We recently celebrated our daughter's 9th birthday at Nova Quarter Horses, and it was an absolutely wonderful experience. With a group of 20 third-grade girls, I was initially concerned about keeping everyone engaged and safe, especially since more than half of them had never ridden a horse before. Nova's team surpassed all expectations. They were incredibly organized, attentive, and made sure each child felt comfortable and secure throughout the event. The staff at Nova Quarter Horses made the girls' first riding experience unforgettable. Each child had several turns riding different horses, and the instructors were patient and encouraging, creating a positive atmosphere that allowed even the most hesitant riders to participate and enjoy themselves. Our daughter described the party as "perfect," and I couldn't agree more! The facility itself is ideal for hosting birthday parties. Nova has a spacious party area where they arranged tables to accommodate our group with one long table that seated 21 comfortably. Parents were able to relax in a fantastic viewing area, which offered a great vantage point to watch both the riding and the party festivities. This thoughtful setup made the celebration enjoyable for both children and adults. Beyond horseback riding, Nova organized a fun scavenger hunt in the barn, giving the girls an opportunity to explore, meet all the horses, and learn more about the facility. This added element of adventure made the party even more special and engaging for everyone involved. I highly recommend Nova Quarter Horses for anyone looking to host a unique, fun, and well-managed birthday party. The staff's professionalism, dedication to safety, and ability to create a magical experience for children make them stand out. We are grateful for the memories made and look forward to returning in the future! read more

Nova Quarter Horses - Party area - Party & Event Planning Near Me - Mokena, Illinois

Nova Quarter is definitely the place to be if you love horses. Lorri and Sam run an amazing business and the horses are so well taken care of. There are so many events, camps and opportunities for all ages. The large, newer indoor arena is amazing! Go check them out! read more

Nova Quarter Horses - Party & Event Planning Near Me - Mokena, Illinois

I rode at Nova when I was a little girl and the past 3 years my daughter has been riding and training here with our horse. I could not recommend a better facility. The owners Lorri and Samantha go above and beyond in caring for the horses whether they are boarded and privately owned or their own. I could not think of going to any other place. read more

This place is so awesome and the people are so very kind. I wanted to bring my 80 yr old mother for a ride on her birthday, but I was very nervous about her ability to manage to get on and off the horse. From the first call I made, I left a message and they quickly got back to me and they were more excited than I was to give her this experience. They assured me they would be there to help her each step of the way- and they were!!!! They are so kind and so efficient- they clearly love what they do- and if anyone is looking for a place to ride or take lessons- look no further- I cant thank Kelly and the entire staff enough for being there and allowing us (all of us) to be a part of my moms birthday surprise!! thank you thank you ...Outstanding- I will be back with my granddaughter very soon!!! Robin Friday!!!! read more

Brought my daughter and her cousins here for a single horseback riding lesson. I was impressed by the whole facility. These children have never ridden before and they picked the perfect horses for each of them. The staff encouraged the kids from the beginning and I was shocked to see my 6 year old leading a horse out to the ring by herself with such confidence. I didn't catch the instructors name, but with a class of 14, she knew every child's name (even ours on their first visit!) and called out individual instructions to them and words of encouragement to reinforce a job well done. Top notch! I wish I lived up here so my daughter could continue lessons here! read more

Nova Quarter Horses - Party & Event Planning Near Me - Mokena, Illinois

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It only took us three lessons to realize we would never recommend this place. Not kind,not compassionate, not concerned, not clean. My daughter & I arrived for her third lesson. In the stable, we saw Lorri (the owner). She was trying to saddle a horse and it tried to bite her. She blamed the incident on a past coworker. She told us that the horse was hurt. Then she proceeded to slap the horse. After that, she sent the horse to the arena to be ridden by a student. We were very uncomfortable with what we heard and saw. My daughter was told she would be riding "Mr Man". I stepped out for five minutes and when I came back into the viewing area, I could see that my daughter looked afraid. I didn't know why until I saw the horse try to shake her off of it. I jumped up and gasped. The other parents in the viewing area explained that this was typical behavior for this horse and that they had no business putting my novice daughter on this horse. In fact, they said that another child quit taking lessons due to this same experience. I told the instructor that I was not comfortable and to take her off that horse. Reluctantly, she was given another horse. An even smaller child was put on "Mr. Man"!! The horse tried to buck the other child as well, so sadly, that child spent the rest of the lesson sitting out. Come to find out that my daughter tried to tell the instructor that she could not control the horse and nothing was done until I came out there and told her to take her off the horse. What if I hadn't been there like many of the other parents weren't? The instructor did not even see these incidences take place because she had ten other students and unfortunately her back was to my daughter both times. It was later explained to us that this particular horse likes to be right behind other horses in the arena. The reason is completely irrelevant to me. Why in the world would you place a novice child on a horse that is temperamental & very particular about how it is ridden?!? Unsafe, unwarranted, and completely irresponsible choice on their behalf. After the lesson, my daughter brought her "new" horse back to the stable. We didn't know it's name nor where it should go. We were waiting for someone to help us and apparently the horse got spooked. It neighed, jumped up, and hurt my daughter's forearm. I screamed and a high school worker came to take the horse. My daughter was in a lot of pain. I found her instructor and told her what had just happened and that we were done. I said I wanted my money back for the lessons we had paid for and would not be attending. She said that she would speak to Lorri. This took place on Thursday at 5pm. No one called to apologize. No one called to check on my daughter. No one called to confirm my refund. I waited two days then I called and left a detailed voice mail. I received a call back from someone stating that she wasn't aware of the situation, but that Lorri was and that she would call me later. She never called. Horrible customer service. Other parents have said she doesn't care about the kids, just the $$. I could see firsthand why they feel that way. I'm still waiting. .. As a side note, Lorri said they sanitize the helmets that the kids borrow. I observed kids wearing them, taking them off and putting them back on the dirty shelves. Other kids put them on for the next lesson. My daughter had trouble sleeping for a couple nights afterwards. She said she kept replaying it all in her head. It was such a horrible and scary experience... especially for a child. We would not recommend Nova to anyone. Not safe. Not concerned. Not kind. Not professional. read more

I wish I could give 0 stars. My daughter was extremely excited to start horseback riding lessons. Literally drawing pictures of horses and counting down the days to when she started lessons. The first lessons were a little hectic but once she was able to head out to the arena things seem to ok. Then the second week was when things went a haywire. The owner Lori took over lessons that week and was yelling at the kids. She would yell at my daughter telling her to stop doing what she wanted to do and to listen to her! Lessons continued and at one point she yelled STOP so loud startling us. She continued and told the girls not to pass my daughter! She went on and a few moments later yelled to them just to pass my daughter! She was all over the place. She was unorganized with a temper. She told my daughter she shouldn't be in this class and yelled towards me asking who is her mom?! She shouldn't be in this class!! I asked her if I should pull her out today and come a different day? She said no. I told her she isn't learning anything from this lesson because the entire time she has been yelling not only at my daughter but other girls. She said she's trying to teach her how to ride a horse! She went on to say she doesn't have time for this and she will refund me while walking away. She got my daughter off the horse and walked her out. My daughter was hysterical. She was crying. This woman, the owner is heartless, rude, unprofessional, and so much more. I can't believe she has a functioning business to be honest. Her employee kept apologizing and trying to explain to us that she's just having a bad day. I don't care if she had a bad day or not this is no way to treat a child, her family, or any of her customers. She was breaking down her spirit when she was so excited to begin this new journey. She told me she didn't want to ride anymore that night and the next day. I told her this was just a bad experience. One of the worst things in life is watching your kids heart break. Being bullied by an adult is not ok. I had to pick up the pieces and explain to her other peoples actions and behavior have nothing to do with you, it's them. I would never refer Nova to anyone looking for lessons. If you're looking for a great experience and a place to learn and bond with the horses this place is not for you!! read more

I bought a groupon for my daughter to take lessons here and today was her first day. I could not believe they just put her on a horse and off she went! My heart was in my throat but she did great! And Lori was very attentive to her. My daughter was scared at first and I thought she was going to cry but she didn't. Overall it was a great experience. I also felt very welcomed by staff. They are very nice. We are looking forward to our next lesson. read more

This place exceeded my expectations! My 6 & 7 year old daughters had their first horse riding lesson here. We bought a package of five for them both on living social for only $90. The instructor, Olivia, was great. She was really assertive with the group. She played close attention to everyone, a really large group, and corrected when needed and praised when the students did well. I really liked how she was able to focus on everyone and did such a terrific job with her class. My girls trotted, stopped, and backed up their horse....and this was their first time riding. I hope to have my girls here for a while learning to ride and caring for horses. read more

Nova Quarter Horses - Party & Event Planning Near Me - Mokena, Illinois

Hi! Old student here, I have since moved to a new barn! The Owner was always yelling at the kids. Instead of a stronger foundation of riding, and creating a diverse skill set, the focus was on Western Pleasure, which was not described to us, so we had no way to know what the finished product would look like once we were show-ready. The first lesson for us was a walk/trot, with 8-10 other kids, way too many to be in the arena of the size that they had. Moving onto a new barn after riding there for 4-5 years, I knew hardly anything but how to sit in the saddle, 0 leg pressure, 0 emphases on other aids 0 training on how to be subtle in aids. The horses have cramped, small stalls and no pasture time outside, and some have terrible arthritis and are still expected to do 4-5 lessons a day. When someone who boarded a horse entered the arena during a lesson, all focus was on them, none was on the students paying for a lesson. The only way to actually move up the levels and get on the show team was to buy a horse and pay for training for it. irresponsible lesson sizes and bad instruction lead to inexperienced and overconfident riders. I'd recommend going to a few different barns in the area, instead of just settling on this one. In my experience, try one lesson at 5-6 barns before settling, look at the property, ask questions about their plan to improve you/your children's skill, class sizes, the trainer's certifications, the quality of horses, The stall size, clean water in stalls, EVERYTHING!!! And remember- More horses does not equal a better lesson program, neither does having more riders in a group lesson! I'd recommend asking questions, and seeing at least more than 3 barns before settling! If someone in our family has horses, ask them to come along and see the facility and horses! Don't waste 4 years learning how to yank on a horse's mouth like I did! read more

Nova quarter has a great riding area, knowledgable and friendly staff, and beautiful horses that are well trained and well taken care of.

Lorri is probably the best horse back riding instructor in the Greater Chicago region.

We tried lessons at Nova following a recent groupon offer. The staff was very accommodating and we loved the lessons. We will definitely be back- especially since the indoor arena allows for lessons to be taken comfortably year-round. read more

Love Nova! This place is as good as it gets when it comes to horse back riding. Trainer, Lorri Ebeling is the best in the business. She knows horses and is a wonderful teacher. I would recommend her to anyone who is interested in really learning how to ride and care for horses. I also attended the Ladies Night Out that the previous user spoke about and could not disagree more! My friends and I had a wonderful time and learned a lot. Sure, Lorri may have come off a little tough, but riders need to keep in mind we are riding 1,000+ pound animals and safety is clearly Lorri's read more

I fell in love with this place. Me and my daughter are taking lessons, staff is awesome and very friendly they treat the horses very good and the horses are well trained. You can lease, bored your own and take lessons. The lessons can be pricey but it's all worth it. read more

My daughter and I have been coming to Nova for a while now and we love it. Very family friendly stables, much better than others we have visited. Horses are gentle and well taken care of, instructors are great, the place is very clean. The owner Lorri and her daughter Sam run a great place that is welcoming to everyone. read more

My kids attended horse camp here for one of their 4 day sessions. I was amazed at how much they learned in those 4 days! They had no prior experience. They fell in love with the horses as well. read more

Lorri, her daughter Samantha, and the entire team at Nova do a wonderful job of making new riders feel welcome and confident. They are very skilled at adjusting their teaching to the needs of different ages and levels of riders. I started at Nova about a year ago, as an adult beginner, and Lorri's instruction has not only made me a better rider, but also has helped me learn about all things horse-related, including feeding, exercise, grooming and general horsemanship. Nova's show team members help with barn chores, training, and birthday parties and have matured into exceptionally bright, responsible, and confident young ladies under Lorri's guidance. This is just a great place to learn about horses. I drive about an hour each way 2-3 times per week to take lessons and practice here, and just wish I lived closer so that I could visit more often. read more

Rode here few years. Gave Lorri, owner, behevior benefit of doubt but grew weary of aggressive, angry and moody behavior. No written or psted guidelines or rules. Changed with Lorri's moods. She screams and yells during lessons and does not keep her word. She will change parameters of an agreement or times of show then blame you for not meeting these "changes". Does not enforce helmet require as posted on website. Doesn't even own any for students to borrow. No real guidance or instruction for kids excepted whats yelled during class. Easily misheard from a kid on horseback. Shop other stables before commiting to this one!!! read more

This is a nice place to take lessons-yes the instructor yells but she also praises you when you do a good job. She is a good teacher. The horses are all high quality and fun to ride. The facility is very nice. There are a lot of opportunities for fun things to do outside of lessons as well-trail rides, fun shows, show team, etc. Check it out! read more