I had a very good experience taking lessons at Willowbrooke. The people are friendly and helpful…read more The owner cares a lot about the horses in her care and I've always admired that she hosts many CANTER horses at her barn (a rehabilitation and rehoming organization for former racehorses). This is a great barn to go to if you don't have your own horse, as they have a large schooling program. The quality of the lessons definitely depends on who is giving them, but that's the case with most barns. It is a LARGE barn, which can be great if you like the opportunity to be in schooling shows and make friends at group lessons. However, it can also mean that you might feel like your individual needs and goals go un-noticed. You'll have to advocate for yourself and speak up if you need something.

I've been taking lessons there for years. Great horses, instructors, tackers and people!read more

I had an AWESOME experience. I went there for summer camp and immediately knew this was where I…read morewanted to go. I started taking lessons and now I volunteer and I'm on show team. Everyone there Is so nice and they always make sure that you are safe. They have amazing stable hands and great trainers. It's a great place for experienced and inexperienced riders. All of the horses are so nice and there Is always someone to help. Wildwind is like a family to me and is the best out of all of the stables I've been too. I came there with very little experience and within 4 months I was already showing. My riding really has gotten better. The office gets back to you super fast and has a super friendly environment no matter your age.

We really wanted to like this place. I've debated whether or not to write this review but my…read moredaughter hasn't been able to shake the bad feelings she has and neither can I. Initially we were impressed by the "everyone belongs" talk but the owners seem like they are annoyed and tired of children. They were impatient and annoyed at riders for simple mistakes like dropping a crop while mounting or needing to adjust stirrups. Lots of sighing and eye rolling and groaning and snark. The teaching method (in a beginning level class, not high level competition riders) was constantly things like "WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT?" and "THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR YOU TO BE DOING THAT". In my daughter's words "they don't help you fix your problems, they just yell at you for having them." The indoor is very small and dark and it's almost impossible to properly space out 6 horses/riders (esp. with jumps set up) and the kids were constantly being yelled at for not spacing their horses properly. Many of the horses are lazy and my daughter and other kids were yelled at constantly for not getting their horses more forward- these horses were often on their second or third lesson of the day by that time. We chatted with some adult students who expressed similar frustrations about the horses being lazy. We also witnessed a teacher repeatedly berating a young rider with disabilities who was clearly struggling with her physical coordination. To be fair, there ARE multiple instructors here and not all of them are like this. When we didn't purchase another lessons package, intending to just quietly walk away because this was not a good fit for us, we were called into the office before her last class and held hostage for 45 minutes. I was lectured and talked down to, and they kept repeating that she wanted a more "difficult horse" because we expressed concern about the laziness issue. I was told that if she couldn't get the lazy horse to go forward then she's not a good enough rider and shouldn't have been in that class (even though one of the trainers evaluated her and placed her there) and we were told that nobody should be in a beginning jump class (jumping crossrails) unless and until they have mastered flying lead changes! Without knowing us at all or having ever seen my horse or seen me ride, I was also lectured about my horse who was scheduled to be put into training with the trainer on staff (ended up not happening due to medical issues). I was accused of not knowing anything about horses or my horse because "most people who put their horses in training think their horses are great and they overestimate their abilities and underestimate their training needs". (She doesn't know us. At all!) When I mentioned that I was planning to sign up for some private lessons on my horse, *with the trainer* during the time he was in training there, I was told that I should not be allowed to ride my own horse while he is in training because I would "mess him up". There are some good people working here, but overall it felt like an abusive relationship. My daughter is terrified to take riding lessons again anywhere. I sincerely hope someone will take this review to heart and do some soul-searching to make their farm a welcoming and positive environment as they say they want it to be. We love horses and horse people and want to see everyone succeed.

I love this place, everyone there is very friendly and kind. Great place for kids to learn and ride…read morehorses. Horse boarding is also nice because of the many available features like, massive indoor arena, indoor stalls and tack/gear storage areas also wooded trails in the back.

I went to visit Trailsend Farm and was truly pleased with the beauty of the new stables and the…read moreindoor riding arena! They were kind enough to give me a tour of the property barns, riding trails and corrals. The horses had lots of room in the corrals and looked very healthy and well treated. We hung out for some time afterward while they answered my questions. Very thoughtful staff who really care for the horses well being.

I love riding here, everyday I learn new things everyday. The horses are very high quality and…read morecared for, they are in huge pastures and have a lot of space to be horses, cross country is huge and prices are prefect. The horses love there job and are always careful with there riders, very highly trained horses with kind souls, easy to catch and ride. Love it here, people are kind and care about each other and the horses, tack is taken care of and lessons are great, you go at your level and can watch others which is amazing, Carolyn is one of the nicest people I have meet, cares about her horses, barn, grounds, tack, and students, Everyone is welcome with open arms.

We have been to Cedar Ridge for many years know and the growth and development we have seen in our…read moreequestrian loving daughter has been huge. The environment is one of team work with the more experienced riders helping the younger riders helping to build confidence. The facilities are top notch and there are multiple paths to increase competence and competitiveness in riding. The barn offers camp, workshops, additional training opportunities, competitive shows, schooling shows, USPC membership, and a good network of parents and riders to build a community with. We started as a summer camper to "try it out" as we were looking for a new barn for our daughter to grow into. Needless to say we have never looked back, just an awesome place for budding riders to learn and develop as responsible equestrians.

Lamb ofGod Lutheran Church loves to use Chamberlin Pony Rides for our Easter and VBS programs every…read moreyear! They are fun and help out with the children and adults! We recommend using Chamberlin Pony Rides for your next party!

Equine Odyssey is such an amazing place to take horseback riding lessons in multiple disciplines…read moresuch as hunter/jumper equitation and dressage! Dana Wille is such a knowledgeable trainer and has amazing credentials. She is incredibly kind and patient when teaching. She puts her all into each lesson and tailor builds each lesson to each rider. She ensures safety and that each rider feels comfortable and safe when learning new things such as cantering for the first time. The horses are treated like absolute royalty and are the absolute best! She teaches people of all ages and the farm is like a sanctuary and family :) I HIGHLY recommend Equine Odyssey for all your equestrian needs for both horse and human!

If you are looking for a slow, leisurely group ride with up to 10 people down dirt roads, past…read morepeople's homes, and through a small wooded area, this is the place for you. Many of the horses are rescues, and the owner has done a lovely job training them to be wonderful, mild-mannered trail ride horses. There was a 6-year-old child in our group who never once held onto the reins, and she never had a problem because the lead wrangler was leading her horse with a rope. There are wranglers at the front and back of the group as you travel single file down the road with cars driving by periodically. Our wranglers frequently yelled directions (that nobody in the middle of the group could hear), and that aspect really annoyed my daughter. It was not a peaceful ride. I have been to the Waterloo location and was expecting a walk through a beautiful wooded area like it is there, so our route was a disappointment to me as was the slow pace. The web site mentioned both walking and trotting. We were at a slow walk for the entire ride. Since my daughter and I both ride frequently, this was not at all what we were looking for. That being said, this would be perfect for people who have never ridden or for families with small children.

Sherri was extremely unprofessional. As an animal lover (and considerate human being) when I saw…read morethe stable where they keep their horses I was disgusted. They keep way too many horses in close proximity. The living environment looked unbearable, the horses were filthy, they had zero grass and they were stewing in a bunch of sh*t. It looks like it hasn't been cleaned since 1998 (which is when they bought the "farm"). Additionally, on what was supposed to be a relaxing horse ride, she screamed at the cars driving past us multiple times. We were on a secluded dirt road, people were already halfway off the other side of the road driving probably 25mph, there was no need for her irrational reaction. Overall, horrible experience. Go somewhere else.

Crystal was awesome with our granddaughter during her Happy Hooves riding lesson. She was…read moreknowledgeable, encouraging, patient, and kind. We highly recommend Happy Hooves!

We have been extremely pleased with instruction at Happy Hooves these past two years. Crystal is…read morevery knowledgable, experienced, and just a kind and respectful person. She is also safety-conscious and attentive, which makes Happy Hooves the best choice for new &/or young riders. We were new to the world of horseback riding when our daughter expressed interest. We started at another facility that had a young rider program (Wildwind) that packed several young children into one lesson. Lack of safety and attentiveness to individual riders were huge, ongoing issues... For about the same cost, Crystal provides one-on-one attention and makes sure your child is safe and feels respected. Your child will also likely ride the same horse each week, allowing a bond to form between rider and horse. We love HH!