I couldn't help but notice that any negative reviews were under the OLD management. Danyel and Matt NEW management have done wonders for this facility in so many ways. The knowledge, love and compassion that they have for each and every horse there is impressive. They bring new life to this facility that it was in desperate need of. They are the hardest working barn managers that I have ever met and I have boarded my horses for over 20 years. They have put their heart and soul into making sure that this barn is safe, pleasant and well maintained. They are professional, knowledgeable, compassionate, empathetic and go the extra mile in everything that they do. The care that they provide is amazing. I guarantee you that Danyel knows every horses name and special needs on that property. She takes a lot of pride in the services that they provide and it shows. The facility is very clean. They also offer lessons and training which I highly recommend. Danyel personally trained one of my rescue horses that came from horrific conditions of neglect and abuse. When we first brought him home you couldn't even get close to him without him striking out. He was terrified. After 90 of him being with Danyel she was riding him bareback around the property. He went on to become an amazing horse. She was gentle and kind with him and asked him all the right questions. He responded to that. I highly recommend her for training. read more

I had my horse at valley mount ranch from August 2024-February 2025. we moved closer to my house for a few months then came back to valley mount. we LOVE the atmosphere at valley mount ranch. There is very little-no drama and everyone I mean EVERYONE is so so kind and respectful. we have never had any issues here. Danyel and Matt are the best people. they are the only people(along with my boss) that I 100% trust with my horses. 100% reccomend valley mount. read more

Danyell and Matt the managers are both so kind and knowledgeable. I feel so grateful they are there to take care of my horses. The Facility is well kept and has all the necessarily amenities onsite and trail riding at Forest 44. My horses love the large turn outs, and we enjoy the friendly boarders. Heard they are starting a new lesson program as well!! read more

NEW MANAGEMENT!! Highly recommend checking them out now, I have been there most of 24 years. It's friendly, and customer oriented now. Can't beat the location, riding at Forest 44 Conservation is the best in the St. Louis area, only hikers and equestrian riding. Well maintained. If you are looking to board your horse and trail ride, it's great! read more

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I used ripped there as a trail guide for a man named Gene. My friend Pat who had her own horse stabled there was thr main guide. Shoveled alot of poop watered and cleaned the barn just to ride a slow palamino named Trigger. read more

Valley Mount Ranch is an amazing place to take lessons, board, and do summer camps! They take excellent care of the horses! I personally think it's the best boarding stables in Valley Park!! They actually do give the right amount of grain ( I don't know what the other people are talking about! ) there hay is one of the best and the horses have 100+ acres all to themselves! It is family owned and ran and the volunteers are one of the nicest people. if you have a question for them they know exactly the answer or what to tell you! And the stalls! The stalls are cleaned very well! Overall Valley Mount ranch is an amazing place! read more

Danyel and Matt took great care of my mare when she had a cluster of medical emergencies. couldn't recommend them any higher !

This ranch has been around since 1936, and is one of the very few in St. Louis. They offer summer camps, horse training and boarding, trail rides, and lessons. I took Western riding lessons here when I was kid and loved it! The trails are nice, too, but very wooded most of the way. Be sure to wear pants and spray yourself for bugs. A one-hour trail ride with 3 or more riders is $35, $50 for a private one-hour lesson, and $35 for a group lesson. You'll not only learn how to ride, but how to groom, saddle, and bridle your horse. This is an ideal place for kids who love horses and dream about being little cowboys and cowgirls. They offer "little britches" lessons for kids ages 3-5 for only $30 per half hour. read more

Valley Mount Ranch - From website. - Horse Boarding Near Me - Fenton, Missouri

I have so many mixed feelings about Valley Mount Ranch. On one hand, it'll always have a special place in my heart because it was the place I learned to ride, and the place where I met Sunny (and our first horses are always special). I first came to VMR in the 5th grade where I took a summer camp, and I absolutely loved it. When I took lessons later, Sheila and Cindy gave me the opportunity to ride for free in exchange for work that summer. I had a blast, as there were plenty of other kids my age to ride with. It was a horse lover's dream! Horses who need medical treatment are treated immediately and without question. You won't find better or easier access to trails anywhere this close to Saint Louis, either, and the prices at VMR are very affordable. A lot of people board here, so it's always easy to find someone to ride with. Sheila and Cindy are very straightforward. If you're looking for warm fuzzies, this isn't the place for you. Their method of doing business is no nonsense and direct. This isn't really a pro or a con, per say, but something to take into consideration when you're looking for a specific kind of barn atmosphere. Now, for the negatives. The grain they use is crap. There is really no nice way to put it. It's mostly cracked corn sweet feed, and it gets poured into a silo from a truck, dumped into a wheelbarrow, and then left out to sit under a tarp. There are flies buzzing around the horse feed all day, and I can't count how many times I picked dead bugs out of the feed when I was working there as a kid. If you're going to board your horse here, I recommend investing in your own feed. The hay they feed is alright. Horses are turned out on a steep hill, which levels out into plenty of roaming space above the barn area. It provides good exercise for the horses, and the horses get hay thrown to them in the mornings and the evenings. What I don't like is the method in which horses get turned in and turned out: They come stampeding in for their breakfast and dinner, and jostle each other in the feeding area behind the stables to cram into individual chutes (think the size of a racehorse starting gate) to get to their food. The pasture horses get minimal accommodations for dietary needs. They'll get their medications and their supplements, but every horse generally gets a scoop of grain in the morning, and the same in the afternoon. We were sometimes instructed to feed more or take some grain away, but apart from that, everyone got the same meal. Older horses got Purina senior feed (this might have changed). Stalled horses tend to get more individualized care. Did I mention that the grain is crap? There are, technically, three places to ride on property: A covered arena, a competition arena, and a field pasture. When I last rode at VMR (about a year ago), only the competition arena was consistently available. There were always horses turned out in the covered arena, locked up so no one could use it. Sheila and Cindy also frequently turn the horses out to pasture on the grass field, so there's no riding there, either. The last few times I have driven by VMR on my way to Murphy Stables (where I boarded my horse), there haven't been horses in pasture, so this might have changed as well. Thankfully, the trails are always an option. The bottom line is this: -- Sheila and Cindy know how to help you with any horse problem you approach them with as long as you're okay with smacking your horse. If not, they don't really have much to teach you. -- BYOG (Bring Your Own Grain) --BYOF (Bring Your Own Farrier; A farrier who doesn't care if the owner is there to see them shoe their horse is not a farrier you want to have!) -- Pay a little extra for a box stall option, and save your horse from doing the Valley Mount Shuffle when it's time to go eat. read more

Sheila and one of the older gentleman there were extremely rude and dismissive of my friend and I when we came out to ask questions about boarding. I have boarded from the tip of Florida to mid-Illinois and have never been treated so poorly. They will never have my business and I will be sure to warn people away from scheduling trail rides from their facility. I don't care how many years you have been established, that is no reason to dismiss a potential customer. After all, if they treat ME like that, I don't want to know how they would treat my horse. read more

It has been a few months since I brought my horse, Tank, here so I am writing an update. This place is still as fantastic as it was in my first review. Tank is SO HEALTHY and happy now. They take such good care of him and every single horse that is there - and they have a TON of horses. I really, really suggest this boarding facility. End of story. read more

I've boarded horses at several barns. At Valley Mount Ranch, my horse gets the best care. I don't worry about him--I know Sheila and Cindy watch over him to make sure he is healthy and happy. And they have access to the best trails around! I don't have to trailer to get many miles of varied terrain on well kept trails. read more

My girls have been going to their horse camp two summers in a row. The first summer they went to two sessions in that summer since they had so much fun. They have had a great time each year. They come away with smiles each day. The staff are great to work with and very helpful. My girls can't wait to go back next year. read more

Great place. Sheila and Cindy know how to handle and care for horses. They give great trail rides and take excellent care of the horses boarded there. read more

I did a one hour trail ride today with my 2 sisters and mom. It was a great experience. I've never ridden a horse and they prepared me pretty well for the ride. I rode Buzz and my sister rode Tank and my mom had Harley. The horses were very gentle and listened well. They each had their own personality which made it a lot of fun. Sheila and Libby went on the trail ride with us and helped us along the way. Libby was very pleasant and answered all of my questions. I recommend wearing jeans and a tank top during hot seasons with sunscreen and a hat/sunglasses. The trail was beautiful and tranquil. If i could change one thing it would be more direction before we actually got on to the horse. Once we were actually on the horse we got direction so I was initially confused. One older lady in the office was a bit impolite and couldn't find our name on the list and accused us of booking a trail ride with Kraus Farms instead of Valley Mount Ranch but she eventually found our name in the book. Overall a very pleasant experience and i would definitely recommend booking a trail ride to friends. read more

Valley Mount Ranch is a unique place. I have been trying for the last two months to reach Valley Mount Ranch and had to call them three times (within a two week period) to even get a response from them. After two more emails, I finally got a "tell me about your riding experience and lets schedule a lesson" email in which I had to wait another week for a response. The staff there is busy, so just be prepared to wait for responses and plan ahead. If you are persistent, however, you will receive what you are looking for and they are very helpful after you "get in the door" so to speak. The staff is friendly at times and very knowledgeable about all things horses and offers nearly everything you need in regards to your horse and lessons. read more

I have boarded horses at Valley Mount for over 9 years. One of the most important considerations when finding a place to board a horse is the experience, longevity and dedication of the owners. You find Valley Mount to be rich in all those areas. Horses are well cared for and are in great shape living outdoors where they naturally belong. The facilities are great and sit next to Forest 44, 1100 acres of horse trails maintained by the state conservation department. You can cross under Highway 44 and acess the Chub Trail. Barrel racing, roping and mounted shooting events are regularly held at the Ranch. It's a great place for kids and adults for learning how to ride and care for horses. This summer will be my granddaughter's 4th year at horse summer camp. read more

Always friendly and focused on building a safe relationship between horse and rider. You won't find better or more honest folks. Having boarded at VMR for more than a decade they are the only other people I trust besides myself to care for my horses. read more

I scouted out Valley Mount for pasture board for my arthritic 20 year old gelding after a disappointing visit to Kraus Farms next door, thinking it couldn't get any worse. Boy, was I wrong. The woman I spoke to wouldn't let me see the pasture (red flag #1). Then she told me that all the horses are run en masse into metal slat stalls each morning for grain, which isn't measured or monitored to see who's getting what. I didn't see it happen in person, but one can imagine the kicking, fighting free-for-all. Not a good situation unless your horse is an alpha or a youngster who can take the abuse. (red flag #2) "You'll never have to catch your horse at Valley Mount," said the woman proudly, explaining that if I wanted to see my horse on any given day, I'd have to call before noon, and then he would be left in a stall after the morning free-for-all, waiting for me until I came out. What happens if you don't call before noon? Well, you don't see your horse, even though you're the one paying to keep him there. "So it's like he's in jail?" I joked, aghast. (red flag #3) The woman was not amused. But hey, neither was I--maybe I'm old fashioned, but I think that if I'm paying several hundred a month to keep my horse somewhere, I should have free access to him, be able to see where he's being kept, and know the horses he's being kept with. Like Kraus, this place might've been nice 60+ years ago, but it's not for anyone who's serious about their horse's safety and standard of care. read more