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| - There is a reason this place runs non-stop Groupons. I don't know where to begin, I'm so horrified.
I see the business has moved farm locations again...from Pickering to King City and now to Whitchurch-Stouffville. 3 times in 2 years? Hmmmm...
The horses used for lessons are not trained school horses, so beware...they can be dangerous. The girl told me they are actually recent rescue horses, so some are a quite unpredictable. Parents, stay with your kids at all times if you are willing to risk taking them here.
Lessons (including kids' lessons) are not taught by certified instructors...this includes those running camps! Ask to see each one's teaching credentials prior to saddling up.
The staff are all volunteers, mostly kids, one of which told me they don't get paid, but are offered the ability to ride the horses as payment. They openingly complain about the owner to me and the other students.
The majority of horses are not used for lessons, so they use the same 3 or 4 horses and 2 ponies over and over. There are too many horses for the number of stalls in the stable, and the horses that aren't used for lessons are rarely groomed, if at all. Other animals that make up their self-proclaimed "mini petting zoo" (goats, pigs etc.) are kept in tiny pens and are NEVER let out. I am still contemplating calling the OSPCA and regret not taking photos/video.
The owner Rebecca is insanely disorganized and it's very difficult to schedule lessons. I called 4 times until I finally threatened to contact Groupon for a refund before she got back to me. I think she is certified to teach but I don't know how many lessons she actually teaches as I never saw her once. When I spoke with her on the phone, she sounded nuts...try calling and see what I mean.
They are constantly asking for "donations" to care for their animals, but are not a registered charity. I feel strongly that if you can't afford to properly care for your animals, stop taking in more! They "rescue" dogs, goats, pigs, chickens and of course, horses and then have the nerve to ask people for money to care for them?!!
My "instructor" told me the stable and riding ring they have are not heated, unlike the others on the facility (there are other riding schools there but are not associated with them). Hate to see what happens to the horses in the winter since there are more of them than there are stalls which remain empty most of the time so the upkeep is minimized. As a result, the barn is FREEZING without any body heat from the horses which normally keeps the temperature tolerable.
I guess this is a matter of "you get what you pay for". I only bought a couple lessons and am so glad I didn't sign up for more. This place costs significantly less than any other places (and there are plenty) in the area, which really says something. I Googled and found out they used to operate out of Pickering and moved to this location...the reviews about that location are 1-star also, so I was relieved to see I'm not the only one who wrote a review. I wish I'd done more homework. Check out their website and you'll even find the photos they used are all fake (compare when you visit the facility).
If you care about safety or how they treat the animals, AVOID! If you don't believe me, visit there and compare it to legitimate riding schools.
Scary.
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