on a horse again. After a year at the saddlebred barn, I started my search again to find a hunter/jumper barn and I randomly found Freedom Woods. Not only is it 11 miles from my apartment in Lincoln Park, but its also conveniently located a few blocks from Old Orchard mall! So on my next visit to the mall, I stopped by to check out the barn. I was amazed - its beautiful, two large indoor arenas, a heated viewing area, huge outdoor arena, clean - nice bathrooms! I started taking lessons there about a year and a half ago with the owner, Ashleen. She is the most talented, knowledgeable trainer I have ever ridden with. She has already corrected a ton of my bad habits and I'm starting to feel more like the rider I was when I was 15. Ashleen pushes me but also makes us laugh every lesson. She has a great personality and you can tell her young students adore her and look up to her. I wish I would have started riding here when I was a kid - I would have been a much better rider now! The young adults that she's taught from the ground up are nothing short of amazing to watch. Its also worth noting that Freedom Woods has the best school horses I have ever ridden. I've never had the funds to buy or shareboard a horse, so I've been destined to ride school horses since I started. I remember when I was younger, getting to the barn at 8am for a 2pm lesson so that I could "pick the best horse"...at Freedom Woods, I don't care who I'm assigned to ride, because I've never been disappointed. Every time I think I have a "favorite" school horse, I like the next one even more. I don't know the history surrounding the negative reviews for this place, but my guess is that they are coming from 1 or 2 bitter people creating multiple accounts. Give this place a shot! I love it and I'm sure you will too! -Reposting 11/26/2012,as it was somehow erased. read more

I have been a boarder at Freedom woods for 5 years now. My horse has always been well taken care of. I have been taking lessons with both the barn manager Betsy, as well as Ashleen Lee and have become quite the competent rider. The barn is older but it is kept clean as well as the stalls are in good condition. The horses are well tended for by good intentioned employees that genuinely care about them. The grooms are hard-working, courteous, and very helpful. The vets that tend to all of the horses (privately owned as well as the ones belonging to the school) are the best in their field. The riding school is constantly evolving to accomodate all the ranges of riding levels, as well as to promote constant progression in the sport. My son began as an "up-downer" 5 years ago at this facility and is now riding at the collegiate level. Something is going right there! read more

I was fortunate enough to discover Freedom Woods while running on the horse trail. I have been riding under the instruction of Ashleen Lee for a year and a half. I strongly disagree with both negative reviews about Freedom Woods. My daughter also rides and has continued to improve and progress. We both lesson 2 times a week and I half lease a horse. Under Ashleen's instruction, I have gone from jumping x's to 8 fence courses. Today I jumped 3' feet for the first time. It was both thrilling and a huge confidence builder! I never thought that would be possible. Ashleen is strict and disciplined in the ring, not arrogant and unprofessional. Outside the ring, I find her to be kind, affable and sincere. Not clicky in the least. Both Jill and Cathy, the full time front office people, are professional. I see them 4 times a week. They have only treated me with kindness and respect. Freedom Woods has been wonderful for both myself and my daughter. We always enjoy going to the barn and being with the horses. I hope people will read my review. I am fortunate enough to travel a lot and have many unique life opportunities, and I feel strongly that Freedom Woods is a high quality equestrian facility, with an amazing staff and wonderful instructors!! read more

Have you ever dreamed about riding a horse as a little kid? Well Freedom Woods is the right place for you! Freedom Woods offers lesson's from ages four to how old you want to ride! Also Freedom woods has a variety of horses. If you take lesson's you have a selection from the schooling horses and ponies. If you are a more advanced rider you can board your own horse. Freedom Woods has a kid's safe environment, just be careful around the horses! It has two barns, the bigger one has 2 schooling horses and the rest are boarding horses, and the smaller barn has 4 schooling ponies and the rest are schooling horses. In the smaller barn there is a arena used for poles and small jumps, and in the second barn there is an arena is for jumpers and has a lot of jumps. My favorite schooling horse would probably be Chad. He has very nice gaits and he is such a gentleman (but skinny and old). My favorite pony I used to ride when I was much younger would be Maryland. Although she has continuous eye allergies she is still a very good pony to learn cantering on. Also the trainers are very nice and professional. I highly recommend my trainer Denise, she has improved my riding a lot since I moved to Freedom Woods, which was at age 7. The other trainers I know of are, Lindsey, Mary Martha and Sheila. They are all very nice, but if you want to train hard (like me) they can be pretty strict. This has been my favorite stable I have been to, my previous stable The Noble Horse Theater didn't offer any lesson's any more! I highly recommend: if you want to ride, you should go to Freedom Woods! read more

I must second and third the reviews of Mark P. and Jennifer S. I grew up riding with a top trainer and have worked in the industry for several years until going back to school. I boarded my hunter/jumper at Freedom Woods for a few months until my boarding agreement was "terminated" by the owners. Prior to my receiving notice of termination via phone call from the barn manager (never once did I hear from those that made this decision), there had been no complaints made to me regarding my conduct as a boarder. I guess the trainer simply decided she didn't like me and wanted me out. The only thing I can surmise as her rationale is that I had spoken to an assistant trainer (who had been leasing my horse and who had communicated difficulty keeping my mare from rushing at the jump) about some training techniques I've found helpful with my horse in the past. I asked what exercises she'd been doing in her lessons and she told me they'd just been jumping courses. Every lesson. I communicated that I disagreed with jumping full courses on a regular basis in lessons (as I am under the opinion that a horse only has "so many jumps" and to save them for the show ring) and that, in my opinion, as a professional-in-training herself, such course work is not beneficial for either party, herself or the horse. Instead, I suggested ground poles, gymnastic work, and a lot of flat exercises. These were met with confusion and allegiance to the trainer. I was shocked. Shortly thereafter, I received a call from the assistant trainer telling me she was terminating our lease agreement because she didn't think it was "fair" to continue to ride my horse when I disagreed with their "training" style. What a joke. Shortly after that, I received the boarding agreement termination notice. Moral of the story, board somewhere else. Not only is the training suspect at best, from my experience, the barn is dingy, dark, filthy, the stalls are bedded with straw (which caused my horse to have almost-constant thrush), there is NO grass on the property whatsoever (grazing isn't happening) and definitely no grass turnout. There ARE a few dry-lots, which are full of rocks and other garbage. The indoor, while sizable, isn't drug enough and the footing packs like crazy. The outdoor is large and the footing is tolerable, but everything else is depressing. The barn IS heated, however! Which was definitely nice, BUT the trade-off is that this ancient relic of a barn has super low ceilings and NO LIGHT OF DAY enters the barn. Again, depressing. The one thing I will miss is that it was only 20 minutes from my house (a far cry from what I'm used to), but there are many NICE barns around Chicago that may be worth the trip. read more

Freedom Woods is AWSOME! It is a very professionally run family owned business and it's a wonderful place to ride, take lessons, lease and/or board your horse. I really like the fact that the facility, the structures/buildings and all four arenas are constantly being properly maintained. The owners and staff are always available to help you and they are always making improvements to meet the demands of the industry and to make their customers happy. They offer something for everyone. All areas are covered ...... training, riding and many other services are available for: young to more mature; just starting out, intermediate and most certainly advanced. This stable has trainers to help you advance or maintain your goals and desires. They offer Hunter, Jumper, Dressage and Western, plus as an extra bonus .... Freedom Woods is located right on the Cook County Forest Preserve trails. As a boarder I also enjoy this amenity. There are many heroes at this facility to make it a win-win! The grooms do an excellent job! The stalls and isles are always clean, thick with nice straw bedding; and, it's well light to include the stalls, the grooming stalls, the riding arenas, the isle ways and showers, too. Its temperature controlled during all weather conditions. School horses are in top condition, sound, happy and very well cared for and well fed, too. The stalls are beautiful and most are new! The grooms take pride in their work and keep the stalls and facility in top condition and they are always there to help customers. It's immaculate and organized. It has outstanding air flow and no smells. They manage the manure well and the arenas are so well maintained. Its clean, no cob webs everywhere and the horses, instructors and riders are all a team here. There's no shunning or cold shoulders if you ride a different discipline than everyone else. The owners (and the entire family) are personable, friendly and helpful and no cold shoulders Even my stupid questions are taken seriously. All the trainers help you succeed. Their shows are well paced and professional. The school riding tack is top drawer and the summer camps and birthday parties always get rave reviews. I would encourage anyone to take a tour of this fine facility and look at Freedom Woods to meet and exceed your many expectations. read more

I began riding at 40 years old with no prior experience with horses what-so-ever. Since then, I have taken lessons at two facilities. I am currently riding at Freedom Woods, and my experience here is a great improvement on the experience I had at the previous facility. I take lessons once a week with Betsy. She is very attentive to safety and proper form and has a very good sense for pacing and tailoring lessons to the individual. I know this because I have observed her with other students as well. Betsy has remedied the bad habits I learned previously - which has made riding much more enjoyable and comfortable for me. She is great at teaching mechanics and is very patient, encouraging, and thorough. Every time she teaches me how to do something new, she explains why. Every time she corrects something I am doing improperly, she explains why. That makes such a difference and that is real teaching. My interactions with the front desk staff have always been pleasant. I look forward to saying "hi" to Jill every Wednesday. Any time I have had a schedule conflict, Jill and Kathy have both been happy to work it out with me. The grooms have always been friendly and very helpful. Over time I have learned to tack horses properly. When I first was learning, the grooms would stand by allowing me to accomplish as much as I could on my own, but were always ready to step in if I needed help. I have also received help and advice from other more experienced students- as the instructors encourage us to help one another. I truly look forward to and value my time an Freedom Woods. I recommend this facility to other late blooming beginners, like myself, without hesitation. read more