Went with our scout troop and had a great time! The guides are wonderful and friendly and the horses are beautiful and were well-behaved. There's also a petting zoo with goats and sheep and other animals. Highly recommended. read more

A very cute barn to ride at! I took a Western lesson on a pony and even though their lessons are aimed for beginners and I have more riding experience, I ended up having quite a bit of fun. Their barn is tidy and feels welcoming. I might return for a trail ride! read more

These guys are great. We just had a birthday party and Kathy was great to setup everything. The walkers were very very friendly and we would love to have them over next year in Summer time for another party. These guys deserve an applause for making our party a success in Winter. The kids loved the ponies and the staff. Thanks so much!! Sharad read more

Gross stable that does not care for their animals. Horses and other animals confined to stalls with one turn out pen that is tiny. Stalls are clearly not mucked regularly for the whole place burns your nose of pee. I do not recommend this place. read more

Rude on the phone made me not go here presentation is everything so if you're not nice over the phone I don't even wanna imagine what they're like in person spoke to 2 different people phone called seemed rushed and wanted to get it over with not good customer service I wouldn't waste my time of day here save your money y'all read more

I came horseback riding here yesterday for the first time, and I had such a great experience! The staff were so friendly and the horses are very well cared for. Anna took my friend and I on a trail ride and it was perfect. She was very knowledgeable and mature for her age. I can't wait to come back! read more

When it is mid 2020, and you can't go to concerts or ball games, you throw your soon to be 6 year old daughter an awesome birthday party. She chose to have a cowgirl party so we decided she needed some ponies for that party. We called Memory Lane and set them up to come out to the house with 2 ponies and for a few extra dollars we added the petting zoo option. They called the morning of to confirm and showed up early to set up. Heather, June and Josh were our team for the day and they were awesome. They were great with the kids, taught kids about the animals in the petting zoo and interacted well with the adults. The two hours went by quick and when it was time to go everything was clean and whatever the animals may have left behind was taken with them. Only negative was in regards to the petting zoo, we weren't told that we would need quarters to be able to get grains to feed the animals. People don't carry change on them, so we had to borrow from our daughters piggy bank to ensure the kids could feed the animals. Either include it in the price, let people pre-buy feed or at least tell them they will need quarters. The ponies were a big surprise for our daughter and she loved it. Her friends had a blast and our family enjoyed the day. The only problem is---how do we top this next year? read more

Great experience. We came for a trail ride, and our awesome guide Joe made sure we had a great time! We definitely recommend it.

Every year for my Birthday, I request a horseback ride and a cupcake from my friends. This year was the best ever. Rode a horse named Bandit who stole my heart and was the angel that we all would like to get to ride. A beautiful black gelding, Bandit was as gorgeous as he was a pleasure to ride. Isabelle and Dom, our guides were entertaining as well as attentive to the riders to be sure that our mounts were perfect as can be. Such a beautiful day and what better experience than the trails on an incredible creature with such good company. read more

I went for a trail ride. I'm not an experienced rider. My guide was a girl with long brown hair. I can't remember her name. She was very helpful, gave me a few tips and was very patient. Very professional. Friendly. Hoping to build off of this experience I went back. This time my guide was a girl named Claudia. I am an adult but she spoke to me as if I was a child. She embarrassed me in front of the other riders. No guidance. This is how people get hurt. Very rude and unprofessional. I will never go back. People like this shouldn't be interacting with other people. If you want to be ridiculed go here, I certainly won't be coming back. I only gave 1 star because I had to. read more

We live in Chicago and wanted to get out of the city for a weekend, so we booked a trail ride at Memory Lane stables on a whim, and it was the BEST part of our whole trip! Our guide, Lexy, was so sweet to us, and incredibly helpful since my boyfriend and I were both pretty much beginners. The ride itself was so much fun, but once it was over we also got to play around in the petting zoo on site! There were goats, and sheep, and pigs, and ponies, and they were all so friendly. We really just had so much fun and I definitely recommend booking your rides here. We'll come back soon! read more

This place is great. A trail guide named Lexi helped us, she was so kind. She rode us through the trail and it was amazing we enjoyed it. Our horses were very kind and it was a good experience. read more

I took my daughters here for their first trail ride. It was my first time too. I was a little nervous. My horse did buck because of a horse fly but my trail guide, Ariel, helped me and my horse calm down. She is literally a horse whisperer! She made sure I felt comfortable with my horse for the entire trail ride. I can't remember ever having such an amazing experience with an establishment! The girls who work there are so sweet and love their jobs. This is the place to go for a fun time. My daughters and I would come back just for Ariel because she had a huge part in making our time there wo read more

Thank you Memory Lane Stables and Staff for creating a wonderful set of memories for my group of 12 Girl Scouts. They used hard earned money from selling Girl Scout Cookies to visit the horses, learned about caring for a horse and rode inside the corral. Can't wait to come back! Ask for Kathy; she was very helpful in setting everything up. read more

I took my 9 yr old to learn to ride horses and she lived it. They are friendly and very affordable.

I booked a group of 13 for my birthday (today) because I've always wanted to ride a horse. And let me tell you, IT WAS AMAZING! I'm so glad I went here for my first time. We had 3 trail guides with us and they were awesome. They were friendly and patient. A lot of my friends had varied levels of experience riding, whether none at all or those who have ridden for years and what I appreciated most was that they paired us with horses according to our experience. They made it a super fun experience and I can tell you, we plan on going back.... A LOT. The prices are great and I didn't feel like we had to hurry and leave. After our rides they let us play and pet all the barn animals and it was just such a fun experience. read more

Girl Scout of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana's Salt Creek Service Unit had a fantastic event on Saturday, October 1st. We had 135 girls from Kindergarten to 6th grade participating at this event. Little ones were riding outside and they have a spectacular petting zoo. The older girls ride in the stables arena followed by horse camp, where they learned all about the care and feeding of the horses. They decorated the outside with lots of fun Halloween and fall decorations, making the grounds very inviting . Halfway through our event the sky opened up and a heavy rain came down. Everything shifted into the stable but the girls had a fantastic time. They didn't miss a beat. Kathy, the stables owner, is so very accommodating and professional and dedicated to the fun experience of her clients. The horses and animals are well loved and cared for. I highly recommend Memory Lanes Stables for trail rides, parties large and small and just a great time. read more

Spent the afternoon with family riding out of Memory Lane Stables in the nearby forest preserve. The horses were beautiful and so well cared for ...the Staff was a blast, really knowledgeable and willing to teach the customers. They also have HUGE draft horses that are magnificent to ride if you are experienced and willing. Thank you Ariel and Memory Lane Team! read more

This was my first time visiting the stable. My daughters were on a outing with there brownie Girl Scout troop!! It was my daughters first time riding a horse, and they absolutely loved the experience. They can't stop talking about how much fun it was. Thank you to awesome staff at memory lane stables, big s/o to Ariel for the awesome job you did, educating the girls on how to properly care for a horse and to approach one, etc....You were so wonderful look forward to visiting again! The girls rode Tcup and Dolly and said they loved them horses read more

Memory Lane Stables - My daughters absolutely loved the horses!!! Dolly and T Cup your awesome look forward to visiting you again - Horseback Riding Near Me - Willow Springs, Illinois

See all

My sister and I had a great experience with the whole team at this stables. Our guide, Joe, was professional and personable with a genuine passion for horses and the great outdoors. We will definitely become regulars for lessons and trail rides!! read more

I took my first private riding lesson today and it was well worth it. Ask for John (young guy) who was very knowledgeable and patient. He walked me through what to pay attention to as far as a horse's body language, how to properly place the saddle, bit, etc. Really great and I'm going back for more. read more

Want to try horseback riding, but afraid of falling off, or just looking like a complete moron? Then you need to check this place out. If it's your first time or you fiftieth, you can always come here for trail rides. It's a fair price at about $10 for a forty five minute trail ride through the forested area. The trail horses are tame, and won't bolt at the slightest sound of traffic (yes, you do have to cross a busy street on the ride), and the trail guides are avid riders and very knowledgeable. You can catch me here quite often on warm Saturday mornings. If you are looking to board a horse, they also offer boarding services, just call for information. read more

I went to this stable fir a ride with family. On the way, it started to rain. I called and spoke to Bill, the owner, to tell him we would be 15 minutes late. Bill gave a us,a nasty attitude and complained about us holding them up. When we arrived 10 minutes late, we had to wait with the other people who had our same appointment time (they arrived early) for an additional 40 minutes before all the workers started running out of the stable with no explanation. Apparently one of the horses had thrown someone and ran off so the workers had to go round up the horses. When they came back, they had to take some of the horses out of rotation because, according to the staff, the horses were not behaving. When we finally were able to get on horses (another hour later, now 1 hour and 40 minutes past our appointment time) the horses we're not cooperating and were wondering off the trail. Our trail guide bought us back and said they were not behaving and she wasn't taking the horses back out. A worker with black hair (I think her name was Arial, she was probably Bill's daughter since they had the same nasty attitude and lack of customer service) told us since they had taken us out on the trail, Bill said they could give us a refund of half the cost. We literally had only stepped 10 steps on the trail. After leaving I checked my receipts that were emailed to me. Instead of refunding me half the amount I payed, they charged me the full price a second time for a service I never received. My advice, go to a different place, Sarah's stable is down the road. We will give them a try instead next time. Although Sarah's is a few dollars more, I guess you get what you pay for. read more

Had a great experience here with my wife. We went on an hour trail ride with Anna and she was a great guide and very knowledgeable about horses! The horses we rode on were very calm and friendly and we can't wait to go back for another ride! read more

I attended Memory Stables yesterday as part of a larger group gathering with my 3 year old daughter and 5 year old son. While a pleasant experience early on, two of our guides said that one of the ponies was loose and running around in the road. About 30 minutes later on a different ride with my son on a large pony and my daughter on a smaller one and me walking in between, there was a large pony (Carlos) running in the road. He turned and started charging right towards us (me). Both ponies my kids were riding were startled and my son was thrown off. I fortunately got my daughter off safely, and my son only had some scratches and no serious injuries. It took about 10 minutes for them to get to the pony under control. While mistakes happen and the owner later apologized to the group and resumed the rides, I hope the organization inputs greater controls to ensure ponies do not get loose and prevent a more serious accident from happening in the future. read more

Horses are big animals with distinct personalities, habits, attitudes, and quite honestly, you are certainly riding at your own risk. That said, a few things stuck out with my experience here. One of the things was helmets being optional - it's tempting to forgo it if you're used to the old days of riding. I went on a four hour ride in Wyoming without one. I decided to err on the side of caution and wear on here, and I'm glad I did. I was put on a horse who had a surprise burst of barn sour behavior. He was absolutely fine and responded to my leg aids and light neck reining up until he realized we were leaving. At that moment, he turned around himself against my aids and pointed his head back to the barn. I was instructed to 'keep kicking him', which resulted in him backing me up into some bushes and then squaring up on his hindquarters. This was bad news, I was told to keep kicking but I instead moved his head laterally to get him off his hind legs and eventually got him on the trail. That could have ended badly. A few things crossed my mind then - first, I'm glad I opted for a helmet. Second - I have no idea how to do an emergency dismount. Had he reared and/or bolted, I would have really been in a pickle. The rest of the ride was okay, though the guide's horse kept biting her feet. The guide horse was also very, very spooky around the road where you cross the trail. This was a little concerning for me because I was already on a horse that had some bad habits and insecurities, so I kept him a little further away when we were waiting for the light to change to cross and redirected his attention when he started to mimic the other horse. I declined trotting on the way back because I was concerned he was going to bolt, especially once we got closer to the barn. I was told they put beginner riders on my horse. So, a few things could be going on here. He could have had a bad day, maybe he had some pain (though the rest of the ride was for the most part fine), maybe he had some barn/buddy sourness just cropping up at that moment, or maybe he has had moments before and they declined to tell me. The people working at the barn are young, but experienced with horses. As with any place, you ride at your own risk. However, if you are not experienced of confident enough to manage a horse with issues, I suggest making a trip to Wauconda to Wedgwood for a trail ride instead. read more

We just ended our 1 hour group ride of 7 people. We had a mixed group of first time riders, beginners (rode at least once) and me (I've cared for horses and rode quite often but not an expert rider). Overall, it was an OK experience with nice people and well cared for horses. The check-in process had some confusing moments as they tried to work the credit card machine and take cash. They gave good instructions for getting on horse, controlling horse, and one girl actually walked one of the beginners out until she felt comfortable. Kudos! Surprised that they didn't offer riding helmets. The two lead guides and support guides were fairly young but kind and experienced. I remembered just how unpredictable horses are. One horse just lowered and dumped one of the 1st time riders. Ohh wee! After a little discussion on the whys, they resolved it by putting her on a different horse while a guide rode the horse with the issue :) The horse (with the issue) was fine after that. Hmm? My horse would occasionally bit at my foot when I pulled back on the reins. He got irritated a couple of times and I had to deal with him kicking another horse who had his nose in his rear. But those things can happen. But I'm not sure why my horse stopped moving, put his head down to smell, I think, manure and when I pulled him up, gave him a good kick (as instructed), he reared up twice. I was grateful that I was riding him and not another inexperienced rider. It was close to the end of the ride, so I got off and walked him back. Mama didn't raise no fool :0) The possible issue: tired horses maybe. I don't think I'd ride late in the afternoon again. Maybe earlier when horses are fresh. The trail was nice, fairly flat and you move no faster than a sloooowwww walk. Heads up, you do cross a road (with a walk signal) to get to another trail. Overall, I'm not sure if I'd go again, given the distance from where I live and it was just OK. Not great and memorable, just OK. read more

Now called Memory Lane Stables, this place is great. I took my Mother-in law here for some horse back riding and it couldn't have been a better experience. Our guide Austin (?) took the two of us out for over an hour and was friendly and an experienced rider. We came on a Saturday afternoon in December since the crazy Chicago weather was 60 degrees. You really feel like you are not in the Chicagoland area anymore. I will DEFINITELY be back! read more

My husband and I have been horseback riding a few times before. We tried this place out because it wasn't too far from our home. Within an hour of the phone call we were at the stables n on our horses. We felt the price was very reasonable. The staff pairs you with a horse based on experience and size of the rider. Guides ride one in the front and one in the back of the group for safety and to give instruction along the ride. We did an hour ride through the forest. It was very relaxing and well guided. Would definitely recommend for guided trail rides. They also offer riding lessons for a very reasonable cost. read more

Great way to spend Memorial Day weekend. Great spot for kids and old alike. Would have loved to have left a tip but they didn't have a square reader. I don't carry cash like that. Will be back and will tip next time! read more

I just took my 3 kids on a trail ride at Memory Lane Stables. I called this morning at 9 and they said they could do a ride at 11. My two 11 year olds and I rode horses and my 7 year old rode a pony that was walked by an employee. Our guide was very nice and helpful. The only negative is that I had to ask the guide to stop and wait for the my daughter (and another girl that was being walked on a pony) to catch up to us a couple of times. I didn't want my little one to feel that we were too far away. Overall all my kids including my pony-rider loved the experience and want to go back to take lessons. I'd say this is a great place to try out for beginners who just want the experience of getting on a horse and riding for an hour. The price seemed good - about $84 - including a horse license for me - for the 4 of us to ride in the woods for about an hour (plus tips for the guide and pony walker who were pretty great overall). I'm going to look into lessons for all of us. One other small negative is that we weren't sure where to go when we got there. People were very nice, but there was no obvious place to go and check in. After standing around in the stable for a bit a nice young man asked if he could help us and he was able to see our appointment on a sheet and he got us going and took my payment by debit card - I'd have gotten a 2 dollar discount if I paid in cash, but I didn't have that much cash on me. read more

Friendly staff. Very accommodating to our schedule. Beautiful nice horses. Kids had a blast feeding the petting zoo animals after. Will definitely recommend this place to others. read more

See all

Just went on an hour long trail ride on Sunday at LaRemuda Stables (now called Memory Lane Stables) and had a great time. There were 6 of us and we had our own private trail ride through the beautiful forest preserve. We are all city slickers with little riding experience and they paired us up with horses to fit our needs. The best part is that a lot of the horses are apparently rescues or were taken in because someone else could no longer care for them. All of the staff were very helpful and clearly passionate about horses. I definitely recommend this place if you are looking for a trail ride near Chicago! Also, I think the phone # listed might be wrong. I used (708) 372-6472 and it puts you in touch with one of the owners, Bill. read more

Awful. Just awful. Unorganized, dirty, and not fun. I took my daughters for a pony ride and it was a disaster. My 6 year old daughter was elbowed in the face by the pony walker while he was attempting to forcibly discipline the pony she was riding. My other daughters saddle was incorrectly put together, the stirrups were put on backwards and it leaned significantly to the side the entire ride, so much so that if I wasn't holding/pulling her back onto the pony she would have fallen off. I was drenched in sweat from pulling the saddle back onto the pony and also holding my daughter from falling off the pony for the entirety of the ride. Our pony walker seemed to be overwhelmed, maybe it was his first day? I asked multiple people where to go, what was going to happen, what the plan was and no one knew what was going on. It was all just bizarre. We have ridden so many ponies and this was by far the most unenjoyable for myself and more importantly my kids who were so excited. I also have animal concerns. The state of their stalls, the number of animals crowded together in mud, I just felt uncomfortable the entire time. Don't waste your money, the kids hated it. read more

My daughters had always wanted to ride on a horse, so we did some research and read great things about Memory Lane Stables. Booked a date, it only took about 30 minutes to get to from Chicago (non-rush hour), and we all had a great time on the trail ride! Our horseback tour guide was named Joe, and he was a delight, full of positive energy and a wealth of knowledge about horses. Would definitely recommend and will definitely return! read more

I rode yesterday..the kids were great and helpful, but my horse London was srubborn and wanted to eat like a buffet.Shes called queen bee and was certainly one.I was bleeding on my hand from trying to keep her head up..I will go back but request a easier horse, this is the first horse in all my years of riding that was not a good ride. read more

Great price and great experience. They fit us in last minute and we had a great time. The staff were very friendly and courteous. Will definitely be back. read more

Me and my friend had the best experience! Joe Crisp was an excellent horse guide. We had fun and learned a lot about the horses.

Kathy and Memory Lane were insanely helpful and generous. They took the time to help us by loaning us a baby goat for an on-stage illustration at our church service, were flexible with pick-up and return times, and set us up with one of the most adorable little guys we could have asked for. Big win for us, and very generous on their part. Thanks Kathy! read more

I was looking for pony rides and mobile zoo for first birthday party of my daughter. SO I started looking and called like 3 to 4 places and finally booked with Memory Lane Stables. I spoke to Kathy and she seemed very friendly and explained me in a good detail how all thing works. I felt comfortable and finally booked it for the big birthday party. Here are my thoughts after the birthday party - Staff that came with zoo and ponies was friendly and cooperative Zoo was just amazing and so as ponies I was more concern about kid's fun but man even adults enjoyed my party so much Pretty much every guest (50 adults and 27 kids) appreciated the idea and how much they loved it all Last but not the least Kathy gave me the best offer of all the places I called So I personally recommend them as I loved using their service and everyone in my party had the GALA time. read more