Best barn in Chicago! I have the same story most adult riders do (and by ""adult"", I mean 30 years old) -- I started riding when I was 5 years old, rode through high school and stopped right before college. Almost 8 years later, I was working in the city and wanted to pick riding back up. My childhood trainer was no longer around, so I started looking for a new barn. I ended up traveling to the south side to a saddlebred barn, because that is all I could find near the city. The saddlebred barn was nice, but they weren't exactly trained in jumping, but I didn't care - it was nice just to be on a horse again. After a year at the saddlebred barn, I started my search again to find a hunter/jumper barn and I randomly found Freedom Woods. Not only is it 11 miles from my apartment in Lincoln Park, but its also conveniently located a few blocks from Old Orchard mall! So on my next visit to the mall, I stopped by to check out the barn. I was amazed - its beautiful, two large indoor arenas, a heated viewing area, huge outdoor arena, clean - nice bathrooms! I started taking lessons there about a year and a half ago with the owner, Ashleen. She is the most talented, knowledgeable trainer I have ever ridden with. She has already corrected a ton of my bad habits and I'm starting to feel more like the rider I was when I was 15. Ashleen pushes me but also makes us laugh every lesson. She has a great personality and you can tell her young students adore her and look up to her. I wish I would have started riding here when I was a kid - I would have been a much better rider now! The young adults that she's taught from the ground up are nothing short of amazing to watch.
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