Looking for recommendations: Eventing barn for lessons/leasing near Chicago suburbs

[VanessaN]

Hello! I recently relocated back to the Chicagoland western suburbs (Naperville area) after living in NYC for the past 15+ years where I had been riding/training at a wonderful eventing barn in NJ. I am hoping to recreate/find that same experience out here.

I am looking for recommendations for a nice, small, adult focused barn that offers private/semi-private lessons and possible lease. Not interested in competing/showing but would love to do clinics as well as paces, hunts/hacks eventually.

I was accustomed to driving over an hour to get to a good barn out east and willing to do same here!

Thank you!
Vanessa

[pony_grandma]

There are some barns around Maple Park. Matt Trynoski is a major instructor in that area.

ETA: Oops I was thinking it was closer to Naperville. That whole area is a maze now. And a lot of places got pushed out.

[Lusoluv]

Versailles Equestrian is in Virgil, IL. Bernard Morauw is an excellent trainer. Kristen Rozycki is also good and she’s in Barrington.

[endlessclimb]

I have witnessed Kristin be abrasive in a non-productive manner to several of her clients. She wasn’t wrong with what she was saying, but even my thick skin bristled a bit. The clients were being dramatic, but in public probably wasn’t the place to do that. A talk behind the barn would have been more appropriate.

If that’s ok with you (g), or you aren’t the kind of client that would end up semi-needing a reaming at a show, then I think her training looked alright.

[VanessaN]

Thank you for the insight! I’m thick skinned as well but not looking for drama. Probably not interested in showing anymore. Am interested in clinics, hunts, paces & hacks. Would love to find my “tribe” out here if like minded/aged enthusiasts looking to continue and improve their riding.

[VanessaN]

It’s certainly an interesting mix out here. Not looking for the carousel type lesson program.

[jcc813]

Matt is an excellent trainer (if you can track him down lol) and Bernard is good as well. Different styles, but you’ll learn from both.

Edit: adding that neither of them have lesson horses so you’d have to arrange that yourself. I can share some more details if you want to DM me.

I recently heard some not positive things about Kristin though I don’t have any personal experience myself.

Wayne-Dupage Hunt Club sometimes allows guest cappers and hosts hunter derbies a couple times a year that anyone can join. I don’t know if Wayne Equestrian Center is still operating lesson programs–I think maybe not?

Unfortunately, from a horse/eventing perspective you’ve moved back at the wrong time. Sadly we’ve lost many eventing-focused barns. Many have been sold to H/Js with much higher board.

[albytb]

Wayne Equestrian Center does still do lessons but their location is out in Elgin! A lot of the ladies who hunt are over there. Definitely has the more relaxed vibe you’re looking for from the couple times I’ve been out there. Versailles is under a new name now but I believe Bernard still teaches out of the barn?

Johnson Equestrian Center (formerly Stanley Luke Farm) is now under more eventing focused ownership as well if you want an option that’s more “south”. They’re a very friendly option for leasing/shareboarding or just pure lessons.

[jcc813]

Correct. Versailles is now Compass and a HJ barn. I believe Bernard has been asked to find another place to teach out of after he returns from Florida in the spring.

[albytb]

Well that sucks. There’s very few places with actual xc jumps on property like that barn I’m moving on to just dressage but hate seeing the local scene dwindle

[VanessaN]

Any good dressage trainers/barns with indoor arenas?

[jherold]

The old Dunham Woods Farm is now Oak Lawn Farm I believe. From their facebook page it looks like the same low key fun family oriented barn that it was 30+ years ago. Wayne Dupage still hunts from there and there should still be awesome trails.

[jcc813]

I believe they’re keeping the XC course and you can still school there so at least there’s that. Hoping whoever buys Starline might consider keeping that an eventing barn but my expectations are low.

[jcc813]

FWIW Matt is also a great dressage instructor.

For strictly dressage, I know people who’ve been happy taking lessons from Michael Peters. He’ll travel but also has a barn, Harmony Hills, in Oswego.

[albytb]

Plenty of barns with good indoors but not sure about dressage trainers yet!! I heard good things about Paddock Hills from some ladies but I can’t recall the trainers name

[albytb]

I believe a h/j trainer is working out of there right now though. Still glad to see the barn in use!

[Carried_Away]

Heather McCarthy and Shelley Day are the trainers at Paddock Hills - I have a friend there who loves riding with Heather, although I’m pretty sure she’s in Wellington for the winter. I believe Brittany Burson is at Equestrian Events in Maple Park now.

In Barrington there’s Uulke Farm where Becca Vick teaches and rides - I board there and it’s heated with a really nice heated indoor - I’ve been happy with Becca’s training as well. My only gripe is limited turnout time in the winter but I’m finding that’s pretty much everywhere unfortunately

None of these options have lesson horses AFAIK but shareboard/leases might be available.

[Simsburyct1]

Erin and Kenny Deirks are oustanding to work with. If your looking for a more natural horsemanship approach Alyssa Engels is very good too !