Looking for barn recommendations in the St. Louis area, most likely the west side.
1 Like
Any specific wants/ needs? More interested in the training/ lessening or open to a great boarding barn that allows outside trainers? How far west?
Debbie Hubbard is pretty much the only trainer I want to work with for dressage, though the Marshall Show Stables (Moro, IL) is fantastic and I’ve heard good things about their dressage trainer but have not worked with her. Debbie doesn’t board anymore but does travel pretty much all over the STL area (I have a friend with 2 horses in part training with her at a beautiful boarding barn near Wright City, one horse is doing second and the other is doing fourth and I believe is going to do PSG with trainer this year).
1 Like
Yeah, what exactly are you looking for? There are some “fancy” barns out t
here that have super sketchy care.
2 Likes
Actually, we will be on the south east side of St. Louis. I am looking for quality care, turn out, and indoor and outdoor. Reasonably price I have 3 that will be boarding. A dressage trainer on site would be ideal, but can work around that.
For south East (ish? I’m a little directionally challenged), I highly recommend Byrnes Mill Stables. They had a few different stall options when I was there (small, larger, window, no window, and a few with private run outs). Good sized outdoor, smaller but workable indoor. Fed good hay (IIRC it’s grown on property?), and horses have grass turnout spring to fall. Horses got turned out 12ish hours a day and they were easy to work with for my horse’s special diet. Trailer parking available. Very tidy but not overly fancy. At the time (not sure if this is still the case), there was no dedicated trainer there but they allowed trainers to come in and give lessons.
Not sure where about you’ll be or how much they cost but I’ve been to Moon Valley Sport Horses a few times and the facility is lovely and the care seems excellent. I know they have tons of lush grass, large matted stalls (I think all have some sort of run attached), a beautiful indoor, and a large outdoor as well.
I would avoid Kraus Farms and Valley Mount Ranch, which may seem appealing with their proximity/ facilities/ potentially pricing. They are both in a flood zone (evacuated several times over the years) and are over crowded with subpar care (like empty water buckets in summer or no hay for periods of time).
3 Likes
Thanks so much
In Wildwood, down along Wild Horse Creek Road, there are a bunch of stables and proximity to Babler State Park for trail riding. I used to have a small farm in Labadie and was always enamored driving along that road…it’s really pretty down there (or at least it was 20 yrs ago)
oh sorry…just read SouthEast. (Wildwood is west of StL)
We have a small boarding facility in the South East, but don’t have an indoor so we don’t meet your needs (and we’re full right now) BUT if you’d consider the Illinois side, Oak Ridge Farm Equestrian is owned by a friend of mine who is a fabulous jumper trainer (but knows her dressage) and the care is superb. Traiteurville & Double Take also have good reviews, although I’m not sure what their facilities are like as I haven’t visited them directly, just have friends who board there. Rock Creek Stables is another with decent care, but it’s primarily a saddlebred barn so there might be a few things that you might find objectionable, but the owner is a lovely person and really cares about the horses.
In terms of actual dressage barns, Quarter Line is lovely and works well if you have a traditional breed for dressage - I do believe she allows for straight boarding, but she may require lessons. I hear good things about Xanadu, but they are a bit of a hike.
Anyway, I echo the warnings about Krause & Valley Mount, and add Sugar Creek to the warning list - they just had a barn fire from a known electrical issue and horses died. St Louis Equestrian Center also seems to be a revolving door of issues, and every once in awhile the owner wants to raise prices drastically and kicks everyone out.
Good care in straight boarding is difficult to find in the area in general - I had to buy a barn in order to have the kind of care I want for my horses and not be in a mandatory training program.
2 Likes
Oh yes I second Rock Creek and Oak Ridge! I have boarded at Rock Creek and the owner is indeed a wonderful person who takes excellent care of the horses. I haven’t boarded at Oak Ridge, but have been to the facility which is beautiful. They only have a covered arena, I believe, not a true indoor and not a true outdoor but it is plenty big. They also seem to have grass turnout, if that is important.
I also second the buying my own farm to get the care I wanted without being in full training (and honestly even then). The care I want/ provide for my horses is nothing over the top (IMO) but it was impossible to find “on the retail market”. My horses are out 24/7, barring lightening or ice. When they are in they have matted true 12x12 stalls with fans in the summer. They get 100% free choice hay and get grained separately. I wasn’t able to find any barn that was set up to do that sort of care, except Rock Creek who really did as close to that as possible.
1 Like
Thanks everyone, I am adding the notes to my list. I should know in the next few weeks if the move is going to happen.
I boarded at a barn in Wildwood many moons ago. I cannot remember the name but they raised Trakheners and produced a dressage magazine. It was a beautiful place and Rosey did enjoy it.
