Where to find opportunities to be around Horses .Stable managment class?

March 13, 2013 12:39 PM

I REALLY want to get around horses again, but taking lessons can be expensive, and I am living in chicago right now. When I was in North Carolina, I took a class at the community college on stable management. This was perfect, it was super cheap and I got to be around horses- brushing, riding, mucking stalls etc. I have not been able to easily find something like that in Chicago. Any ideas about where I should look for a similar program//opportunity like the one I mentioned?
posted by TRUELOTUS to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (8 answers total)

When I was in high school, two friends and I volunteered at the Boston Mounted Police Unit stables. We mucked out, cleaned tack, fed and watered and groomed, and they let us ride (in the ring, not out on the streets!). Maybe the Chicago Mounted unit has something similar available?

I would like to thank Kathleen's dad especially, as he got up at 5:30 on Sunday mornings to drive us out to the stables.
posted by rtha at 12:44 PM on March 13, 2013 [2 favorites]

Look for horse rescue farms in the suburbs of Chicago. They are usually always happy to have volunteer help.
posted by COD at 12:51 PM on March 13, 2013 [1 favorite]

The FAQ for Noble Horse Theatre says they have an internship program for people who want to learn more about caring for and riding horses, but does not give any sense of what kind of time commitment they expect from their interns. You might also look into volunteering at the Farm-in-the-Zoo at the Lincoln Park Zoo, though I'm guessing the Noble Horse program is closer to what you're looking for than what you'd get at the zoo. Those are the only things I can think of in the city, though I'm sure there are a lot more options out in the suburbs.
posted by jessypie at 1:11 PM on March 13, 2013 [1 favorite]

I am in Chicago and spend part of almost every week in Wisconsin at the stables of a small horse farm training and learning how to train. If you ever want to come up with me there is plenty of room in the farmhouse!

It will have to be after April, and you would have to pay your own train fare to and from Milwaukee ($24 each way), but I would be happy to bring you along! Just memail me and I'll let you know the days/times I am going.
posted by Tchad at 1:11 PM on March 13, 2013 [2 favorites]

Danada Equestrian Center
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 2:01 PM on March 13, 2013

My daughter goes to Glen Grove. She does all the stuff (except for mucking), and gets a free lesson out of it.
posted by timsteil at 2:56 PM on March 13, 2013

My neighbor volunteers at a local therapeutic riding center. Perhaps they have something similar near to where you live.

I don't know exactly what she does because I'm a little unsure of which end of a horse is the front.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 5:06 PM on March 13, 2013 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: You have all made my day!!! Thanks :)
posted by TRUELOTUS at 12:37 PM on March 14, 2013