Amethyst Performance Horses

On January 20, 2016 I paid $ 100 in advance to Lynne at Amethyst Performance Horses for four, one-​hour lessons for my six year old daughter. On this same day was the first scheduled lesson for my daughter. The lesson was 40 minutes in total, which included brushing and putting tack on and off. The time my daughter spent in the arena consisted of her being walked around by a woman that complained the entire time about her legs being tired. Lynne, stood there the entire lesson and talked a ream of stuff that had nothing to do with horses, riding lessons, or anything related. What she did discuss was her past relationship with her ex, how she was dumbfounded she was ever with him, how disgusting it was, a personal loss she encountered a year prior and was coming up on the anniversary of this event, how she doesn’t sleep and how she’d rather be at home in front of her pellet stove eating dinner. There was no instruction from Lynne or anyone else for a first-​time, six year old taking paid lessons; or many of the other riders in the group lesson. Simply here is a brush… now brush. Then, when my daughter was on the horse, as previously stated, she was simply walked around. No instruction or other guiding of what you would expect from a riding lesson from Lynne or the employee doing the walking. When the employee who was walking my daughter around had her adult son show up she tried pawning the walking off to him and he stood there with a disgusted look on his face, like he couldn’t believe he was asked to do that.
I sat on it for a few days and determined this was not a professional lesson and inappropriate and sent Lynne an email requesting she return the money I paid in advance. She has refused to return my money and stated she would like a do-​over and made excuses as to why certain things happened during the lesson; such as the lady that was complaining walking my daughter in circles… she said she immediately talked with this employee. Why would she allow this to take place, let alone during a first lesson; the first impression was ruined and Lynne had the opportunity to address this while we were there and didn’t. She didn’t reach out to me after the lesson to correct this, I had to email her. I responded and told her that since I had to address this and all the content it entailed, I wasn’t going back and didn’t feel comfortable doing so. I again asked her to return the money I paid in advance for lessons that had not even taken place. She said she doesn’t do refunds and that was it.
As I told Lynne, her business seems to only be about money. The right and professional thing to do would be to return the money. I should have read her reviews prior to arranging lessons, most of her online reviews express the same experiences.
Very disheartening as a single mom that has very little extra money to have this happen.
I will be happy to update this review should I receive my money back showing she did the professional and right thing.

I agree with all the all the bad reviews. My friend and I bought two riding lessons up front for our daughters (6 and 7) through Groupon. After about 3 weeks of texting/​calling to find a good day that worked for Lynne, turns out it was another instructor. After our first lesson we scheduled the next one and and Lynne cancelled the lessons TWICE the day of, once an hour before the lesson. We we asked for our money back she said she «doesn’t do refunds». She is obviously using Groupon to make quick money — this is a SCAM. Don’t do it.

Never ever coming back here again. The «instructor» spent the entire time going around in circles in the arena while talking on her cell phone and complaining about the customers calling her. She never returns phone calls and is very unfriendly. She tried to make a 60 minute lesson for my son a 25 minute lesson because she said kids don’t last very long. I wouldn’t recommend her to anyone and I will make sure Groupon and every review site is aware that she just wants the money and not to teach. If I could make this zero stars I most definitely would!

I adore horses and love people too! I never gave a one star review before, and I am sorry I have to. I bought the 4 riding lessons from Living Social and will never return to Amethyst after just one visit. I wasted $ 75.
The owner, a woman Lynne, is very unfriendly, and not helpful at all. From the phone call to having a problem getting in the gate Lynne was short and abrupt. I can’t believe she is in the business she is in. Horses are therapeutic but, my time there was anything but.
These were not lessons at all. She didn’t teach or instruct. There was a small arena and we were given the reigns and told to take our horses out there. When out there she came out there she grabbed a garden hose and was watering down the dirt for the 40 minutes we were there. Her only instructions was «keep your toes pointed up and heals down and to not grab the saddle or you will lose control of horse». We just went in circles for 40 minutes then, she said she was leaving and we could ride them for a bit longer if we wanted… What? Our lesson was suppose to be an hour long. She disappeared.
Upon bringing the horse in myself I had trouble finding her. There were tons of stalls, with many horses and when I did find her I asked her if the horses ever got a chance to walk trails. She hesitated and said occasionally. …
I noticed on some of the stalls the horses had been chewing on the wood a lot. They are not exercised properly! Horses chew wood when they are under-​stimulated or under-​exercised. Bordom. Being confined to a stall with nothing to do doesn’t allow the horse to fulfill many of their natural behaviors. These poor animals!
This woman is trying to generate money, and doesn’t show any concern or appreciation for the people that come, and doesn’t appear to exercise her horses enough. That is animal abusive! It’s like putting a person in a small room in front of a TV and taking them on a two block walk daily. WTF?
This «so called» lesson was depressing! I’d started riding 20 years ago and this place is just the worst.

We bought the Groupon for these lessons as a way to get my horse loving daughter on a horse at an affordable cost. The lessons consisted of her basically getting on the horse and going in circles in the arena while the instructor chatted on her cell phone the entire time. Giving guidance was not something we experienced. Teacher did come up for air long enough to try and get us to do the 4H program and lease a horse. We got the strong impression that the Groupon offered was not to teach but rather generate income from non regulars. Horses were nice and looked to be well cared for.