Palos Hills Riding Stables

My daughter had 10 lessons, and went a week at summer camp here. Originally, I was impressed with how nice the horses look. I’ve no doubt they are well maintained and taken care of well.
Your child cannot move up in classes, until they have learned to post mount at the satisfaction of the instructor. That seemed legit to me.
But they put all the groupon people in all the beginner classes mixed with people who paid full price for potential serious riders. It’s like glorified pony rides when they have 18 horses in a small arena. They said they try to cap it at 10, but they never seemed to turn down walk-​ins with a groupon. Some classes never made it to trotting because the horses were irritable from being ridden for several hours straight with people who’ve never ridden before. So trying to advance in a class that isn’t giving the opportunity to practice what they need to advance is a waste.
If you’re serious about riding, they try to encourage you to buy semi private lessons for the same price as beginner lessons, but with half the time — instead of making a class for regulars and a separate class for groupon people.
I had purchased a package and asked if I could switch the purchased lessons for semi private. I was told there is usually an up charge. I felt it might be worth it and left a message for the person who had to approve it, 3 separate times. Someone finally left me a voicemail after 3 weeks of leaving notes and calling. When I called back, 30 mins later, there was no answer. I left several messages with no response or a full mail box. It was near impossible to call the stable at any given time and actually get someone to pick up… Even during hours they told me someone would be there — And if they did, half the time the beginner group lessons were full.
The teacher’s are also the receptionists, and when groupon people would show up late they had, on several occasions, started the class 10 – 20 mins late without making up the time because they were checking them in or waiting to saddle another horse for the tardy person.
They have «helpers» who basically walk next to some of the horses … Like a pony ride… Instead of teaching the rider how to control the horse.
Due to the amount of people in a class, and especially one-​timers, there is very little attention paid to correcting any students poor form.
If you are just beginning and serious, this place is a cash cow. It might be a better place if you have your own horse and are already intermediate, or feel bored and want to sit on a horse. If you do go because you’re bored, buy the groupon — it’s definitely a better deal.
Oh, you have to wear a helmet and they charge you to rent one.
We switched stables and the instruction is so much more specific where we are now. In the first lesson my daughters posture, posting, and control improved better than it has after 3 months at PHRS. They also have her groom, saddle, and bridle (which they don’t let beginner classes do at PHRS).
It just seems like they are more interested in a quick buck, than molding newbies into real riders.
The only reason I gave this 2 stars instead of 1 is because the teachers were very nice people. My daughter was fond of several people who worked there. Unfortunately, she wasn’t making progress and nice only gets you so far.

READ THE FILTERED REVIEWS before you make a decision. I’ve been riding at PHRS for six years and bought my horse there. He gets top notch care from the staff and I never have to worry about whether he’s fed or if his stall is cleaned.
The trainers there are also good. They listen to your goals and try to help you achieve them. For show riders they emphasize that winning isn’t everything, it’s about good sportsmanship and having your best ride. That attitude has created a barn full of supportive riders. School shows are held four times a year, and many of the classes are held in the outdoor arena if the weather is nice. I enjoy the wide variety of classes that are available. There’s always a chance to try something new.
This is a barn that is steeped in tradition. When they say it’s a family affair they truly mean it. The staff and riders do their best to make everyone feel like family. Don’t base your opinions off of a few unflitered reviews when there are tons of positive reviews that didn’t make it past Unilocal’s ridiculous system!
When in doubt, go out there and see for yourself.

I started taking lessons here a couple of months ago and couldn’t be happier. I am an adult returning to riding and have found the instructor to be knowledgeable, patient, encouraging and informative. I could not ask for more. There are horses there for riders at every level and they really try to match you up and challenge you safely. I have not seen any safety issues or cleanliness issues that other writers have discussed here. This is a great place to learn or re-​discover riding at any level.

I rode at PHRS (also known as «New Traditions Riding Academy») for 7 years. Let me say, I had an IDEA of how bad it was over the years while I was there, but it really took leaving that barn and going to a respectable institution to understand how run down and poorly run that place really was.
I started off as a lesson rider there. The beginner lessons were much akin to a demo derby, where you’re desperately trying to get out of someone else’s way so you don’t get smashed into a wall. However it doesn’t take much «skill» to advance into the intermediate class, where there is significantly less «bumper horse» going on. However, skill level then increases at a snail’s pace unless private lessons are taken, which seems to be the whole goal of the establishment because private lessons = $$. Advanced group lessons? Not allowed in, unless you regularly ride private lessons with a trainer and/​or have your own horse. Please note though, that no matter WHAT level rider you are, there will be a lot of pressure to compete in the schooling shows. Truly, the entire time I was there I felt like there was massive pressure to show, buy a horse, then show some more, regardless of whether my horse or I was ready for the show ring.
Shows there are another dangerous enterprise. No matter how nice the weather is, shows take place in the indoor area. In the 5 years I showed in the open ranks, students were always inside and there was ONE show in the outdoor. The indoor area is an extremely dangerous area for showing as well, mostly due to the sheer amount of horses for such a tiny riding space. I have many memories of the judge jumping out of the way to avoid getting hit by a stray horse. My own horse had her tail ripped out by another horse following too closely, a common occurrence in the Palos arena.
Boarding there is, however, in my opinion, the least appealing part of that barn. The stalls (especially those for the «non-​show» horses) are extremely small, and often in disrepair. I would regularly find broken boards in my stall, with rusty nails sticking out. On a more disgusting note, I also, on two separate occasions, found a dead mouse floating in my horse’s water bowl. That’s when she actually HAD water. During the weekends, the automatic water feeders are turned off at 5pm, so the horses are denied of water until morning (any horse owner knows that this can lead to colic, and sadly, my best friend’s horse succumbed to colic at PHRS; moldy hay was also suspect due to a number of horses colicking at the same time, with one more death). In the winter, when water buckets are provided, they’re often frozen though, requiring that the owner either break the ice or bring gallons of hot water to pour in. The barns the horses are housed in are also a SEVERE safety issue. The barns themselves are wooden, and hay is kept above the horses. EXTREME FIRE HAZARD! Hay can spontaneously combust, cigarettes can be flicked, etc. A barn in Crown Point, Indiana (about 60 min away) burned down due to such a design, killing all of the horses inside. Also beware of BUYING a horse from this barn. I bought my horse there and was blessed to have a horse in good health, but I have heard of a girl buying a horse with a previously fractured leg, which was not disclosed until months AFTER the sale. Although my horse was healthy, there were certain problems with her «legality,» a fact I found out about 10 years later through my own research. I was given a story about why her papers were unavailable, but at the time was too young to realize no papers often equals ILLEGAL MEANS. I have been told since that my horse was not the only horse sold in this manner as well.
So, ride or board here at your own risk. The owner is a charmer, and really makes you believe that she’s there for you and your horse. HA. After being at a few barns in the area and speaking to friends who have tried others, I’d recommend boarding at Kopping Farms or looking outside the Palos Hills area.

I am still trying to recover from my horrifying visit to this stable. My daughter has been riding for a year, but we have just moved and needed to find a new stable. This was the most unprofessional stable I have ever had the misfortune to step into. There was a camp going on that day and the tragic incompetence was on full view: 1. the children were not wearing helmets, 2. none of them had proper foot or seat position but were allowed to trot anyway, 3. they actually encouraged the horses to ride nose to tail. All of these can result in serious accidents and injuries. The «instructor» was in such poor shape that she would not be able to run to grab a horse’s bridle if she needed to get control of it. I am actually shocked that this place is even allowed to be in business!!!

If your looking for good training in a clean barn this is above acceptable for that. Everything is clean and organized. The people there are very nice and welcoming to anyone new. There are many saddle-​bread classes as there are horses. The barn is a decent size and there are two arenas. One indoor and there is another outdoor which is bigger. They have four shows a year held there which is one for every season. My daughters riding has improved very much as soon as she started to go here. Even though they’re not a barn that does a lot of jumping there is a jumping class that is very good. This barn is the best I’ve seen and I would never think of going anywhere else.

I’m not sure I’ve been to the same stable as the previous reviewers.
The barn smells like a barn. (Porta potties and dead rodents? Didn’t whiff that when I’ve been there).
If you’re interested in the discipline of Saddle Seat riding, with primarily Saddlebred horses, you will find no finer instructors in the Chicago-​land area. I vehemently disagree that the instructors simply repeat themselves and don’t really teach. My riding has improved 150% in the months I’ve been there, as has my confidence, knowledge, and general horsemanship. If you’re looking for a hunter-​jumper discipline, dressage, etc. then no, this is probably not the school for you.
The stalls and condition of the barn are more than acceptable. The stable has a full-​time crew attending to the school and boarder horses. The stalls are not too small, nor are they dark. I simply don’t know where that comment is coming from. The school horses are groomed before every ride. It’s part of the deal with the students: you have to learn to groom and tack your own horse, which is part of good horsemanship. And the school tack is school tack. No, it’s not brand new and gets a lot of use, but it’s school tack. It is cleaned regularly, in good condition, and serviceable.
It’s truly a disservice to call this academy «unsafe», as nothing could be further from the truth. Students are taught correct stall and ring etiquette and proper safety techniques from day one. I have never felt «unsafe» at Palos Hills Riding Stables.
Bottom line is this: The instructors are dedicated horsemen/​women each with an average of 20+ years of experience. Champion show riders have come out of this academy. The horses in their school barn live long, happy lives, and many of the school horses there today are the sons and daughters of champion Saddlebreds from a generation or two ago. Many of the boarders have been keeping their horses there for more than 20 years. It’s 3^rd-​generation owned family barn, run by people who know their stuff.
I’d whole-​heartedly reccomend this stable to anyone looking to hone their skills.

Again, I would have to totally disagree. No arena should be that small, it’s not safe. I rode there for awhile and if you look at other barns, (which I have) you’ll never go back. Sure all barns smell but not like this.
Instructors just repeat themselves and don’t really teach. They also don’t always teach you the correct way, and friends that have moved to other barns have told me that they have also had to «re-​learn» technique.
The tack is horrible and should be cleaned and taken care of. It doesn’t seem like the clean it regulary.
Their stalls are VERY small for what a horse needs. It’s also VERY dark where the stalls are located (no sunlight). The horses (especially the school horses), should be GROOMED more often.
I think you can spend you money somewhere else, somewhere you can actually feel safe in and learn something and where the animals are happy.