While planning my holiday weekend with some friends downstate, they expressed interest in taking a…read moretrail ride on horseback. After some research, I found the Rockin P. The prices are extremely fair, the horses are well kept, and the park is beautiful. Anticipating a busy weekend due to the holiday, I called a week ahead for a reservation. The outgoing message on thier voicemail said they would open Wednesday at 10. Wednesday, at 9:30, a very cheerful woman called me back with answers to all of my questions from my voicemail. I look forward to my weekend at the Rockin P, and I will update this review accordingly.

I am definitely looking forward to coming back for guided trails and lessons. Everyone was very…read morepatient with us especially to our two boys (10 and 7). I was nervous at first but after being explained what to do and taking it slow and steady on the trail, I was at ease. It was very fun, laid back and very memorable. Thank you for accommodating our family. We still can't stop talking about what a great experience we had. I would definitely recommend Coyote creek.

We took our first guided tour at Coyote Creek this past Saturday and had an amazing experience…read more There were 7 of us including a 6 year old and a special needs 9 year old. April was so accommodating to our group, lining up extra help, having lot of patience with us, and going the extra mile to make this a memorable experience for all of us. Not only were April and her helpers experts with the horses, but also with children - a winning combination for such a business.

Our family has been riding at Breezy Bluff for over 10 years. The owners and instructors emphasize…read morethe safety of horse and riders. Horses are well cared for and live long lives. Learning to groom and saddle your horse is an important part of the riding experience. Riders progress at a pace appropriate for each individual but are encouraged to expand their skills. The owners are accommodating regarding schedule needs when those needs are politely communicated well ahead of time.

Short version: Some very nice horses, a good instructor named Cherri, okay for beginners, but…read morethere are definitely better options with better facilities and more well-cared for horses. Long version: My first impression of Breezy Bluff was very negative. Horses all wear halters 24/7 in outdoor pastures standing in a few inches of their own muck and mud. That was in January. I saw a horse with an open abrasion from the halter rubbing it's nose and many with bald patches. The mule (sweetest thing in the world, by the way) had an open cyst just above the back of her front hoof. I brought these to the attention of the people there. One response was that it was good it was open to drain....well maybe, but not in the dirty conditions it was living in at the time. Apparently the surgery to remove it was too expensive or too inconvenient for them. I honestly should have just left and gone elsewhere at that point. My questions about not having any stalls or shelters for the horses was met with the explanation that Betty prefers her animals to live out their lives as the natural herd animals they were created to be. That sounds good, except that natural herd animals roam over many miles/acres of land...not in a fenced area where most of their time is spent standing in manure. Another client took her granddaughter out to another stable due in part to the place being a "dump" in her words. I wouldn't necessarily go that far, but it is obviously just too much for the owners to maintain very well. It did get cleaned up a little and looks much better now that nicer weather came. I did go to 12 lessons and two days of horse camp...my daughter and I did not once see any hooves picked. I was taught it was basic horse care to regularly clean hooves, yet apparently not here. The ironic part is that the Bible verse about a righteous man caring for his animals is her signature line. :-/ Enough of the care (or lack thereof) of horses...on to the lessons. On two occasions they "forgot" that I had already made payments for my services, then found them. The lessons always start late and spend more time letting the kids struggle to groom and tack the horses without any formal teaching on this aspect than they spend riding. One response to this was, if they want to ride more, they should tack faster....what??? They don't even know how yet.... In the lessons we took there were several times that communication was lost between the "instructors" and different people were covering for these miscommunications. The first 10 lessons were only my oldest. I decided to let two of my younger children try. The first of their lessons I showed up and the first three people I talked to didn't even know they were coming, then one young instructor said she had gotten an email that they were scheduled. The instructor had a back problem, so they were covering for her that day. The next week I showed up and was told their lesson would be an hour later...there was a horse camp that day, so I assumed it was to allow for that event. All my emails showed my lesson at the agreed upon time. The next week I showed up for our lesson and was told they had been moved an hour later...I was never informed of this time, and frankly it didn't work with our schedule, so I said I would not be back and expected a refund for the lessons I wasn't taking. It was the company's error, so I feel I should have been refunded the full amounts...however, I was informed that I could not be refunded since I didn't cancel 48 hours in advance, and that since they didn't complete another set of 10 lessons, the cost was higher. I did get a "refund" for about 1/5 of the amount it should have been had they been honest and shown integrity. I never cancelled a lesson, they changed without communication. I would say there were three good, well organized classes out of the 14 we took. There is more I could say, but this should suffice. All in all, this business is not a well-oiled machine and your money is better spent (and safer) elsewhere.

They have the best instructors and very clean environment for learning. They let me drive their…read moretractor.

Jamie Gerardi is an experienced horseback riding instructor and offers a variety of opportunities…read morefor riders of all ages from very beginner to advanced. And she also offers lessons in various disciplines, from hunter/jumper, dressage, saddle-seat to western. Whether you're looking to ride for fun, or competition, we have something for you.

Walk, Bike, Run on these 4 miles of paved and unpaved, hilly trails while enjoying woody views and…read moremeadow vistas. Some of the grades are steep, although manageable, so your glutes will get a workout. Benches appear from time to time, for those that want or need a little rest. I've seen folks on horses, although I don't know where they started. We always have a good time on the trail---tracking its progress, seeing what changes have come with the seasons, taking a break from whatever we were doing off-trail. A gem---and I hear there are plans to expand it to the Lake Sara area and beyond. Can't wait!

Really great trail! Paved nicely through woods with a bridge over the river and scenic crop fields…read more The signs/address can be confusing. Park at the effingham performance center, turn towards the red circular calico sign, then follow the sidewalk to the trailhead. It's not a circular trail so you will have to turn and go back the way you came to your car.