Looking for barn recommendations near Arlington Heights, IL that welcome dressage riders. While doing a search the majority of stables are H/J and you must be in their training program. Searching for a barn that allows a non-competing dressage rider with 12x12 stalls, indoor/outdoor, daily turn-out, excellent care, priced below $900/ month.
Anyone know of Shamrock Farm in Barrington?
Do you live in the area? Because driving from Grayslake to Barrington…:eek:
I have not boarded there personally, but my dressage trainer who I worship works out of Double W in Gurnee, IL, and she lives in Grayslake. I know quite a few people there, and they are all great!
Are you driving from Arlington Heights?
I teach at a barn in McHenry, pm me if you want details! I do think it’d be a bit of a drive from Arlington Heights though…
Try Sunflower Farms. 20 min north of Grayslake.
Large barn with 2 indoor dressage rings, 3 outdoor dressage rings, trails on the property, reasonable turnout, good care.
You don’t need to be in a training program, but they have several dressage trainers there if you’d like lessons, and they also allow outside trainers, as long as they’re insured.
There are h/j too, but they have their own rings and barns.
Arlington Heights is going to be tough. I board at Prairie Oaks in McHenry, which would be closer than the other burbs you listed to Arlington Heights, and it would be a good fit for you and is well below your price.
I used to live in Grayslake and didn’t like the options in that area. Lots of 10x10 stalls and eh turnout. I wound up keeping mine elsewhere.
PM me for details if you wish. http://www.prairie-oaks-farm.com
Have you looked in to KYB Dressage with Kim and Yvonne Barteau. Their boarding is going to be way more expensive than $900…everything in the Chicago suburbs, whether dressage or especially H/J, will run you anywhere from $2500-$5000/month. They are located in Maple Park. GP trainers.
45W015 Welter Road
Maple Park, IL 60151
847.809.4093
I ride with GP trainer Ken McGrath of McGrath Sporthorses in Wauconda. (He used to be head trainer and rider of the Tempel Lipizzans in N.IL) Though his barn is very small, not heated, nor is the indoor heated, so you will freeze 5 months out of the year, he is a very good, laid-back teacher. Boarding is $1300, which (IMO) is pricey for his facility.
Don’t ride with any H/J people. They wouldn’t know lateral work besides a leg yield if it smacked them in the face. That’s the unfortunate thing…H/J people around here have so much money, they just buy nice horses and don’t care about dressage fundamentals.
Another suggestion would be to try an eventing barn.
I’ve ridden at Sunflower and boarded there for H/J. Took a lesson with a dressage trainer as I was trying out a horse. By then, I was schooling 4th Level/PSG with a fantastic GP trainer at his own personal farm. The lady who I rode with at Sunflower completely contradicted everything that my regular dressage trainer had taught me.
Barn manager is horrible and a liar. They don’t allow outside trainers, even if they are insured. I had leased a jumper and the barn manager promised me twice that I could bring in my own trainer because the trainers for H/J they have are for old ladies who just WTC or little kids. I jump 1.20m. Wish I would’ve recorded the conversation between me and the barn owner. Wasted 3 months of not being able to take any lessons on my lease horse there.
Place is going under and is for sale. Don’t waste your time.
McHenry is a haul from Arlington Heights. Grayslake, too.
But take a look at Wedgewood Farm in Wauconda. They are an all discipline barn with a nice big indoor and a HUGE outdoor, and adjacent to a very large trail system. A few years ago board was $550, not sure what it is now but I would doubt it’s over $700.
I started at Wedgewood way back when it was in Wheeling, followed them up to the new location when they bought out Happy Trails but I moved barns before they built the new indoor.
I board at Stonehedge in Wisconsin, it might be a bit of a haul for you. I’m in Northbrook and it’s 45 minutes. It’s primarily an eventing barn though but there are some dressage only riders. You are not pressured into showing or taking lessons if you don’t want to. No pasture board option but 12X12 stalls and all day turnout. Board is within your budget. I’m not sure what others are talking about but I’ve never seen board (without training) reach $1200 unless you go into the Barrington area.
Bringing up baby-
They do allow outside dressage trainers at Sunflower if they’re insured. When I was there until very recently, my trainer was an outside trainer and would come there weekly for my lesson. Not sure what the status is for h/j trainers because it may be a little different requirement with the insurance of the farm.
As for going under - that’s not true. They’ve been trying to sell the place for many years, but they’ve been unsuccessful (there are a couple other farms in the area in the same boat - Fireside being one of them). The most recent development however, is that they were going to try to auction it off at the end of this month. However, last I heard, there was not enough interest, so it sounded like they were maybe calling off the auction. This is not official though.
The consensus seems to be that nothing will change and they will continue to exist for now. But there is a bit of uncertainty, which can be unsettling.
Phil May is a good guy and Sunflower is not going under.
You are incorrect.
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I’ve ridden at Sunflower and boarded there for H/J. Took a lesson with a dressage trainer as I was trying out a horse. By then, I was schooling 4th Level/PSG with a fantastic GP trainer at his own personal farm. The lady who I rode with at Sunflower completely contradicted everything that my regular dressage trainer had taught me.
Barn manager is horrible and a liar. They don’t allow outside trainers, even if they are insured. I had leased a jumper and the barn manager promised me twice that I could bring in my own trainer because the trainers for H/J they have are for old ladies who just WTC or little kids. I jump 1.20m. Wish I would’ve recorded the conversation between me and the barn owner. Wasted 3 months of not being able to take any lessons on my lease horse there.
Place is going under and is for sale. Don’t waste your time.[/QUOTE]
Sunflower is not “going under.” It has been on the market for some time and there is an auction coming up, but it is unlikely things will change there.
Your remarks about Sunflower’s Barn Manager are uncalled for and way off. He is a wonderful guy, and has got great staff working for him.
Almost all the barns mentioned I am familiar with. I used to live in the area but moved away about 15 years ago. I am thinking of re-locating back to the area.
Sunflower is a beautiful facility. But I was made aware of a possible auction and/or sale. This barn is quite a haul for me. I’m a 7 day a week boarder.
Wedgewood, omg, have not heard that name in years. I kept my very first horse there back in 1981. They were in Wheeling. And thanks to Terry that’s what developed my interest in warmbloods. Specifically Trakehners. I did not board there all that long though. I feel like I am walking down memory lane 
Stonehedge is lovely as well. I’ve known of the Dierks for years. I used to board at a small private eventing barn in Barrington Hills. That crowd was amazing! Had a blast going to watch them compete. Very talented riders! That (Stonehedge) would be quite a haul for me. I thought about Silverwood but that’s the same deal. Too far.
Townline in Mettawa is filled.
Ken McGrath, know him from years back. Haven’t seen him in years. He was always very kind to me. I remember a Trakehner stallion he rode or trained Koblenz. Beautiful! If he is still at the same farm in Wauconda I took some lessons many “moons” ago. I do have a trainer I work with that is in the Chicago area so I need a place that allows outside trainers. And Yes she is insured.
KYB dressage is way out of my price range. I’m sure their facility is outstanding.
I put this post out there because most every barn I’ve looked at or inquired was $900 and over. All the places I remember are either a housing development or they are H/J barns that don’t want us dressage riders. 
In other words if you are not in their training program and don’t jump… you are not welcome. But a H/J trainer did tell me that when her horse is retired and too lame to jump she plans to use him for dressage… NO COMMENT!! I had to bite my tongue
I thought perhaps there were smaller places that were less expensive but still of quality with excellent care. I’d be a great candidate for a smaller barn where perhaps the owner would like someone to do things like night check. Or help out with other small chores if needed. I’m am very responsible and reliable!
Thanks so much to everyone who has replied.
I do know of a private barn in Woodstock that has an opening coming up. It’s on the north side and might be a bit of a haul, but would be worth it as far as care goes. PM me if you are interested. Board is under $700/mo, outside trainers allowed, all disciplines welcome but most ride dressage. Trails available and all day turnout.
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Phil May is a good guy and Sunflower is not going under.[/QUOTE]
Phil May is a GREAT guy and manages that large and complex facility increadibly well.
And as for the jumper trainers there teaching only little kids and old ladies doing WTC lessons, that isn’t true either.
