H/J Show Barns IL

[itoldyouso]

Hi all,

I am looking to move myself and horse to a new barn in the west/ northern suburbs outside of Chicago. I know some of the big farms/trainers such as Canterbury, Our Day, Brookwood etc. I was wondering for thoughts/insights/recommendations/general price range etc. I would like a trainer that can really develop my riding and my green horse. My horse and I really need a program and some organization. I prefer to not have full care, but this may be unavoidable. My goal is to show at A and AA, hopefully qualify for indoors, Devon. Also, good horse care, daily turnouts, and a nice facility.

Thanks!

[chunky_munky]

Russell Frey is training in Chicago. Find him.

[MorganJumper848]

Price range wise: your looking at anywhere from 1500-3k a month. Most facilities around here require full service. Finding turnout isn’t easy. Most will offer 2-4hrs a day.
Happenstance and hidden knoll are very nice. It’s going to take a lot of shopping around.

[huntr_eq_blonde]

The problem is that most of these barns that have top trainers…and I can count on one hand the number of that are ACUTAL top trainers…is that they all go down to Wellington for the entire winter, so you are out of luck training wise from late November to beginning of April.

Everything is full service. You are looking at a minimum of $2000-$3500 for barns in Northern Illinois and the suburbs. Unfortunately, we live in an area whose wealth is on par with Westchester County, NY.

Over the past 15 years, I’ve ridden at countless barns, trying to find an instructor that knows what they are doing. It’s almost mission impossible. And when I do lease horses, the board is a killer. (I like bonding time with my horse–grooming and tacking up, etc.) A lot of barns are pretty “dingy,” and they still charge $875-$1300 for a dank and unheated indoor.

If you want a rundown of facilities and the three trainers that I would recommend for you, PM me. They are extremely well-known across the nation and actually have a foundation in gasp flatwork and lower level dressage.

[itoldyouso]

Thank for the input. I have no problem with going to FL, I’m actually going to Ocala for a few weeks. But yes I need someone who knows what they are doing, no gimmicks. My main goal is someone who really dots their I’s and crosses their T’s…

[Lilykoi]

You might try Celebration Farm in Mettawa (Libertyville/Lake Forest area)
Easy to get to, right off the tollway. Amy and Kate do a nice job. They do not go to Florida. They do the Ledges shows over the winter and then travel a fair amount for spring and summer shows. You can skip full service if you like, its not required.
www.celebrationfarms.com
PM me if you need more info

[Resilient]

Another vote for Happenstance Farm. Vanessa is great, the turnout there is unbeatable, and it’s not ridiculously expensive (compared to other places).

[huntr_eq_blonde]

Got your PM and responded.

[abrant]

I think there is a poster here is a little oddly jaded about the IL H/J scene. I am from Iowa but lived in the NW Suburbs after college for a few years.

I can’t give you any specific recommendations but I can tell you that the IL H/J world is not a scary terrible place. There are a lot of great programs for all price ranges/goals. I’m certain you’ll find a great fit.

I actually wish I was able to do the more than occasional lesson out there. Lesson prices are actually cheaper than Iowa and the knowledge base/school horses are on a totally different level.

Good luck!

[huntr_eq_blonde]

@abrant;7976295

I think there is a poster here is a little oddly jaded about the IL H/J scene. I am from Iowa but lived in the NW Suburbs after college for a few years.

I can’t give you any specific recommendations but I can tell you that the IL H/J world is not a scary terrible place. There are a lot of great programs for all price ranges/goals. I’m certain you’ll find a great fit.

I actually wish I was able to do the more than occasional lesson out there. Lesson prices are actually cheaper than Iowa and the knowledge base/school horses are on a totally different level.

Seeming as I sense you are talking about me, let me remind you that I’ve been here 15+ years vs. your couple of years. Not being jaded. I’m being real.

School horses don’t jump above 2’0…ANYWHERE. That’s a fact. Yes, there are some rare gems, but most are one hoof in the glue factory.

And since I’ve ridden, boarded, or called for boarding info for my horse, I can tell you with absolute authority that my prices that I mentioned are correct.

Lessons are usually $50-$55/30 minutes for a “trainer.” Hell, anyone can be a “trainer” or “professional.” There are no qualifications like there are in Europe.

[Inese]

[QUOTE=huntr_eq_blonde;7976805]
School horses don’t jump above 2’0…ANYWHERE. That’s a fact.

And since I’ve ridden, boarded, or called for boarding info for my horse, I can tell you with absolute authority that my prices that I mentioned are correct. [/QUOTE]

You are mistaken about the limited jumping with school horses, and your pricing estimates.

School horses jumping 2’6" in shows:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203807423204635&set=t.1248048719&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=534771939893269&set=t.100000420674933&type=3&theater

Clinic photo - school horse jumping 2’11"
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10205713615740150&set=t.100000420674933&type=3&theater

See www.crosswindsfarm.net for lesson prices = $35 per 30 minutes. Board is $475 per month, but lessons/training rides are required at additional cost (must be part of the program).

Owner/trainer has over 20 years of experience as a farm owner and H/J trainer. Diane Carney judges and gives clinics at Cross Winds Farm Hunter Derbies.

Not an A or AA barn though… if that is the only thing that is important, then this barn is not the right fit.

[abrant]

Crosswinds is an amazing program! I sold an OTTB to a student in their program and it was a pleasure to work with them. They are very highly regarded among the A level horsemen as well. I’ve always heard nothing but praise.

I don’t mind staying under 2’ on a school horse because I know how important a school horse is and no reputable instructor is going to break down the cornerstone of their living so I can jump higher. If I want to jump higher I can pay to play on my own horse, but I’ve certainly never ran out of things to learn

Prices I’ve paid in the area:

$55/45 minutes with a BNT (leaving out the details to protect the innocent but really a proven horsewoman)

$40/45 minutes on a school horse with someone who has made more progress with my equitation in 3 sporatic lessons than I would have thought possible. She actually ocassionally posts on my Facebook with encouragement and exercises - a TRUE class act!!

By comparison in Iowa, expect to pay $55-75/45 minutes on your own horse.

As an aside, my horse’s half sister (same dam) is a school horse and shows the A and B circuit with students. I refuse to believe this is a rare occurrence. I can’t imagine its cheap to do so - but no one ever said this sport would be cheap. A horse that can complete at that level and teach is nearly unreplacable. (Fun fact is I sold the mare dirt cheap because she just wasn’t big or fancy enough fresh off the track for most buyers, I 110% respect the 2 well regarded pros who saw her value).

OP - sorry this thread has been hyjacked - good luck again in your search

[showy]

If youre actually serious about A/AA shows, devon, indoors… Alex Jayne or Diane Carney are the only two trainers from there consistently going to those shows with clients. Both are great with young horses. Highly recommend both of them
http://www.ourdayfarm.com/
http://www.telluridefarm.com/

[chicagojumper]

[QUOTE=huntr_eq_blonde;7976805]
Seeming as I sense you are talking about me, let me remind you that I’ve been here 15+ years vs. your couple of years. Not being jaded. I’m being real.

School horses don’t jump above 2’0…ANYWHERE. That’s a fact. Yes, there are some rare gems, but most are one hoof in the glue factory.

And since I’ve ridden, boarded, or called for boarding info for my horse, I can tell you with absolute authority that my prices that I mentioned are correct.

Lessons are usually $50-$55/30 minutes for a “trainer.” Hell, anyone can be a “trainer” or “professional.” There are no qualifications like there are in Europe.[/QUOTE]

I’ve been riding in the Chicagoland h/j scene for over 20 years and this is plain and simply incorrect. There IS a variety of price ranges with a lot of quality programs that DON’T require full service or training and that do have great school and lease horses. I currently am horse less and routinely jump 3’0+ on our sale and program horses. We have boarders ranging from casual pleasure to A-circuit campaigners that go to all big eq finals and WEF every year. Our board is under 1K and we have several phenomenal trainers. I would agree with abrant’s assessment that you sound jaded, fwiw.

The Chicagoland horse scene is great due to the variety of barns and trainers available. There’s something for everyone here.

[cuse]

My barn is another example of a Chicagoland H/J barn with great training, 24/7 turnout and awesome lesson horses, all of whom are willing and able to jump up to 3’ in lessons with advanced riders. We don’t go to A shows, so probably not what the OP is looking for, but I’ll join those who say that Chicagoland is not a barren wasteland for decent H/J barns.

[FineAlready]

Just chiming in to say that I was horseless in Chicago for about a year, and routinely jumped 3’-3’6" on sales horses at the barn where I rode. So, no, the 2’ limit is not accurate.

[yellowbritches]

At first this thread was helping quell my bi-annually move to Chicago fever. Now it’s only making it worse. You all are supposed to tell me it is absolutely horrible.

[snaffle635]

[QUOTE=yellowbritches;7987394]
At first this thread was helping quell my bi-annually move to Chicago fever. Now it’s only making it worse. You all are supposed to tell me it is absolutely horrible. ;)[/QUOTE]

We are getting 10-14" of snow tonight. Does that help?

[yellowbritches]

[QUOTE=snaffle635;7987440]
We are getting 10-14" of snow tonight. Does that help? ;-)[/QUOTE]
Yes and no. I’m a very conflicted soul about it, but winter is a huge reason why it hasn’t happened yet!

[huntr_eq_blonde]

[QUOTE=FineAlready;7987278]
Just chiming in to say that I was horseless in Chicago for about a year, and routinely jumped 3’-3’6" on sales horses at the barn where I rode. So, no, the 2’ limit is not accurate.[/QUOTE]

Then you have found the unicorn, the four leaf clover, the jackpot at the end of the rainbow.

Only one barn that I rode continuously rotating sales horses (some of them extremely bad) at where I could jump 3’-4’.

Would you mind PM me where this barn is, as I may find myself horseless in between leases. I’d appreciate it.