07/02/09

Great boarders, poor management

by tenacioustee

this review is about the boarding stable, not the pony rides or petting zoo. Lakewood could be a fine stable--I hear that it was once upon a time. Now it is up to the boarders to do any upgrades at all. The owner simply doesn't care. You'll find boarders picking rocks out of the footing, planting trees, buying new hoses, putting mats in the washrack areas, etc. This is something management should do. Boarders watch out for your horses there, not the manager. The jumping arenas are raked maybe once a week, resulting in horses having to work on hard sand. The hay quality is inconsistent. Shavings are too. You have to be in training--and in a lesson--in order to jump, and there's only one jumping "trainer". Too bad, because the place is large, has a lot of arenas and turnout pens, and could really be a nice facility.

• Pros: lots of space, freeway close, barn workers are nice
• Cons: management doesn't care

08/17/07

Pony Rides, Petting Zoo, Lessons, Boarding

by westwindcali

It was a wonderful experience to go take my niece here. The ponies are docile and friendly and she LOVED the experience. Not to mention it's a great thing to do that is easy on the pocketbook. Pony rides ... I forget how much... but I think they're like $5 to ride a pony the goes around and around a pole in a pretty carousel-type setup. The petting zoo was great too, at only $1 for admission to it. You can buy pellets to feed the goats and sheep for like $1.50 I think. It's definitely not an all day activity as the pony ride is short and how much petting zoo can a person take? But it's enchanting to a little one to get to ride a pony and spend time with the other animals. The only negative is that the workers are so RUDE. But I put up with it for the experience that a place like this gives children.

04/15/07

Wonderful Equestrian Center

by bria

This place I would recommend to all of the people in the world! They are so good with my daughter and all of their horses. They have great service in all ways the only thing is they have NOTHING wrong with their facility. they are wonderful!

• Pros: Horses, and Service
• Cons: Bathrooms

01/28/07

Management Lowsy---owner grumpy and unmotivated

by cortswift

Lakewwood Equestrian Center has gone downhill for a number of different reasons. many of the riding areas have unsafe footing and poor or no lighting. There is little or no arena maintenance. The feed is mediocre. The costs are astronomical compared to the level of service. There is a dressage trainer and hunter jumper trainer(relative to owner). You are not allowed to do any sort of schooling over ground poles or anything unless you are in training with the hunter jumper trainer. The woman Chris who owns the place is rude to her customers and is unprofessional. The center could be so much more and provide a higher quality service to the shrinking equestrian community yet it continues in mediocrity.

• Pros: close to freeway, pony rides for kids, lots of space
• Cons: grumpy owner, place needs upkeep