9 Acres Equestrian Center

09/07/2024

Two of our lesson horses, “Dunkin” and “Winston”, like to start growing their winter coats early so they both got a little haircut this morning. “Dunkin” had a lot of opinions to share about his new style.

09/03/2024

“CALVIN” is looking for a new barn. 15yo grade gelding, 15.1hh. Bought at an online auction a few months ago. He is extremely safe, sweet and well-behaved but is not staying sound enough for lessons. *Please DM questions.* Asking lowest of 4 figures.

08/30/2024

Back to school!

Thank you for a fantastic summer, we can’t wait to see all your silly and smiling faces again next year! 🦄

Don’t forget that we have Day Camps during Winter-break and Spring-break if you want a fun, educational, way to stay busy while school is out. Our lesson program also runs year round if your kiddo is looking to improve their riding skills.

www.9AcresEC.com

08/14/2024

Make Them Carry Their Saddle

A father of a darling girl and I were talking last week and he said that he wanted his daughter to ride more and not have to do the work part of the catching, grooming, and saddling. I smiled as I explained.

Riding horses is a combination of strength, timing, and balance. Kids in this country are physically weak (unless they are actively involved with weight training and physical conditioning 4+ times a week.)

When you walk out to the field, you are clearing your stress from being under fluorescent lights all day; feeling the sun soak into your bones. As your body moves on uneven surfaces, it strengthens your legs and core.

When you groom your horse (especially currying), you are toning your arms and stabilizing your core.

When you carry your saddle, your arms, chest, and back are doing isolated strengthening work.

Being near horses, calms and makes you tune into the splendor of these empathetic animals.

When you ride at a posting trot, it’s equivalent to a slow jog calorie burn wise.

After a lesson, the riders are physically tired and mentally quiet and balanced.

Horses feel your heart beat and mirror your emotions back.

Riding large and somewhat unpredictable animals makes you resilient and pushes your expectations.

Working with horses is so much more than learning how to ride.

So parents, make your children carry their saddles. Don’t do the hard parts for them, as long term it actually hurts them. To advance with their riding, they must get stronger. You can help by doing the high parts.

I love having you all at the farm, and am so grateful to get to share these fascinating animals with you.

Hannah Campbell Zapletal

08/01/2024

“OLIVER” is a 2001 bay overo APHA gelding. He’s been in our lesson program for 4 years & is no longer able to stay consistently sound under our workload. Under saddle he is a lazier “push” ride but has a comfortable w/t/c. Best for an intermediate+ rider, he will sometimes ignore a total beginner. He has some trail experience with our day-campers during the summer months but would not call him a bombproof trail horse, simply because that’s not what we use him for. He is not an easy loader but trailers quietly once loaded . Currently getting yearly coffin injections, daily Previcox & has front shoes with pads. Would love a home where he can be outside more than we are able to offer here! He is middle/top of the herd. UTD on shots, farrier, dental and worming. Price reflects the maintenance he is on (1k).

***Will post a video to the comments section under this post. The best way to contact us is to message this page.***

07/09/2024

This is currently blocking traffic on Lagrange to the barn! Will hopefully be cleared up soon.

Large Police Presence! PPPD along with partner agencies are currently searching the wooded area northwest of 123rd and RT 45 for a subject wanted for possession of a stolen vehicle from West Chicago, IL The vehicle was stolen earlier today.

The Male/White Short hair, Black Shorts & Gray shoes fled on foot into the wooded area west of RT 45 after being involved in an auto accident.

07/04/2024

Laurie Eisenbrandt you’re the coolest! Happy 4th!

07/04/2024

🇺🇸💙HAPPY 4th! 💙🇺🇸

We are CLOSED to the public today. Lessons & normal office hours will resume tomorrow. Have a great holiday!

06/26/2024

SUMMER CAMP is in full swing and we still have some July & August spots open!

If you’re interested in having your kids ask you to buy them a horse for every single birthday, Christmas and other holiday until you finally cave…give us a call at 708-361-7977 🐴🎄

A full camp FAQ with prices and schedule can be found here: www.9AcresEC.com

06/18/2024

Due to the heat, lessons have been cancelled Mon/Tues/Weds/Thurs this week!

DayCamp will run.
Stay cool!

06/11/2024

7/4/24 UPDATE, “Sierra” is SOLD

***AVAILABLE HORSES***

“OLIVER” is a 2001 bay APHA gelding. He’s been in our lesson program for 4 years & is looking for an easier job. Under saddle he is a lazier “push” ride but has a comfortable w/t/c. Best for an intermediate+ rider, he will sometimes ignore a total beginner. He has some trail experience with our day-campers during the summer months but would not call him a bombproof trail horse, simply because that’s not what we use him for. He is not an easy loader. Currently getting yearly coffin injections, daily Previcox & has front shoes with pads. Would love a home where he can be outside more than we are able to offer here! He is middle/top of the herd in a group. UTD on shots, farrier, dental and worming. Price reflects the maintenance he is on (1k).

**SOLD** “SIERRA” is a registered 2006 sorrel APHA mare. We bought Sierra from a boarder who was getting out of horses & she is struggling to keep sound with our workload. Previous owner was trail riding 1-3x/wk & doing 1 lesson/wk (on no meds) without issues. She is safe and sweet in the arena or out on trail. She just needs an easier job! UTD on dental, worming, farrier and vetting. Current maintenance: front shoes & daily Previcox. Price reflects maintenance (2k)

We also have TWO pasture pet only horses (one mare and one gelding, please message for details on them).

***Will post videos of Oliver and Sierra to the comments section under this post. The best way to contact us is to message this page.***

05/22/2024

It’s not too late to register for summer camp!

Daily riding lessons along with every fun, educational, horse-related activity you can possibly think of!

All camp info can be found here:
http://www.9acresec.com/camps.html

Registration can be done in person, or over the phone 708-361-7977

05/20/2024

We had such a great time at the Spring Student Show this past Saturday…we forgot to take pictures!

If you have anything from the day that you would like to share, we’d love to see them down in the comments.

Big congratulations to all our competitors, with special mentions to ADDISON W. (High Point Champion in the Intermediate/Advanced division) ANASTASIA S. (Reserve High Point in the Intermediate/Advanced division) SOFIA C. (High Point Champion in the Novice division)
and DELANEY F. (Reserve High Point in the Novice division).

We so appreciate all of our students who came out and rode; parents & family who spent the day cheering them on; our staff for all their hard work and of course; the lessons horses, who we couldn’t do any of this without! 🦄

Thank you!

05/14/2024

We’re busy getting ready for the annual Student Horse Show this Saturday!

Below you will find a link with a copy of the show bill, some information on how competitors should dress, spectator seating, parking and more.

We are also very excited to have a food truck from GP Italiano coming out to serve their delicious pizzas and more!

PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION

05/03/2024

Happy birthday to our May babies! 🎉🥳🎈🎁

Pete (b. 1998) 26 yrs old!
Levi (b. 5/8/2001) 23 years old!
Winston (b. 5/15/2002) 22 years old!

04/25/2024

Stalls available!

Full service boarding in Palos Park, adjacent to miles of Cook County Forest Preserve trails.

Stalls cleaned 7 days/wk.
Hay & grain 2x/day.
Dry lot turnout available.
Huge indoor, 2 outdoor arenas.
Large tack lockers assigned to each stall.

Please email us at [email protected] or call the office at 708-361-7977 for more info & a boarding application.

04/05/2024

Spring Day Camp was filled with lots of riding time, learning, barn chores and (for some reason every campers favorite activity) … climbing the manure pile.

Our Summer Camps fill up really quickly and we have to waitlist kids every year. Call the office at 708-361-7977 to register.

More info about camps and our policies can be found here: http://www.9acresec.com/camps.html

04/01/2024

Time to register for the next two sessions of PeeWee classes. Call the office at 708-361-7977

03/29/2024

Bring your own shovels and containers! We can load trucks & trailers with a skid-steer as long as you call ahead to confirm. 708-361-7977

03/12/2024

In the past few weeks we were able to retire both “Gunner” & “Willie” to fantastic homes ❤️, and also welcomed a new face “Tavi” to the lesson program.

We still have 3 horses looking for families, the link to their info can be found below!

https://www.facebook.com/100063466905428/posts/899474185511470/?app=fbl

03/11/2024

Reminder that our PeeWee Lessons begins this Friday 3/15. We still have some openings!

03/11/2024

SPRING STUDENT SHOW BILL AND CLINICS! Please check with your instructor about which classes your child should be in. Sign up in the office! There is a “what to wear” guide and other show day info available in the office as well!

03/07/2024

We said goodbye to two really special lesson horses this week.

“Buddy” 1993-2024
and “Sugar” 1996-2024.

“Buddy” lived here at 9 Acres for over 20 years. Most of our staff grew up riding him and the number of students he taught over the years must easily reach into the thousands. He had a such a huge personality and when he wasn’t spooking at absolutely nothing, he would often fall asleep and drool on crossties. “Sugar” was only part of our barn family for a few years but she was, without a doubt, one of the best beginner horses that we have ever had. The barn will not the same without them! 💙

02/24/2024

WE ARE HIRING summer camp counselors.

HOURS
** 9:30AM - 330PM.
** Monday - Thursday
** Camps run June 10th - August 15th

RESPONSIBILITIES
** Duties will include leading a group of 6-8 campers during their activities for the week, grooming & saddling your group’s horses & assisting the riding instructor as needed.

REQUIREMENTS
** 15+ years old.
** Previous horse experience is a MUST & you must be able to properly saddle/bridle/lunge etc. You must be able to work independently.

ADDITIONAL INFO
** Opportunity for someone to permanently stay on after summer camps are over and saddle for lessons on Thursdays (4:30PM-9PM) and on Saturdays (8:30AM-3PM) when our current staff leaves for college.

(Please PM if interested.)

02/20/2024

02/13/2024

UPDATED*** 3/12/24

Willie has been sold, we still have *3* wonderful ex-lesson horses that are currently looking for new homes or careers.

Please click on the individual photos for the description of each horse. The best way to contact is to send a message to this page.

01/22/2024

The lesson horses had a relaxing (and chilly) week off and are excited for the students to come back on Monday! 🦄

(from left to right: Dunkin, Indy, Levi, Trigger, George, Gus, QT, Winston and Cowboy.)

01/15/2024

UPDATE!

All lessons have been cancelled Monday 1/15, Tuesday 1/16, Weds 1/17, Thursday 1/18 and Friday 1/19 due to the low temperatures! Any students signed up have already been called!

Please reach out to the office with any questions and stay warm! 708-361-7977

We hope to see everyone next week!

01/13/2024

All lessons cancelled on Friday 1/12 &
Saturday 1/13!
Stay warm! ❄️❄️❄️