Recommends

Stephanie N.

Joined 10 months ago

I have boarded at Tower Hill since June of 2007 and can say, very honestly, that I have always been happy there. My horse loves it as well! I truly haven't encountered the negative things that have been mentioned in some of these reviews. I know I read some mention of drama, but I've been there over five years and have managed to avoid any sort of barn drama. It isn't really that hard to do! ;)

In my experience with Tower Hill the staff are friendly and helpful, the trainers are good at their jobs, the horses are well cared for, and the grounds are maintained well. I love the addition of the two new outdoor arenas! The indoor can get a bit busy at times, but any larger barn with one indoor arena is going to run into that problem from time to time. It's certainly large enough to accomodate several horses at once. There is also plenty of room to ride around the farm, which I have done as much as possible this past summer because my horse loves it!

A few times in the past several years my horse has needed medical care and, due to my work schedule, I had to rely on the THS staff to help out. They always did a fantastic job and I feel they charge a very reasonable amount for extras like that.

It's really a great barn and my horse has absolutely thrived there. I moved there from a barn with very few turnout options, so THS was like a slice of horsey heaven for him! I would recommend this barn to anyone looking for a new boarding situation, as well as someone looking to join a lesson program.

cheyenne l.

Joined 8 months ago

i have heard lots of things about Tower Hill and none of it was good things. i myself was never a boarder there but i know one of the trainers who got fired and is banned from being on the property for stupid reasons...i also know past boarders who have nothing but negative things to say about it.

Recommends

Shiloh1793

Joined 2 years ago

Tower Hill Stables. There is NO other place to be.. Honestly, DO NOT listen to any of these people bashing Tower Hill. It's literally the best barn ever and has changed my life so drastically for the better that I will always be in debt to it.

Horses absolutely ADORE Tower Hill. It's practically horsie heaven. The pastures are amazing and all the trainers are so wise that they can work with every single horse.

I have more friends at Tower Hill than I do outside of it and while there's drama, if you don't get caught up in it and actually learn to mind your own business, it's fine. The people there are like family to me and once you come out of your shell a little bit, people will welcome you with open arms.

The barn is run like a well-oiled machine and say your horse has some sort of medical issue as mine has many, many times.. Tower Hill is so incredibly helpful and willing and the staff is so knowledgeable. My horse was deathly ill a few years ago and I swear to you, if it weren't for Tower Hill going that extra mile and helping us give him his medication, we probably would have lost him.

The people who are commenting bad things about Tower are the pathetically bitter people who left in a huff (for pretty much no reason) or left because of their psychotic nature.

And bring your kids for lessons!! I myself have taught before and I know for a fact that all the trainers are 1000% qualified to teach your child. And as someone commented above, if you child isn't making friends, all you have to do is stick them in a weekly group lesson. The people and kids at Tower Hill are very friendly.

Basically, bring your horse(s), family, children, whomever! to Tower Hill Stables because it is LITERALLY the best barn ever. I really don't know where I'd be now if it weren't for THS.

Doesn't Recommend

Amanda C.

Joined 1 year ago

Sad to see the change. I have boarded there for 5+ years. I thought this was going to be a forever home for my horse. Sadly, due to the recent changes to the facility the Owner and Manager are more focused on making it a better show arena than pleasing loyal boarders. There used to be much more space in the barn to be able to stay away from certain boarders, but now everyone is crammed together. Its making for a really hostel situation. There has been a recent change in staff members and I honestly don't trust any of them to do their job, let alone even be able to find one so I am able pay my board. I've noticed the horses always going out even when raining. I understand boarders always wanting their horses out, but now the pastures have hardly any grass... there's so much more to be said, and there are so many more unfortunate disappointments, but the THS I knew and loved is now gone.

Doesn't Recommend

Ann B.

Joined 1 year ago

Very rude people. We took our daughter who was nine years old at the time for riding lessons at this barn. For us it was a very uncomfortable experience. The employees who work in the office were not very welcoming and where you sit to watch the lessons the other people were not friendly either. I am pretty chatty and usually can strike up a conversation but not with the people here. Listening to the employees talk badly about customers made me realise they would talk that way about me also. My daughter didn't really make friends at her lessons and it seemed like they just wanted to sell us a horse. I will say that the property is nice, it is a long ways out but once you get there it is pretty. I would give it one and a half stars but it wont let me.

Doesn't Recommend

Linda C.

Joined 1 year ago

Nightmare.. Our horse was injected via syringe with a tranquilizer (left accessible in the owner's office) by a fourteen year old girl who walked right in and helped herself to it. She is one of two nasty girls (the other one is actually worse!) who have destroyed the atmosphere of this once nice little barn. Boarders and lessoners continue to leave and these two continue on their campaign, undeterred by managment. All barns have "mean girls" but in my quest for a new barn, I called almost forty, and virtually all of them knew the names of these two, based on others who have left because of managment's failing to address the problem. That's a pretty sad sign. Constantly missing tack, jumping lessons interrupted to the point of horses spooking and running away caused by these two girls cantering through the jumps, their foul language around young kids, and did I mention, they SHOT UP MY HORSE with tranquilzers - but weren't asked to leave. Horrible situation. Rude staff who "shot the messenger" because I spoke up about it, which I find bizarre. Very disappointing - but everything happens for a reason, and we're happy to have found a SAFE place. I would strongly recommend against taking my horse, or child, to Tower Hill. Sorry. :(

Recommends

RemiPonyTupyLove

Joined 2 years ago

Best barn in the world!. I love this barn so much! this has been the longest I've ever stayed at a barn in my riding career and I don't plan on changing that! I started as a lesson kid 2 years ago just coming for weekly lesson and now i board two horses there (I purchased my horses through tower hill and I love them to death! best horses ever!). The trainers are extremely nice! i train with two of the best trainers there! They have really helped me develop as a rider and have taken me to new heights. Before I was the kid where i though jumping 2 ft was HUGE, but now i can go around a 2'9 course without batting an eye. There constant teaching and praise has helped so much! I have even competed in a few shows to top it all off. And it's not just my two trainers, but everyone at Tower that makes that place so amazing! Carrie and Chad are always improving the barn (In the process of adding two new outdoor arena!) and all the trainers are extremely willing to help you out if you have a problem even if you aren't "their kid." Every time I walk into that place I am greeted by the desk staff, trainers, and boarders. But more importantly then my happiness are my horse's happiness. My horses love their 7 hr a day turnout and all the attention they receive. I am very pleased with the service provided at Tower Hill. I wouldn't want to go anywhere else! Best barn in Illinois even if i have to drive 45 minutes to get there!

Recommends

zozo5782

Joined 2 years ago

Equestrians Dream. THE BEST BARN I HAVE EVERY BEEN TO!! Tower Hill Stables is by far an equestrians dream barn. It has so much property and tons of space for trails and pastures. ALL the trainers are certified and are excellent at teaching. I HIGHLY recommend taking lessons/boarding your horse here. I plan on staying here for a LONG time. I have one more year in high school and then i have to go to college and i plan on staying and going to college in this area just so that i can keep my horse at THS. I've been boarding my horse there for 5 years and am VERY pleased with what all the barn has to offer. The owners of the barn (Chad and Carrie) are THE BEST owners you could ask for. They give you so much freedom and always say hi to me with a smile on their face. As to which other barns are strict, mean, and always look like they are disappointed to see you. If you are looking to move you horse to another barn or start taking lessons, you should come to Tower Hill Stables because if you don't you WILL regret it.

Doesn't Recommend

nvk123

Joined 2 years ago

if you care about your horse, you will not bring it to ths. tower hill stables is one of the worst barns i have ever been to. the facility has potential to be beautiful, huge pastures, a ton of stalls and beautiful trails. after boarding my horse there for about 3 years, i have seen a massive decline in care. the owner, chad is very rude, constantly yelling and extremely short tempered. he seems to only care about how much money he makes. this barn cuts costs by buying horrible hay (either moldy or horribly dry and full of twigs and weeds). the barn is always dirty, since i have been there 6 horses have been so severely injured in the pastures they had to be put down. i understand horses get hurt, but if the problem is so severe that healthy horses need to be euthanized something should change. all of the trainer have very little skill, the worst of which is thea westphal. trainers are always late for lessons and you never get what you pay for. buckets are never cleaned, i have found dozens of dead birds in my horses water bucket and the workers just fill it up without even noticing. the pastures are riddled with boards and nails laying on the ground. everyone that works there is rude, lazy and should not be allowed around children or animals. children run around the barn yelling and start massive drama. bottom line: over priced for the little care your horse will get, severely under qualified trainers, and just a really negative place to be. do not board here.

Doesn't Recommend

bmb1574

Joined 3 years ago

Bad News for Both Horse & Rider at Tower Hill Stables. I would definately NOT keep my horse at Tower Hill Stables in Hampshire IL for several reasons all coming from my own personal experience.

The first being the owner, he is "hot headed" and seems very unethical. From what I can tell, I"m pretty sure not only does he not "like" horses but he "dislikes" them. Many boarders there share this same opinion.

A few things:

1) They cut the feedings in 1/2 and then raised the monthly fee and DIDN"T tell the boarders. I found out from one of the workers. My understanding was this property was paid for so it wasn't like it was for "survival" for the stables and even if it was I don't think that's acceptable with out first telling boarders that you have removed one of the feedings.

2) There was a horse that "attacked" yes "attacked" several people (at least 4 that I know about), knocking 1 to the ground and almost getting another in the head with his back hooves. When they told the owner at Tower Hill, he said "it must have been something you did".

3) When shareboarders came to pick up my horse, they physically refused to let them take him even though October was paid for and he was leaving "before" the end of October. They tried to include him on a "stall agreement" requiring 30 days notice which he was not in, he was pasture board and there was no such agreement. If he was in a stall and I signed an agreement for that, I wouldn't have a problem, however, they were was no agreement as such and he was just tossed in with a bunch of other horses. When I asked for a copy of the agreement, it took them a long time to respond and then they just sent me a BLANK copy. The Shareboarders just paid so they could leave but he told them the amount they were paying was 1/2 of the board which was a COMPLETE and TOTAL LIE. He really charged them the entire month!

4) Several horses got cut by old fencing in the pasture, which they didn't do anything about and then my horse got a cut. I understand things like that sometimes happen at a stables but after that many times it should really be addressed.

5) They charged me for care of my horse after I got him stitched up, even though, I took care of all his needs (which were minimal, he only had 2 stitches and we all questioned if it even needed to be done but I figure better safe than sorry) . So they charged me for something they "claimed" they did but didn't discuss it with me whatsoever and I saw no signs at all that there was any care for him when I went out there. I just saw the extra charge on my credit card.

The bottom line is, even though they clearly see it as just a business and $$$, they don't even do well at that piece of it, but above all, we always want our animals to be cared for by people who actually "love" animals. I just don't believe that to be true here.