Sonya
Steiner's sheer determination, a passion for horses and animals, and her belief
in God is what has turned Horse Sense Training and Petting Zoo into a small
piece of heaven.
We
offer quiet and gentle lesson horses to build and enhance a rider's skills,
and aim
to help riders develop a more complete understanding of horsemanship. This
goes beyond what they learn in the saddle, and helps them grow in all areas of
life. Our
riding lessons are fun
and challenging,
with the aim of keeping both rider and their mount's engaged and learning. Those
interested in owning a horse but can't afford the costs of horse ownership may
be interested in our lesson horse lease program.
At
Horse Sense we believe in an all-inclusive approach to riding lessons… including
catching and tacking up your own horse! We offer lessons for intermediates,
adult and child beginners & up. Every summer we run day camps weekly in
July/August. Camps and Clinics run at different times during the year, including
Fearless Riding Clinics, and New Horse Ownership Clinics.
We
also offer a therapeutic riding program for children and adults with
disabilities that are included but not limited to autism, cerebral palsy,
orthopaedic conditions, hearing, speech, and visual impairments, and
ADD/ADHD.
In addition to this, we also
accept clients for board. We welcome all breeds, disciplines, and ages of
horses. From the young to the retired, we're happy to offer you a place for your
horse to call home. Board includes access to all of the facility's many
amenities.
Our
facility offers:
225'x80'
Indoor Arena 1/2 mile track, wash racks, lockers, box stalls, tie stalls,
concession, riders lounge, equine treadmill, round pens, large pastures,
classroom with projector, large on-site and mobile petting zoo, picnic areas,
mounting ramp, Cinderella Carriage, horse training, riding lessons, day camps,
birthday party packages, clinics, lease program, stallion at
stud
Find out more at our website: www.horsesensezoo.com
Hear about upcoming events and
like us on our Facebook page!: www.facebook.com/HorseSenseTrainingAndPettingZoo
Contact Information
780-470-0414
54410 Range Road 255
Sturgeon County, AB T8T 0T9
Updated June 9th 2014
Updated June 9th 2014
We've always had a wonderful experience at Horse Sense. Contrary to comments I've read, the trainer/instructor Sonya Steiner NEVER puts the lesson students in danger. My kid rode side saddle bareback and had an absolute blast!!! You have to put your kids in lessons anticipating that there's a chance they'll fall off the horse. Maybe they'll break an arm, maybe they'll have a concussion, but you have to let kids live a little! Plus, I was very impressed with the strict helmet policy at the barn. No crappy bike helmets - only approved riding helmets. In lessons students got too close on occasion - and were reprimanded immediately! We've taken 4 sessions of lessons and one week of summer daycamp and loved every minute of it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I agree anyone that belittles the place for spelling Sense as Sence... uhh does every business spell words correctly? No? Maybe it was a copyright issue? You don't know that, you don't have to be condescending idiots about one single letter.
The horses are well trained and tolerant of kids, very safe, I felt very comfortable with my child riding the gentle Caprice. We took lessons at another barn which my child got very bored of. The same thing every time - go trot a circle. Sonya made lessons fun and interesting. She had a chance to apply her skills to things like cow penning, pole bending, barrel racing... Keeping in mind this isn't competitive, this is a way for kids to work on turning skills and rider cues... at the guidance of their instructor!!!!!!
Only complaint would have to be the other instructor at the barn
Not good with kids, not child-friendly. Seems to be good with animals/horses but definitely not a people person. Seemed to be more annoyed with the kids than anything else... she had my daughter in tears one evening because she felt like an idiot due to the tone of voice she used to talk to children. Sometimes it seemed like she was unsure of herself too. But, we only had that experience twice, and every other time Sonya did her lessons - thank god. I won't say she's not a good instructor but her teaching style definitely does NOT suit children!!! Maybe adults....
If kids got frustrated and cried in a lesson Sonya never barked at them she explained to them that fear is normal! And lightened up the mood- getting them "back on the horse" (literally!) in no time.
All in all, this is a great place. And I know my way around the horse industry. It's a great place, lots of absolutely friendly volunteers - we remember the young ladies Veronica, Maddy, and Krystal and thank them for their kindness and always helping us when we needed a hand. These ladies were excellent, very good with kids, and just seemed like all-around nice people.
Wonderful barn, nice people, not a snooty competitive barn... it's too bad my daughter lost interest in riding lessons (due to her love of gymnastics - she had to make a choice, financially we cannot afford two) otherwise we would be back! This barn has the full package!
Deletesonya steinerNovember 25, 2013 at 5:07 PM
Thank you for the kind words. We do our best here to make it a safe and fun place for animals, kids and adults.
The kids that help out are volunteers and take pride in what we do, all while building work ethic, character, skills and knowledge on horses and animals. Everyone contributes long hours and there is team work and friendship developed, with young riders and volunteers that have a maturity beyond their years.
My thanks to those that see what Horse Sence is really about. By the way its spelt "sence" as it is a play on words, the c stands for "cents". We have changed it to sense as its too hard for some people to grasp!
We had a birthday party at Horse Sense last year (Pretty Pony Party) for my daughter. I thought I would look into some reviews for the place so that I could show it to friends & recommend it, and laughed at some of the things I saw.... Overprotective nit-picky parents is what i'm writing that off as ;) but if you weren't raised on a farm I guess you just don't understand!!!!
ReplyDeleteI have to say the facility is beautiful, the horses were very calm (therapeutic riding was going on while we were there....), the owner Sonya was so nice and welcoming and everyone volunteering/on staff was pleasant to interact with, knowledgeable, and would stop what they were doing to speak with us. We also remember Krystal, as well as the young lady Alexis that helped her out for our party. (We have this all in a scrapbook for my daughter) There were a few volunteers that helped with pony rides - including the therapeutic instructor, and a couple of other people. (Sorry we did not write down all of their names!!! I believe the instructor was Nicole, as that's the other instructor listed on their website... Contrary to the review above, she was good with our kids!! I appreciated her down-to-business attitude, made me feel like my kids were secure and safe!!) It amazed me how close-knit everyone seemed, and how they were all willing to help each other. From what I could see the place is well maintained, animals were happy and healthy... they all had food and water when we were out there! (This is something my family makes a point to check when we go to petting zoos/animal facilities- do the animals have food and water? Do they look healthy? Alert? Happy? And yes they met all of this criteria!!!)
Dressing up the ponies and kids is a blast. Again lots of volunteers helped our kids decorate which made it easy for us adults. It was hilarious! They certainly were rainbow ponies after we were done.
The farm tour was very interesting, I can't say I remember everything Krystal told us about the animals (as I was supervising 10 wired kids!) but I thought it was great how her and Alexis interacted with the children. The kids enjoyed picking out specific chickens/ducks for the girls to catch for them to pet. Too cute!
It's amazing how many things they have going on at this place! Petting zoo (mobile/onsite) Leasing, Boarding, Parties, Daycamps, Therapeutic! My goodness!!! I have to agree with the person before me!! Full package!
**********
Don't listen to any negative reviews of this place... Go out there and see with your own eyes how beautiful this facility is - not just in looks, the atmosphere is very warm and welcoming. LOVED IT!!
Thank you for the kind words. We do our best here to make it a safe and fun place for animals, kids and adults.
ReplyDeleteThe kids that help out are volunteers and take pride in what we do, all while building work ethic, character, skills and knowledge on horses and animals. Everyone contributes long hours and there is team work and friendship developed, with young riders and volunteers that have a maturity beyond their years.
My thanks to those that see what Horse Sence is really about. By the way its spelt "sence" as it is a play on words, the c stands for "cents". We have changed it to sense as its too hard for some people to grasp!
This facility is certainly not garbage. Nicole is a good therapeutic instructor, Sonya is very welcoming, and all of her staff and volunteers! Always a positive atmosphere and lots going on at the barn. Would recommend the therapeutic program to parents with children with disabilities. Amazing to see how well the kids respond to the animals. Great job Sonya, staff, & volunteers at Horse Sense Training & Petting Zoo!
ReplyDeleteStaff and volunteers are very kind & helpful. Staff was really quick to reply to emails and very professional/patient even though I had many questions - think that is Christel if I check my old mail..... possibly same person as "Krystal" above... different spelling... Just found their Facebook page, it's very nice! good website... not hard to navigate unlike some place -.- enjoyed write up on riding lessons..... these people take horses seriously... good to see!
DeleteWe also attended a birthday party here. Christel (I believe this spelling is correct... seen a couple different reviews above and I believe it's the same person) was our party host - she was great! Other parents in our group want to book parties with her as the leader (we strongly recommend this girl!) Animals were super friendly, a small calf was out loose when we visited and a goat too which the kids thought was super duper cool. Goat races were too funny... all the kids and the adults had fun.
ReplyDeleteSeems like a nice facility.. as clean as you can expect a farm to be! The biggest mess we saw was the mess our kids made running inside after being in the arena. The kids sure had fun... What more can you ask for?
We visited this facility for the first time on Victoria Day. The petting zoo was very tidy and clean, animals all had food and water, and looked really healthy! They seemed like such friendly and happy animals. The kids are begging to go back already. The staff was extremely friendly, and answered all of our questions even though they were clearly VERY busy. I believe we met the same young lady mentioned in the above comments, Christel, who took my daughter for a pony ride. When my daughter didn't want to get off, she walked her around two more times for free because there wasn't a line and she said she was just happy that my daughter was having such a great time on the pony. I thought this was very thoughtful, and made me feel very welcomed. Of course we don't expect this during every visit, but it certainly made a very good impression. We will have to come back for a birthday party sometime. Thank you to Horse Sense for providing such a wonderful experience for me and my family - we will be back!
ReplyDeleteWe visited the facility today with Ronald Harvey school for a farm tour with a large group of children. We split into two groups. Sonya, the owner, took my group around. The kids had an amazing time and learned lots about the animals. Sonya was very professional, very good with the kids, and very friendly and informative. Definitely a kid friendly place, my daughter loved it, and we will be back this weekend.
ReplyDeleteI also went with the Ronald Harvey school group and was in Krystal's (Christel? Crystal? too many spellings…) group. She taught us lots about the animals, and was good with our very loud kids. That girl has a voice that carries! Better than some of the teachers I'd say. She was really good with one girl who constantly talked while she was speaking to the other kids, and paid special attention to those who were timid or afraid. Every kid was feeding animals… even the cows with the slimy tongues! …. Great facility… lots of fun, the lamb Piddle Puddle was so cute and the kids really liked to play with the white parrot. We had a great time. Will be back for sure!
ReplyDeleteWe love Horse Sense!!! Sonya is so welcoming, and she is straight to the point people! She's not messing around with our kids or their safety and for that I am forever grateful. This woman knows what she's doing and she doesn't have time for nonsense!!! We're not fond of the other instructor, Nicole. She is not a bad instructor by any means but she could afford to work on her people skills. It's a small price to pay for a great facility!
ReplyDeleteWe have booked birthday parties at this facility for the past 3 years and never disappointed. The kids love the parrots, especially the one that dances and also the big black doberman. We've always felt welcomed and like horse sense does everything they can do accommodate us and our group. For two years we have had christel do our party and we love her! I tried many times to get one kid to feed a horse but she was too scared, and when christel noticed she had her feeding the horses right away. Very good with kids, handles the kids that are scared well (doesn't push them too far), knowledgeable, and often has funny comments or remarks that make everyone laugh. The younger volunteers at the barn seem eager and willing to help, and happy to be a part of the barn atmosphere. I really love how everyone seems like a big family. And Sonya is a very nice lady, she always makes sure our party is going well, and first year we came she pulled one of our vehicles out of the mud. Such a nice place, such nice people, healthy happy animals.. I really cannot say enough good things about horse sense. As soon as my kids are old enough they will be in Sonya's day camps. We will visit the petting zoo soon!
ReplyDeleteI was planning to Google locations near St. Albert where I can go and be with horses; perhaps take riding lessons again. I went to riding camps throughout my childhood and teens, and took riding lessons during my teens. Recently, I have felt the need to be around these amazing animals again. Today, I turned the first page of the St. Albert Gazette and, serendipity, there on page 3 was a picture and reference to Horse Sence (sp?) Stables and Petting Zoo. I Googled it immediately and printed the driving directions and location. I also looked at the one picture on the website and noted the horses looked healthy. I was feeling a lot of anxiety about how I was going to determine whether this place is one where both the horses and animals in the petting zoo are treated humanely, with respect and honored for the amazing beings they all are. I have too often been devastated by either directly experiencing or knowing about animal neglect and/or abuse, in any situation, not just a horse and petting zoo setting. In an effort to gather further information, I found this article and these reviews and am so grateful to read repeated positive reviews about Sonya, her gentle and respectful approach, that the place and people are so nice, and that the animals appear healthy and happy. I appreciated that the reviewers were serious enough that they were looking to ensure the animals had sufficient water and food, for example.This told me they weren't making flippant comments. I feel very excited to have found Horse Sence and believe this is the right place for me to visit. I am grateful for this article and to each of the reviewers who took the time to provide information about their experiences. It has created an opportunity for me that I think will have a profound effect on my life - reconnecting with these animals. My husband and I share our lives with our three beloved cats, but I have not been in touch with farm animals for some years. Being Alberta born and raised, and my former, first, marriage was to a man from a farm family, I have certainly had experience with farm animals. It's time now to reconnect. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Christel, (this is, in fact, the correct spelling haha!) and I work at Horse Sense for Sonya Steiner.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say to everyone from the above comments: thank you for the kind words. It really means a lot to me to hear that I helped make your experience at Horse Sense positive and memorable… as this is what I always aim to do. Horse Sense is truly a piece of heaven on earth for me, and I want to share that with others.
I started off at the barn with the Paul Kane Equestrian Studies program. I used to be a very timid person with a sad heart due to many circumstances, and extremely low self esteem. However, while working with the horses under the guidance and mentorship of Sonya, I experienced immense self growth. My courage, self-esteem, and happiness strengthened and I have become a far different individual. I owe it all to this barn, and to Sonya. She is one of the kindest individuals I have ever met, and has an unimaginably big heart. I have so much pride in this business and I want to share the healing powers it had on my heart, and in my life.
I appreciate those of you that see all of the hard work we put in here at the barn. It's impossible to please everybody… but we have a large group of fantastic volunteers that help clean the barn, and ensure that all the animals are fed, watered, and healthy. Our top priority is the welfare of our animals, and this comes above all other things.
If you want to know more about this wonderful facility you are always welcome to send me an email at horsesensezoo@gmail.com.
I can't say enough good things about Horse Sense. We are a family here. Thank you again to those of you who have seen what we are all about… Your comments have been so kind, and I appreciate that you took the time to share your experience with us.
Thank you
I just moved here and am looking at animal places around edmonton. I tear up reading this testimonial. Had a similar back story.. timid/depressed/down kind of person. Animals changed my life. Didn't have a positive safe environment like this. But animals just have a way of making you feel a lil better about everything. Especially horses. I wish I had a bond with a mentor to give me guidance on a brighter path. Thank you Sonya Steiner, and Horse Sense, for helping kids/teens/adults reconnect with nature, with animals, find themselves and find something fulfilling in life… As someone who went through a tough time and found happiness in nature and horses I can't express how important it is and how happy it made me feel to know what kind of environment you provide… I will have to visit some time in spring/summer when weather is nice to truly appreciate facility… Feeling a little more at home knowing somewhere like this is close by.
DeleteI wish my daughter had found a place of solace like this, but I instead lost her to depression, suicide. To Sonya Steiner: what you offered this girl… and what you offer teens is something they will not get anywhere else. A safe place. A place to learn to "just get over it" because some things are just more important, and bigger than their own problems. I cannot express how important this makes your business, or how no matter what may happen I hope you know what you do is worth it. Running a barn when you have teenagers around… and adults who act like teenagers too I'm sure, must be stressful. But if you can offer an environment like this young lady described, well I just hope it makes it worth it, even if there are people that you can't help. Some people need to help themselves. I have joined a suicide and depression help committee for schools in Alberta, and I will absolutely use this testimonial as an argument for why interactions with equines can be so helpful for kids. Thank you.
DeleteReading that warmed my heart…. so amazing to know what this barn does for troubled teens. Thank you for sharing your story…………… Keep doing what you're doing because you do a great job. All of you… xoxo.
ReplyDeleteWe went with 4 kids to the horse sense 7th annual open house on Saturday. The event was awesome. We met the aforementioned sonya and christel, went on a lovely carriage ride, inquired about a fun pony play day, got pony rides, went on a tractor ride, and visited the petting zoo all for FREE!! What an amazing way to give back to the community. The kids had such a blast. The facility was beautiful and the horses looked well fed - many had a nice round belly ;). The carriage ride was awesome, what an elegant carriage… and the kids greatly enjoyed watching some jumping riding demos. Great job horse sense staff and volunteers you made the event such a fun day for my family, and a safe way for them to interact and learn about many critters.
ReplyDeleteThanks to all of you who left the lovely comments, we appreciate the feedback.
DeleteAlso thanks to all of the people who nominated Horse Sense for the Small Business of the Year for St. Albert.
Watch our Facebook page for results.
Sonya Steiner owner of Horse Sense Training & Petting Zoo
Horse Sense runs by it's own set of rules and disregards the kids and boarders for their own benefit and profit. We personally witnessed the owner yelling at kids and threatening them with punishment or payment. She tries to be nice and accommodating when you first meet her, but look out after you have been there a while! The Paul Kane Equine program that runs there uses the students as free labour to clean & repair things rather than getting to ride and train with the horses. She also punishes kids by taking away their horse riding time and sends them to clean or run errands for her. We have also witnessed a few injuries by students because they were left alone or told to go do something without assistance. Some horses have also been injured and the owners left the facility for a better stable. This barn is the worst smelling & dirty one we have witnessed out of at least a dozen we have visited for lessons or riding events. There are other barns that are worth a little further drive than Horse Sense.
ReplyDeletePart 1 of 2:
DeleteWell then. Anyone that operates under the name "anonymous" with a negative review is highly questionable.
I am good friends with one of the employee's at Horse Sense, have been there years ago, and constantly see videos and photos of what goes on there. As adults usually communicate face to face in a mature fashion I assume this was written by a child. Had you left an email or phone number to contact you at to validate your above complaints then I would be able to respond to you directly, rather than posting on this blog. I find the above post to be childish, malicious in nature, and harshly untrue.
Dear ANONYMOUS: First of all ALL BARNS RUN BY THEIR OWN SET OF RULES. Please see every barn website, or call any barn, and EVERY barn has their own stable rules AS WELL as rules in their board agreements. So I don't actually understand what you expected? Boarders kids and leasers run free on the property? Insurance doesn't work like that..... Also, I don't know if you've ever worked at a barn, but when you deal with 1200+ lb animals, and children who are not spacially aware, not emotionally aware, not physically aware... THAT can be very dangerous. I work at a barn in the states, and I can honestly say I have yelled at children as well. But yelling doesn't mean you're angry, it means you need to be heard. Again it's a safety issue. If you need to be heard you may need to be heard IN THAT SECOND. RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT. What if the child doesn't recognize the warning signs of a horse that's going to bite, or kick? You might be fifty feet away and need to yell and not wait for children's selective hearing to kick in.
If you viewed the Horse Sense Facebook and Website the Paul Kane program rides lots, is a fantastic and positive program, and the kids DO LEARN to pick up after their horses, and participate in the health care program. This involves from what I understand, picking the arena of manure, cleaning up after horses, I sure hope it involves learning to do stalls, participating in yearly vaccinations, monthly deworming, witnessing farrier work and vet work etc. I don't know about you but that's definitely something kids SHOULD BE exposed to in the horse world! I guess maybe if you're from the hoity toity rich part of St Albert you just want your kid to drive up in their golden porsche walk in and get right on their already tacked up horse - who of course never poops because good horses don't make a mess right? - and leave without getting a speck of dirt on them.
Of course not everyone is like that, and actually enjoys working hard. Soooo many city kids never have to lift a figure and aren't exposed EVER to building up a good work ethic. So, good on you Horse Sense for allowing kids to have this experience.
Part 2 of 2
DeleteAlso, if you're behaving poorly in school.. you get sent in the office, you get asked to sit out, your parents get called, etc. If you're doing the same at the barn, of course you're not going to get to ride, what do you expect?
Injuries by students - once again you're at a farm and I'll bet you you signed a liability waiver stating you understand the risks INHERENT in being at the barn and around horses... Maybe if you were extremely specific in what EXACTLY students were told to do that caused injury your statement would be validated. How EXACTLY did they get hurt when left alone? Are these high school students? This age of students should have enough common sense to be left alone for a few minutes instead of being supervised 24-7 like elementary students. A general statement like "told to go do something with no assistance" is far too vague to be taken seriously. For all we know they were told to staple a piece of paper together with no assistance and got a paper cut.
Also, I guess if you spend most of your time in the candle section of Walmart, when you head out to a farm it's going to smell quite different. If you've never spent more than five minutes in a barn except to pick up your kid or pay for board it's definitely NOT going to smell like the city.... 9/10 times when you arrive at a farm - any farm - you're first hit by the smell, and fifteen minutes later don't notice it at all. But that was a typical comment from any city person. Even Grand Prix show barns get comments about smell. To make this Alberta specific: if you've ever been to Spruce Meadows and gone where the horses are stabled there's definitely a smell and it isn't actually always swept during show season. And that's a world class facility.
Has anyone ever heard of Snapchat? I get snapchats of this barn ALL THE TIME. The staff and volunteers at Horse sense do an AWESOME job keeping the place clean. And yes, I am in the states but I am a constant witness to the state of the barn. They do a great job. Especially considering that hundreds of kids adults volunteers and employees traffic through there every day.
To everyone reading this:
All you have to do is read the positive reviews to know that this barn is a positive place for kids. I'd like to point out that sometimes the issue isn't the barn. There are such a thing as BAD BOARDERS. Boarders who can't follow rules. Boarders who whine over the one speck of dust on the counter. Boarders who complain when they get a fine for not cleaning up after their horse and expecting staff to pick up after them as if they're children. Boarders who start up drama between other clients. It's not always an issue with management. It's not always an issue with the barn. It's often an issue with the boarder.
ALWAYS visit a barn and have a chat with not only the manager but with boarders that already have their horses there. That is the MOST accurate way to assess a place. Also if you have an issue with that place, posting a nasty anonymous comment is certainly not the way to go.
If anyone would like to discuss this with me please feel free to text me as I am not going to hide behind a veil of anonymity. My name is Marc, and to be clear, all of my above statements reflect MY own opinion.
1-604-900-9052
The above comment is rather amusing as it comes from "J" and "Z" who were given a 2 week notice to leave the stable as "Z" the daughter would not follow the rules... more on that below.
ReplyDeleteYes Horse Sense has its own rules, as does any barn, however we are family friendly and stand for moral values. "Z" had to pay for swearing, at $5 a swear it certainly is not profitable but acts as a reminder to conduct oneself with proper manners. If boarders/riders do not clean up after themselves there is a $10 fine, again in order to promote responsibility and tidiness. We use these fines towards purchasing a zebra.
Yelling? I may have to project my voice as the barn is 170' long. Using students as free labour? Hilarious!!! Kids these days barely lift and finger at home taking out the garbage so I would like to know what "labour and repairs" they did?? The program comes out for 150 hours a semester and has generous riding time in their lessons, handling, horses heath care, feeding, first aid, and a horse show. Kids lose riding time if their theory assignments are not done.
What injuries did you witness? Your own daughter FELL OFF HER OWN that was not properly trained that YOU purchased for HER, on her own riding time. Once her horse was in lessons she gained some control. Again the above statements are hilarious!
"Z" was given a 2 week notice to leave as she posted on social media disturbing video clips of herself drunk and she is an underage child. When this was addressed she proceeded to slander the barn and myself, then given a 2 day notice.
"J" I am sure that my barn smells far better then your home with drunk children!
Anyone wanting to board a horse/lessons/leasing I always recommend checking out other facilities, as our fun and friendly barn may not be for you.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteI came out with a group for a farm tour at Horse Sense in July. I don't know anything about boarding but the comment saying the barn is smelly and dirty is a shock to me. When we visited, the barn was very clean, the bathrooms were as clean as can be expected at a barn, and the only smell was the smell of horses which in my books is a great smell! The staff were very on top of things and greeted the group right at the door and didn't waste any time taking us out. Our tour leader was Christel who interacted fantastically with our poorly behaved children. She had a huge wealth of knowledge to share, and made the kids all feel comfortable no matter how scared or brave they were. Even with a group of rowdy kids she taught them about respecting animals. I was impressed. The other tour leader I don't know the name of but the other adults said was really awesome with kids. It's really important, I think, to be so patient with the kids even though they must go nuts dealing with all of our loud screaming kids. Kudos to you Horse Sense for sharing your beautiful kid-friendly facility with us and keeping all the kids entertained, and safe. And thank you Christel for being so patient, even though our group would've made most people rip their hair out. We'll see you guys at Open Farm Days
ReplyDeleteHorse Sense is not a very family minded business.They do stick together in their controlling, humiliating ways that many have had the misfortune to experience.Making kids feel very uncomfortable with threats and demeaning comments is not a Family minded anything..Warning.Dont ever disagree or you will be punished.
ReplyDeleteEasy to be a jealous hater when you are anonymous, anyone can accuse anyone of anything on the internet with no accountability. We put on 2 large FREE events to the public with over 1200 attending each event and that takes hours and hours of volunteer work, which the volunteers are happy and willing to help with. If these people were threatened, demeaned, or punished I am sure that we would NOT have ANY volunteers or clients for that matter.
DeleteThats why clients and programs are leavin.I am posative if anyone new what happens their and what hapens when people speek the truth you would have many less custamers or volinteers.Stay tuned more to come
DeleteMust unfortunately agree with recent comments, this is the worst horseback riding experience in decades. Nice choice of horses, but poor and mismannered trainers and owner.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, the Edmonton area has many other fine institutions to choose from.
Our son has been riding and volunteering at Horse Sense for the last 3 years since we moved to St. Albert. He has gone from a complete beginner to a confident, capable rider because of the phenomenol lessons. As a volunteer helping out with chores, petting zoos, birthday parties, open houses, tours and more, he has developed a sense of responsibility and work ethic, and the ability to serve the public in a mature, polite, and knowlegable fashion that is so important for teenagers, and far better than sitting in front of the TV all day playing video games, or hanging at the mall causing trouble, or smoking pot in the park. We have the greatest respect for Sonya and her high standards, morals, and yes, rules-something that seems to be non-existent now. Sonya sets fair expectations and sticks by them, which should be the case in any home and classroom. In fact, our son says Sonya and others at the barn are his second family! Sonya allows the volunteers to be at the barn pretty much any time they like, which for those who want to spend time with animals is fantastic and extremely flexible, considering it is also her home. We owe Sonya a debt of gratitude for the opportunity she has provided for our son and all the others like him. This is the best life experience he has had yet, and he now can use those volunteer hours for work experience credit for high school. Thank you Sonya for your incredible contribution to the lives of our children.
DeleteI also have spent some time volunteering at Horse Sense with Sonya, and understand first hand what it takes to maintain the level of cleanliness, organization, and safety necessary for a facility like that to function.
We would recommend-and have done-Horse Sense without reservation to anyone looking for a great riding and/volunteering experience.
WOW!! It always shocks me that people making the negative comments NEVER give their names. My daughter Alexus has been going there for 4 years and she loves it. She has learned responsibility and respect. She volunteers for birthday parties, petting zoos, open houses and so much more. I grew up on a farm and know the dangers of all animals. The rules are there for a reason!! I am a firm believer that you break the rules there should be a discipline for that. Sonya has always been fair and approachable. Sonya has treated the volunteeres to trail rides, trips to West Edmonton Mall for a thank you for all their hard work. When you go out and see them it's like a family. The facility is clean, animals have food and water. I love this places and would recommend it to everyone!! For those negative comments probably from those "helicopter" parents that their child does nothing wrong, or why should I have to clean up and follow rules!! Well good luck to your child in the real world, your not doing them any favours !! In closing my daughter has learned so much and I think I might have to pay room and board as Alexus is there more than she is at home!! Thanks Sonya for just being an awesome person and caring and having such a great facility!!!
ReplyDeleteI have been around Horse Sense for over 5 years.I have never seen anyone care about animals and people the way Sonya does.Volunteers are given everything and treated well beyond fairly.What you will learn there will be so good in all aspects of your life, its called RESPECT and Safety!!!! Hundreds of visitors are given an oppurtunity of a lifetime that they probably would never get to have and learn things that only an EXPERIENCED OWNER could tell you.All you haters out there, heads up ok ..The kids and animals safety is not negotiable..PERIOD......I have personally seen Sonya knee deep in snow and slush in - 30 bringing in as many animals as the indoors could hold.She cares Deeply about her volunteers and they are appreciated more then you can imagine..She has helped more people in one year then most people will in a lifetime!!! Everything Sonya does with any child at this barn is for a better future, a better understanding of how to cope in the REAL WORLD..If i was an animal i would love to have Horse Sense as my home,,
ReplyDelete(1) As an alumni of the Olds College Equine Science Program, a rider of both English and Western disciplines for eighteen years, a horse owner for thirteen, and a competitive rider for twelve who has boarded/worked/had lessons at five different barns across Alberta, and has boarded my horse at Horse Sense for two years, I would like to provide my honest opinion as a horse owner regarding this stable. I have seen countless different methods when it comes to the care and training of horses. Many barns have varying beliefs in what they presume to be the best when it comes to the welfare of their animals. Horse Sense holds the welfare of its animals as the highest priority. All animals have an abundance of all the required necessities, and they are given a clean, safe, and loving home at Horse Sense. I can go on vacation and not have to worry about my horse. Anyone who has ever boarded a horse anywhere but their own backyard will know the comfort of being able to trust 100% that your horse will be feed, watered, handled correctly, monitored, and given a clean stall when you are not around. Sonya and the volunteers at Horse Sense provide this level of care to all of their animals every day. For example, I've been unable to go out to the barn this past week, and when my horse ran out of his specialized feed, Sonya went to the store and bought more out of her own pocket to ensure my horse had his feed. After reading comments regarding horses being injured on the property, any horse owner knows that horses get hurt. I've seen over 20 lame inducing injuries in my lifetime, it doesn't matter where you go, horses will find a way. When an animal at Horse Sense gets injured, they are always provided with a full treatment plan including medications, special care, etc. so that they can fully recover. There is nothing more you can ask of Sonya or the volunteers in this regard. Whether you are looking for a place to start lessons, ride for fun, or get competitive, the most important thing is finding a place where the stable owner is knowledgeable. And when it comes to the animals and the horses at Horse Sense, Sonya is extremely knowledgeable. She is successfully managing the care of every single animal on the property. Every concern I've had regarding my horse, she has been able to give me reassuring and successful solutions for. Sonya tries to teach every one of her students the same basic knowledge about animal care. Her riding lessons are more than just riding lessons, they are an all-inclusive experience that teaches students to become self-sufficient around the animals. Sonya does not act aggressively towards any of her students, her lessons are motivating and goal based, which may seem intimidating to some, but is imperative if you want to better yourself. Sonya has exposed herself to several different methods and disciplines in the horse world, and she uses as many helpful tools as she can when it comes to her students. I have seen many young adults who have grown so much over the past two years. I am truly impressed by how much they've improved their riding skills, their handling skills, and their overall barn management skills. I admire how confidently they conduct themselves around the barn. I have been to barns in the past where there are people taking lessons over the course of several years, and they still don't know how to tack up their horses.
ReplyDelete(2) Every single question, concern, or thought that I've had regarding my horse, Sonya and her volunteers have been able to discuss with me, and a positive solution that works for all parties involved is always reached. There has been no cattiness or gossip at this barn. Every person and their horse is treated with equal respect, and everyone is open about their questions and concerns. When you are searching for a stable, I implore you to check out different places and find what works best for you. As I mentioned before, every place is different. There are some places in Alberta that believe in keeping their horses in stalls 24/7, just like there are some places in Alberta that believe in soring their horses. Sonya believes in positive reinforcement training (the animals are never scared or fearful) providing several open areas (such as pens, paddocks, and fields) for her animals to roam and be animals, and above all else, creating a safe and welcoming community that cares about the animals. Bottom line...as you get more and more experienced in the horse world, you realize that heaps of the people involved are in it for the money. I have seen many people cut ties with trainers and stables over nickels and dimes, and I myself have been disheartened by the greediness of some of the horse people out there. Sonya recently traveled down to Calgary with me for the Spruce Meadows Champion's Welcome on her own time to help me with my horse at the show (with a pinched sciatic nerve no less!) even though she had several other things going on at home (birthday parties and petting zoos). I can promise you this...Sonya, and all of the people who call Horse Sense home, are in it for the animals.
ReplyDeleteThx Charlie for stating the truth on Sonyas behalf, i have seen nothing but good intentions at the farm always...
ReplyDeletePeople comment anonymously to protect their name from being slandered by Sonya's immature and personal attacks (seen above replying to a "J" and "Z".)!!!!! This is a beautiful barn and the animals seem very healthy, but the management is seriously deteriorating. There is more to a business like this than animal care. The management is unprofessional, childish, and immature. I only ever met one volunteer and one staff there that were professional. Sonya is not good with people or many volunteers. The reasons for kicking out volunteers and clients are ridiculous!! My daughter has heard many many complaints at school! Other complaints include over-full lesson groups with a crappy instructor (I think this instructor was removed from their website so I don't know what's up with that) One of the "barn managers" who looks like she's just rolled out of bed and doesn't know how to run a brush through poorly kept poor coloured hair (I'm not against dying hair, but dye it colours appropriate for someone working in a business NOT for someone working at mcdonalds!!!!!!) tries to be your "buddy", gives out a personal NOT BUSINESS cell number and can often be found SMOKING (in a CHILD-FRIENDLY environment) right in front of the barn!! Kids running parties or tours. The owner who is extremely rude and demeaning. Talks down to kids and adults acting like if everyone is below her. It looks extremely unprofessional! It's a shame for a beautiful facility with such great potential to be run by such unprofessional people. There will always be naive new clients, loyal naive clients as well, but from the sounds of it many people are becoming wise towards the poor business practices in time. There are volunteers and clients that enjoy themselves that's to be expected - if not the business would not exist - but who knows how long that will last. These are comments gathered from my own experience as well as others. The free event is good but doesn't make up for other wrongs. Good intentions don't make a successful business. In it for the animals but NOT the people.
ReplyDeleteIn reply to the above post complaining about the management at this facility etc, There are many things I could say in reply, however one of your points stands out. Maybe before posting a personal attack on one of my friends and colleagues that you couldn't even address by name, you should've taken a moment out of your day to come to the farm and have a conversation with her... instead of basing your opinion off what other people have said. We are people too and we have feelings! Firstly, yes Ashleigh does roll out of bed in the morning..... like everyone else does...... and promptly gets to work. This is often before anyone else is up, making the work day easier for everyone! She works tirelessly throughout the day and often over the summer spent 12+ hours at the farm. She always goes the extra mile. Often she goes the whole morning taking care of the animals and forgets to even feed herself! I cannot apologize for her "hair not being brushed" (and actually it is, plus she often wears a hat...) as that's not a major priority when there are hungry animals!!!!!!!!!!!! She is dedicated to her work and passionate about the barn, its programs, its clients, its animals, and its volunteers. If you've ever seen Ashleigh interact with children you'd know she has a gift for working with them. Not everyone is good with kids, but Ashleigh is. She even has her early childhood education which gives her a leg up in dealing with various kinds of children. And actually, the kids LOVE her hair color. It makes her fun, and thus more relatable to kids which is essential to such a child-based business. If you've ever had a conversation with Ashleigh you'll find her to be funny, quirky, and very down to earth. She isn't "trying to be your buddy". She is being herself, that is, a friendly kind and an exceptional human being. Maybe you should've stopped before writing that post and thought about the impact of your words on the kind hearted human being underneath the "poor coloured hair". If you have an example of a SPECIFIC instance in which you interacted with Ashleigh and walked away with a problem please explain that so that we can address it, instead of making anonymous and generalized claims that are false and harshly unfair.
DeleteChristel. You seem like a nice person. I’ve done my research. I’ve interacted with you before many times. I’ve been to the barn. But I will protect my identity.. You’re well liked by clients,(evidenced above) and known by the barn people I've talked to as one with an upbeat positive attitude, strong loyalty to Sonya, and love for the horses. Your response above shows your heart. It’s not hard to find your Instagram and see that other barn children look up to you. I get that you want to defend this place that is dear to you. But I pose some questions to you. Does it sit well with you that a child can get kicked out without fair conversation between parent and Sonya? Does it sit well with you that your friend and colleague dresses and acts in a manner not fitting the profession? Does it sit well with you when children cry due to the tone of voice used by the riding instructor? Your experience with the barn as explained previously above is good but is one of the few positive experiences people have had with this barn. Are you the kind of person that doesn’t voice your opinion and keeps your mouth shut to avoid conflict? I have a feeling that’s the only kind of person that survives at that barn. It’s good to avoid conflict… but have you ever thought that’s why you haven’t had the negative experience others have had? If you never ever disagree with Sonya (the fatal mistake) you'll likely be able to coast your way along. Even the most kind hearted people can be brainwashed, but it's not your fault. Get out while you still can......
DeleteThank you very very much. Well said
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DeleteThank you! I wasn't trying to say Ashleigh is not a good person, just pointing a lack of professionalism. I'm sure you are both very nice girls. And that's exactly why you should get out now before it's too late.
DeleteNot lack of professionalism... personal attack. Get to know someone because guess what there are people with bigger hearts and compassion then most of the people that get dressed up in their business attire. probably looked rough cause she has been doing this thing called work ( like labour) which I'm sure many people lack in getting dirty and the fear of breaking a nail. Im sure people judge you kids and it upsets you and say they have something wrong with them or are lacking. Not saying that's what im saying. Just think about if it was about your child.
DeleteYou're 110% missing the point. Lack of Professionalism: smoking in front of the barn in a child friendly environment. At a school, day care, library, or any other child-friendly environment you wouldn't be able to smoke anywhere near the doors. That's poor conduct. When you're dealing with clients and yes you'll probably be dirty due to farm work but you look to drag yourself about haven't brushed your hair etc it puts people off. Poor conduct. Giving out a non-business cell to people that aren't just volunteers. Poor conduct. If my child was behaving/dressing poorly at work I would absolutely want to know. But you're not a child and it should be common sense. It's not a personal attack. Surely you're a nice person and you work hard. I am not saying that you are not. But you're missing the point entirely. If I read this is a "five star facility" then my expectations are higher of you of the boss of all other staff. Instead of taking it as an attack and saying poor me you should take it as constructive criticism.
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DeleteOur minds influence the key activity of the brain, which then influences everything; perception, cognition, thoughts and feelings, personal relationships; they're all a projection of you.
ReplyDeleteDeepak Chopra
I wanted to start my post with the quote of perception. Perception can be so misconstrued. We live in a world where people judge first think later. This is where trouble happens. People are entitled to their opinion, not saying they aren't. Before everyone jumps on the band wagon of hearing on side of the story or rushing to judgement remember everyone has a story. Here is mine about how this wonderful place changed my life....
In the early 2000's my parents got divorced. It was extremely hard for me. Now take into account a teenage girl that had no self esteem, little friends and was very mad at the world. In 2008 I met Sonya through the High School program and I was anything but easy to deal with. I was the typical teen that was defiant and thought I knew everything. Sonya pushed me to face my fears and learn to confront things that I never wanted to confront. My fear of the 1400 pound animal that could at any moment push my buttons. These horses and Sonya taught me what a strong empowered women I could be. They taught me to take charge and face things that upset me. They also taught me there were so many more things to growing up then partying and not caring and making "typical choices." She gave me a place to come hang out and learn things such a hard work, patience perseverance and that life goes on. You learn from everything you do (positive or negative). Learning to problem solve and embrace creativity.
Now fast forward a couple years...
I volunteered and learnt all about the animals and what they could teach me. I became an employee. Now I help others learn the same things I learnt and am still learning everyday. I am apart of another "family" and know that I am making a difference in peoples life.
Sonya is an amazing lady. People DO NOT realize how much work it is to keep a place like this up and running. Now remember she does it by herself with the help of her two employees and volunteers. She is an amazing Christian women with values, which is hard to find now a days. She is one of the few people that doesn't jump on band wagons or to the latest trend of "who do we hate." She is nothing but fair and gives everyone the chance or second chance they deserve.
There is so much more I could say, but I will end with saying this.....
Remember, word of mouth and social media make a huge impact on things now a days. Do your research into an issue you are interested, or give a call to the person directly. It is easy to post things anonymously and hide behind the internet, to actually approach someone about the issue is scarce. Make your own choice and not what others think. If you leave a review, review the business, not what the people look like or what you perceive things as. If you don't know what your talking about, don't say anything.
Everyone is their own person. It doesn't matter what they look like, if they have tattoes, peircings or coloured hair. Maybe get to know the person and their story and what they do and all the work it takes. Don't be a lemming and follow your friends off a cliff, YOU BE YOU.
My response on here is strictly the opinions of myself.
I just needed to speak from the heart.
Thank you Sonya and the animals and the volunteers for all the hard work you do and everything you teach everyone.
It doesn't get said enough.....
As per Ashleigh's comment above..
ReplyDeleteI am only human and would like to show you what others have said about that Red Haired Girl....
Thank you so much for a wonderful time today! It's clear that you love your animals very much, and all of your staff is very patient and capable. This deed inutile helped our time at the farm run very smoothly. I would especially like to thank Ashleigh for helping one of our kids face his fear of horses. At the beginning of our program she told everyone to do or touch something that scares them, and she helped one of our kids sit on a pony and walk with him and face his fear! All of our children enjoyed riding, petting and learning about the animals, and the goat races too! (not to mention the sheep catching) Your sense of humor kept us going, and your love and knowledge of the farm was a distinctive factor in our enjoyment of the farm. Hope to see you next year! - Camrose Boys and Girls Club
Like I said before so your research and check us out before jumping to your conclusions.
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ReplyDeleteSo I had this thing about perception and hearing peoples stories. Obviously it doesn’t matter what people say People jump on the band wagon to whatever fancies them. Here is my advice be your own person and stand up for what you think is right. I may look different, have piercing and died hair but that doesn’t change who I am as a person Its not hard to figure out who is writing this even when it is anonymous Im not going to waste time and try and justify myself over a stupid blog. What I can tell you about myself is that I am passionate for what I do and am extremely hard working. I am the first person that will try ad fix a problem that is ongoing. I would like to say yes I give my cell out to the kids, and the volunteers and that is because it makes it easier for them to ask questions or send me their schedules. Unlike the big shot companies, no I do not get a work cell phone, I have my cell that I also use for work purposes. I have been there when the children have been talked to about things, and the option is always there for the parents to ask questions. I know and can sleep easy every night that I do my best to help people and learn about what I do If anyone has a problem I encourage you to contact me personally and we can deal with it. I will not sink to the level of name calling or attacking people as a person. I know business is business. I have talked to you and your daughter numerous times and have been nothing but supportive of your girl, she also had my cell number so I could pick her up and bring her out here if she wanted. So feel free at any point to stop personally attacking people, and review the services and our animal care I know that you have your opinions and that’s great but also remember you are an adult and attacking a young women’s appearance. Who shall I point out is 22. At least I don’t get a kick out of making people feel like crap I build them up. I will pre thank everyone for their negative responses, and taking the time out of your working day to blog.
ReplyDeleteOnce again you're missing the point Clearly you don't know who I am. Reviewing the services includes reviewing the staff Just because you got a poor review doesn't mean you're a horrible person. Take the constructive criticism instead of patting yourself on the back, that's exactly why this business is going downhill
DeleteOK Enough bullshit!!! You need to take what people say SERIOUS!!!! Really though.Things need to change.yOU ARE ALL GOOD people. little fine tuning is part of the growing process, just review everything there...
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DeleteI have been coming to Horse Sense Training and Petting Zoo as a volunteer for a bit over a year now, and it has been nothing but a good experience. I love it here, it's such a great environment.
ReplyDeleteIt saddens me to see the negative comment thread someone posted here and I hope people reading this don't have a negative view on Horse Sense because of a couple people.. I'd suggest they come check Horse Sense out to see for themselves what they think of it. I consider it a very welcoming place.
I started coming to Horse Sense to spend my spare hours volunteering and working with animals. And I found so much more! I've learned so much since I've come and I learn more and more every day.
Sonya, Christel, and Ashleigh are all amazing. I can't say enough good things about them. Sonya is a steadfast woman and her knowledge of animals is never ending! She's so good with all the animals and kids at the barn. I have never seen her act in an unfair way. She always faces problems professionally. She's head on and gets straight to the point. She's taught me so much and I'm really grateful. She's a very down to earth and sensible woman.
Christel is so welcoming and friendly, she is just such a happy person! She's great with the kids and is always willing to help someone out. I really admire her!
Ashleigh has awesome hair. She's also very friendly and is awesome with kids! She stands out of the crowd, in a good way.
I look up to these ladies as they are all very strong and inspiring women. I'm glad I've gotten to know them!
The other volunteers here are great, we build friendships and make so many memories at the barn. Ones I'm sure we will remember for a long time! The barn seems like a big family. We have so much fun, even when we're working, and we never feel unappreciated.
Being at Horse Sense has helped me develop in so many ways! from working with animals, to gaining confidence, to going out of my comfort zone, and even in photography skills!
Boarders, Petting Zoo visitors, Leasers, and general public have always been treated in a kind and professional manner. We work hard to keep the place nice and tidy despite the constant flow of animals and people through there. We do our best to accommodate and make sure your time at Horse Sense is a wonderful and Memorable one! Some people might find that this isn't the place for them. After all, barns aren't for everyone. But I think you'll find that this place is an amazing establishment run by amazing people!
This place and the people here have taught me so much and I'm so thankful! And.. They're pretty much stuck with me!
Mackenzie H.
I don't tend to break barn rules, it goes against my better judgement. They're there for a reason and I know Sonya is a reasonable person. But I can see that it's pretty much pointless to argue with you, so I won't stoop to that.
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DeleteHello, we just moved our daughter to Horse Sense as the facility we had her at was not giving her the guidance we felt she needed to grow and become a better rider. I find it amazing that there seems to be only 1 person with negative comments which really shows you the validity in what they are saying. It's fine to be Anonymous but at the same time calling people out by name, if you have something to say don't hide behind anonymity this is a comment that should have been made in the privacy of the barn office to address all of your concerns. I find most people will take this approach when they know deep down the problem lies with them and not those that they are accusing. Yes everyone is entitled to their own opinion but it just shows Sonya's class that she could have called you out and provided names but instead she sayd J and Z...lucky for you. Honestly I don't think anyone would read your comments and think "oh my I won't take my child there" instead I found myself saying "wow someone is being rather defensive and I commend the owner and staff for defending themselves when I think they really do not need to as there are enough of us that stand behind them and would gladly stand in front of them to defend ANONYMOUS haters".
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DeleteAs much as we believe that lack of censorship is essential to this blog's goal; connecting people with quality, reliable, businesses and services that suit their need, trolling is unacceptable.
ReplyDeleteEveryone is free to talk about their experiences with this business, both positive and negative, because one client's "con" can easily be another person's "pro".
I.E.
(Positive) " I feel like Sample Stable is incredibly friendly, approachable, and helpful with me and my horse. They always are willing to answer a question or lend a hand."
(Negative) "I feel like Sample Stable is constantly monitoring me and my horse. They are very free with unwanted advice".
Everyone is free to read the comments here and come to their own conclusion. We urge all readers to take everything with a grain of salt, but also to understand that sometimes a little smoke does mean fire. We hope that each and every visitor will use their best judgement and apply a little common sense to any conclusions they may reach.
That said, so far we have removed comments we have deemed to be incompatible with our stated goals; spurious, mean, name-calling, obvious falsehoods, or trolling.
We may revisit our comment policy at a later date.
Your friendly neighbourhood,
Admin
I feel it is important to be aware that people can put on a public persona that differs greatly from the private person. That said, I would advise anyone who suggests their son/daughter consider volunteering at this facility to reconsider.
ReplyDeleteSituations have come to light recently to me that have me no longer looking at this facility for my daughter to volunteer. Until such things change with the owner and/or the manager not overstepping boundaries and they are respected and honored, I will stand by this decision.
This also goes for boarding our horse as I will not have any association with a business that does not separate the personal and the business side of things.
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ReplyDeleteI recommended this business to a friend, and she was worried to read some of these reviews, so I will leave a review of my own.
ReplyDeleteWe had our "Pretty Pony" birthday party for my 5 year old at this establishment this summer. It was a beautiful day! On the day of our party there were two other parties booked that overlapped with ours, but the two staff members Crystal and Ashley that were working managed each group very professionally. From what I overheard, there was even a scheduling mix up and one of the parties was not expected but you wouldn't have known it since everything ran seamlessly. My husband and I both commented on how accommodating the girls were, and that we never felt pressed for time or space due to the other groups. I did not meet the owner Sonya. The staff member that led our group was Crystal. She was assisted by volunteers Rob and Brooklyn (and some other volunteers that led horses for pony rides... sorry I didn't catch all of your names!) We had fun with our party. Crystal was very good with our kids, and you could see how her volunteers respected her. I was impressed with her knowledge, her adherence to safety rules, and how she kept the momentum of the party going so that the kids were never bored. We had a great laugh with Crystal and Rob, they made it fun for us parents too! Brooklyn brought out lots of animals for the kids to pet and see up close. This was a very valuable experience for them. The other staff member Ashley joined our group as well when we dressed up ponies and was great with interacting with the kids. You could tell the staff and volunteers got along very well. From our point of view, this seems like a fun place for kids to volunteer. Also, if you book a party, they will give you a feedback form to fill out at the end. We left a glowing review for our group.
I can't speak to the other aspects of the establishment, but we definitely recommend this place to other parents for birthday parties. The pony dress up party is fun for kids, even the boys enjoyed it! If you are worried, ask for Crystal or Ashley to lead your party! They were very accommodating, friendly, professional, lots of fun, and made us feel like our kids were safe even though we were on the farm. I don't know about the owner but if the staff and volunteers were happy it cannot be a horrible place to be.
Agreed with above :) my daughter had Christel instructing her group for beginner lessons, and she loved her and gentle Star! She was approachable and had great rapport with the kids. Unfortunately couldn't continue lessons for the winter, but we'll be back in the spring!
ReplyDeleteI notice that no one said anything about the facility since September of 2015 and then, a recent comment points out that the owner cannot be trusted to be honest and separate business from personal. The two comments that came afterward about the actual volunteers, Crystal, Ashley and Brooklyn, I totally trust. I am not trusting the owner and I strongly suggest people reconsider letting their children volunteer at this facility until the owner adheres to personal boundaries.
ReplyDeleteI would also suggest that if someone wants to hold a party there, they specifically ask for Christel and her co-employee Ashley to oversee the party. If they are denied this, I suggest they look somewhere else. I would not have the owner and the very young child volunteers that are there oversee the party as it comes down to not just the boundaries but safety as well.
You all seem to be way out of the loop. None of those ppl are there anymore. From what i heard crystal resigned for personal reasons i don't feel are right to share on a blog, ashley and sonya got in a big fight, and then sonya kicked both girls out of the barn. Happened over the course of 1 weekend. The kids were heartbroken. Rob also got kicked out. Sonya told all of the kids about it. Us parents heard too. Don't know the story from the girls side. Must have been a big blow up since the 3 of them seemed to be really close b4. There's more that goes on than what meets the eye........
ReplyDeleteStill a fun place for the kids to be. Sonya lets them hang out all day n not many barns do that so it's a unique experience for them. and they get lots of opportunities to help with lots of things. would recommend for those reasons
Post on Feb 19, 2016 at 4:20 p.m., that just goes to confirm the point regarding only having Crystal, Ashley or Brooklyn to help with the birthday parties or anything else. I would also question how these people left. They more than likely chose to leave for their own reasons or if someone supported them, they were probably kicked only because they did not agree with the owner. Something to definitely consider.
ReplyDeleteAnd since you are supposedly 'in the loop', and still defend, it would seem rather suspicious that you would defend still going there. Owner or owner's friends by chance?
Since the ones who were the reliable ones, trusted with caring for the animals and the children who were there are supposedly gone, you are left with a dishonest or controlling owner who won't separate personal from business boundaries who is leaving children who legally should not be allowed to oversee other children with their safety at the barn or with the animals if something were to happen. There are other facilities around the vicinity that one could go to and should. Anyone who would continue to go there knowing these facts is crazy to put their children in that situation and put safety at risk!
I think there should be a legal investigation regarding this business, its owner and any dealings on that property!
You are absolutely right about that. The reason the barn, washrooms and lobby are clean is because the kids who 'volunteer' there are FORCED to clean those areas and set up and take down for the Birthday Parties and Events....let me be clear that when I say Volunteer what I mean is we as parents are 'paying' board or lease fees and our children are having to do all the work because she does not want to pay people to do it because of her hate for the NDP and their new laws. My child would go to HS to ride her leased horse and often would not get on to ride until near to 5:00 PM and then only for a short time the rest of the time was spent cleaning and doing work. I am all for the kids having to do some work but not run her facility for her. Many times they were left at the barn with a list from Sonya to get done while she was off site. It is child labor and we have let Human Rights know about this situation. Also I have a hard time putting my faith in someone who will openly talk badly about people and defame their character. I also witnessed her berade a young girl at the end of their lessons when they should have been getting accomplishment ribbons she openly in front of the riders and then her mother in front of the rest of the gallery she said "you need to take time off to determine if you really should be riding" "you cannot control the horse and are too scared"...truth or not there is a time and place for negative feedback and in front of the rest of the class while still in saddle is not one of them. It's too bad really because there is so much potential but when you venture out into the horse world and mention Horse Sense or Sonya people all have the same reaction and it isn't a positive one.
ReplyDeleteAttended/booked birthday parties at this place the past 3 years in a row. First year attended, had staff member Crystal run party. I booked last year, Crystal ran party with help from volunteers. This year, run by children. The state of the facility was not the same. I don't expect a barn to be spotless, but certainly not as messy. The farm tour was lacking in information and poor time management. Pony rides were alright but the owner barking at volunteers was unpleasant for everyone. Immensely disappointing experience all around, considering our positive experience in previous years. We may consider booking again in the future in the hopes that we get an older staff member leading our party, however I will explore other farm birthday party options first...
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