Shannon is awesome! She is the best trainer in the south burbs in my opinion…read more She's friendly, punctual and my daughter really likes her. She's learned so much just after a few lessons. Very nice, well kept place.

I contacted Shannon earlier this summer via email and she responded within 24hrs. Moreover, her…read morew/in 24 hour response time has continued through the summer; whether by email, phone, or text. We set up lessons for 4 kids initially, which eventually became 5. Shannon was more than flexible and understanding of having to reschedule due to extreme heat on one scheduled lesson day, of one kid not being able to attend a lesson, or wanting to add another kid last minute. At any one lesson we had at least 3 kids and up to 5. Needless to say we have done SEVERAL lessons over the course of the summer. Each of the kids (ages almost 3 up to 9 yrs) has loved their experience with Shannon and her horses at Downtown Equestrian Center. All of the kids came to Shannon as complete novices. Their confidence and abilities have grown with each lesson. So far they have learned how to brush the horse, clean the hooves, saddle the horse (w help due to height &/or age), walk the horse out/in (again, assisted for the youngest), mount/dismount the horse, proper posture and hold, then ride the horse (walk, trot, stop, back up, turn, circle, walk over bars). The 7 & 9 year olds are now able to ride the horse without a lead assisting/guiding. This was a huge moment for them and sent their confidence/self-esteem through the roof. Shannon and her staff are also very thoughtful about their choices when pairing the kids with the horses. They take into consideration the horse's personality, age, size, & work for the day; the size and age of the kids are also factors in pairing. Even though one of the kids might have a particular preference, if that horse already rode for a lesson that day it does not go out again. That said, Shannon & her staff do their best to accommodate the kids, especially when they have bonded with a particular horse. The kids have now learned to ride 2-3 horses; learning their personality, temperament, and ride. I should also note that Shannon has helmets for the kids to use during lessons (also a must), which I appreciate since none of the kids yet own one. Of course, there are moments where Shannon will have to correct the kids; however, she never raises her voice-- she changes her tone, much like a parent needing to refocus their child's attention. Due to the number of kids and lessons, we have also had the pleasure of working with many of Shannon's staff. Each person has been kind and patient while working with the kids; moreover, they have been knowledgable and willing to teach the kids. A family member who has worked with horses & at equestrian centers for years came to the first lesson. She was pleased with the barn, lessons, horses, and overall conditions. Shannon was always respectful, even when their two "styles" differed. To address another review: Yes, it can be confusing upon your first arrival-- Are you at the right place? (There isn't much signage, especially near the entrance) Where do you go once there? (There are several buildings) Who are you looking for? After parking, all we had to do was ask for Shannon and one of her staff politely told us where we could go/wait while she went to get Shannon. (For those wondering, there is a small "office" type room in the barn (with helmets & gear) that we now go to upon arrival.) Overall, the kids adore Downtown Equestrian Center and like having "Miss Shannon" as their instructor (as well as her staff). They are very comfortable there and have greatly enjoyed their experiences beyond words. I have appreciated Shannon's communication, style of interaction & instruction w the kids (she differentiates well for the youngest to oldest), flexibility, and interaction w the adults present. Moreover, I think there is something to be said about the way an instructor treats/interacts with the student relating to how they treat/interact with the horses. Our experience has been very positive; this leads me to believe she is kind and thoughtful when it comes to caring for her horses. I know that more regularly scheduled lessons on our part will allow Shannon to create lessons that further build upon each other. We are looking forward to all that will be learned in future lessons with Shannon, her staff, and horses.

A smooth transition to this barn. Lindsay is professional and knows how to care for all the…read morehorses. Her expertise in training will keep moving you up to reach your goals!

really fun amazing horses and people , u should do ur lessons here or board ur horse here, trainer…read moreis nice and professional

Mae is very sweet and knowledgeable, she operates her business passionately. She took time out of…read moreher very busy day to answer all my questions very patiently. People keep I'm kind that life changes, Mae is working hard in her older years to keep lessons going during the week and also running the boarding side of the business. Which used to be the work of herself and her late husband. I think credit is due here. How many of you work 7 days a week at you're own business? She will have my business as genuine people are a rarity these days!

The owner is very experienced with horses. I dont know who left a bad review but it is false . Mae…read moretakes excellent care of my horse. I have a Mustang and cannot take him just anywhere . I have been there for over a year,barn is spotless, horses well fed and watered ,turned out everyday on grass pastures when dry otherwise have large outdoor professional footing arena turned out in when pastures are wet . Appointments only now due to covid

I have had my 5 y/o mare here for almost 3 years. Care has been exceptional! Stalls cleaned…read moredaily, fresh bedding, full bellies with lots of hay. Kathy & Travis have guided and fostered the talent of my mare and me from 10 rides under saddle to Year End High Point Champions in Ranch Riding. I was looking for a drama free barn and found "home". So many levels of horses and owners from the daily riding buddies to very competitive folks showing. There is a spot for every level of ownership and goals. Kathy & Travis are always willing to lend a helping hand, whether just a boarder or there for board & train. KKT will not disappoint. Personally, the review below is far from reality. The horse was in its upper 30's and well taken care of at KKT. The best life care provided for a horse that had advanced age related health obstacles. Reality of the horses age is the result of being humanely euthanized. Just as in humans, age related issues can result quickly. She went down in her stall overnight and was suffering. The owner was RARELY out to see either horse they owned. It would have been CRUEL and INHUMANE to let that beautiful soul suffer any longer.

Travis Tieman and Kathy Fitzpatrick orchestrated the death of my mare because she was old. Other…read moreboarders urged Travis and Kathy to put the mare down! The mare was not sick and was not in pain and was still eating and interacting with me. Yet Kathy asked Duane Wilcox to "treat" my horse, which he did without informing me. He gave my mare a "concoction" (Kathy's description of the shot) on a night in January 2024 without my knowledge or permission. My mare was down in her stall the next day, could not get up, and had to be euthanized. After my mare's death, Kathy told me that Travis had been "warming the ground" to prepare for my mare's burial place in a field. In fact, Travis had created a large manure pile in the field three weeks before my mare's death. I'm still heartsick and am seeking legal action against Travis Tieman, Kathy Fitzpatrick, and Duane Wilcox. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is investigating the matter.

If you have never been here....what are you waiting for?…read more They have a FANTASTIC staff, beer tenders, music and show opportunities and just everything! Thanks for making this Valentine's Howl At The Moon at CD&ME, the best ever!

I attended a wedding here yesterday. The outdoor area is beautiful and made a wonderful setting…read morefor the wedding ceremony as well as cocktails and hors d'oeuvres afterwards. The indoor space is lovely and worked well for dinner. The staff were attentive, especially the manager who made it her mission to make sure all the details went according to plan. It was a night to remember.

Really nice venue for any private event. Spacious, clean, and the view of the small man made lake…read moreis calming.

Had my wedding here! It was beautiful and everyone was so helpful! Can't wait to have my baby…read moreshower here also!

I had my baby shower here in October of 2023. I wanted to leave a review earlier but the end of my…read morepregnancy didn't go as smooth as I hoped and with the holidays, time got away from me but I had to leave a review because everything was perfect. Cindy was more than accommodating and helpful. The space was enough room for my shower of about 60 people. Cindy recommended I use Mary from Cafe Milan for our catering and everyone absolutely loved the food. Everyone had a great time and it was so beautiful. So grateful for Cindy for making our day so special. Wish we had gotten better pics but loved the linens and it went well with my Cinderella themed shower!

I recently hosted my daughter's bridal shower at Studio C. Cindy was amazing and hoping us to have…read morea wonderful day the ambience could not have been more fitting for us and our families. I highly recommend Studio C for your event.

This is my second time renting Room 85 venue and it was a great experience again! I would highly…read morerecommend the venue space 10/10. She's understanding and very consistent. The owner has great communication and she went above and beyond to ensure I had a great turnout for my event.

The venue space is large enough to be accommodating and small enough to be intimate. The layout is…read moreuser-friendly and can be reconfigured without becoming labor intensive. Management is professional and affable. Pricing is flexible and fair. Situated in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood, this venue is comparable to upscale locations throughout the city.