I grew up boarding with Cottonwood. My brother got our first horse, HyTech, for Christmas when I…read morewas about six years old. I'll admit, we didn't know a whole lot about horses and invested in our sassy gelding based on appearance. Not the smartest when it comes to owning a horse. Regardless, Cottonwood accommodated us beautifully throughout our struggles, helping us develop HyTech on the ground, in the arena, and on the trail. I was young when it all started, but I never remember any issues. As I got older I was put into lessons with the one and only Anne Lloyd, a certified English trainer. She is not for the weak minded. She will yell at you, but it's all in good intention. Safety is her top priority, and when she feels the situation is dangerous she'll let you know. Loudly. It may be embarrassing at the time, but having seen firsthand what horse accidents can turn into I'd much rather have a red face than a bloody one. She's a strong believer in foundations and will not let you jump until your groundwork is up to her standards, a sentiment lost to many American equestrian trainers. After all, how can you confidently maneuver a course with jumps when you can't do it without them? She requires all of her students to do at least one dressage show before they can do a jumping one; a requirement that I hated but reluctantly carried through and see the benefits to. Anne encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone but never endangered me. She cares about her students beyond their training and her compassion for the riders shows. In middle school HyTech sustained a traumatic leg injury. It was hard to watch. He's an active horse and loves his pasture mates, but we had to keep him on stall rest. The barn staff was extremely helpful. They were constantly checking up on him, encouraging a speedy recovery, and when he was finally allowed out of his stall Tara helped us regain his ground manners. Unfortunately HyTech's injury made me detach myself from riding. I went a couple of years without taking lessons or going to the barn at all unless necessary, leaving the responsibilities to the rest of my family. When I turned 15 I was quickly reintroduced to the establishment when an inexperienced rider purchased a less than well-behaved Welsh Cobb. I was asked to help keep him exercised and (hopefully) improve his behavior. Anne welcomed me back into her lessons and I grew to like my lesson mates quite a bit. Anne teaches based off of the horse and the rider, and became accustomed to his mannerisms and quirks as well as mine. More and more of the cottonwood staff began investing their time in little Jack. He was being ridden consistently by myself, one of the trainers, and his owner. To me, the effort they put into this horse was beyond exemplary costumer service. Unfortunately, Anne deemed Jack unsafe and encouraged me not to ride him anymore after several lessons in which he made no progress and insisted on running around like a maniac. Again, Anne's priority is the safety of her students. I fell out of lessons again after my departure with Jack, coming out mostly to ride in Chatfield State Park with my mom and her friends. The trail access is incredible and there are plenty of options once you get into the park. Some more challenging than others. My advice: if there are model airplanes, DON'T RIDE THERE! I've seen people from other barns trailer into the park on many occasions (I work at the park), and it's extremely convenient that all we have to do is walk down a hill to have access that many people have to trailer to. The location couldn't be better. Tara and Erica are extremely knowledgeable when it comes to horse ailments and injuries, a quality necessary for anyone in the horse industry. I've always been able to ask them for their help when one of my horses seems off. As a young rider, it's scary to be by yourself with a sick horse, but Tara, Erica, and Beth are all easily accessible and will help get the vet on their way if necessary. Tara called the vet for me when Jack was collicing (I was 16 at the time) and Erica just recently helped me sort out a rather disgusting eye injury on our mare, Rabi. I've rejoined lessons for what seems like the hundredth time just recently, and it feels like I'm coming home. I can say nothing but positive things about my experience as a young rider growing up here. The staff feels like my family. Cottonwood is more than just a barn: it's a community.

I came to this barn confidently jumping 1-meter classes, and I left scared to even canter. My…read moreexperience here completely shattered the confidence I once had, and I truly wish I had left sooner. I took lessons for about a year and a half, and while things were great at first--even leasing a horse so I could start jumping again--everything quickly went downhill. The horse I leased was kept in a pasture with aggressive horses that wouldn't let him eat. He became extremely skinny and exhausted. I repeatedly told the owners he needed to be moved, but they ignored me until he was literally skin and bones. Later, he developed a lump right where the girth goes. Again, I told them, and again they ignored me--until it got so bad he needed surgery. If they had bothered to listen at any point, it could have been handled easily. I watched multiple horses come in healthy and happy and leave with behavioral and physical issues. It was heartbreaking. Another major issue, and the reason I ultimately stopped riding here, was the constant problems with billing. The moment I started asking basic questions about what I was being charged for, the owners turned rude and nasty. They even accused me of not paying--until I had to show them the actual receipt because they can't even keep track of their own finances. They constantly told me I owed random amounts of money they couldn't explain and then magically changed the totals later like nothing had happened. They constantly hounded me nonstop about paying on time, yet every time I went in to pay, no one was there. I called, showed up almost daily, and still couldn't find anyone, but they continued to harass me about being "late." Their invoices were so confusing that it was impossible to understand what I was being charged for. And the amount for one lesson a week somehow changed every single month. When I finally decided I was done, my statement said I owed $65. But when I went in, suddenly I owed much more. When I asked for an explanation, the owners immediately came out and started being rude and attacking me, even though they couldn't explain their own system. One of many incidents I will never forget involved a new student in one of our lessons--a girl who was clearly on the spectrum and trying her best. Instead of being supportive, Tara, one of the owners, barged into the arena and interrupted our lesson even though she could have used any other arena. And began openly making fun of her and mocking her in front of everyone. It was cruel, disgusting, and completely unprofessional. That girl never came back, and I don't blame her. I wouldn't be surprised if that experience pushed her away from riding entirely. This place is disgusting and horrible to the horses and to the people. I cannot recommend this place to anyone. And I hope to find a new barn where I am treated with respect and where my skills--and the horses--are truly cared for.