Big Creek Riding Stables, Decatur

Authorities need to come in and shut this place down. When animals are not being cared for properly it is considered neglect and abuse. Turn them in and let them pay the cost of not taking care of what needs to be taken care of!!!!!!!

i absolutely love being at big creek. i've boarded my horse there for the last three and a half years, and once before that awhile back. i've kept my horse at a few other barns around, but big creek is defiantly the best in decatur. the facility has a lot more to offer than anywhere else does. big creek is not going ‘downhill,’ if anything, it is quite the opposite. considering the facility was near closing fall of 2007, it has come a long way. the trails might not be perfect but it’s a work in process; nothing happens overnight. other than that, I can’t think of any other half legitimate reason/argument as to why you wouldn’t want to board your horse(s) at big creek. almost everyone there are friendly, horse loving people.. they are there to simply take care of and ride their horse and mind their own. that’s how it should be. no place is perfect but big creek has a lot more positive attributes then it does negative. (:

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I am grateful for many many things....one of them being my friends at Big Creek.I have Co-workers that are kind and thoughtful. I am grateful for a boss - that treats me like family. Friends that have wrapped me in prayer, notes, phone calls, cards, text messages and pet care that exceeded what anyone should do for a co-worker or horse friend. A benefit show that left my husband and I overwhelmed ~ you cannot believe the outpouring of kindness and care that came from everyone at BIG Creek ~ amazing and humbling! I have riding students and their parents that are checking on me regularly, sending notes and colored pages. (These have been so dear to me). They have walked and fed and housed my pets when I had weeks of treatments. They picked up mail, helped with the school horses and so many things I will never be able to repay these many acts of kindness. Thank you Big Creek Family! You are all Awesome! I cannot wait to get back to work and miss everyone of you!

Big Creek is going downhill because of lazy management. I have been told this by multipule people. I'm thankful we left when we did.

I have not been happy with Big Creek for some time now. I used to board a few of my horses there until not too long ago. There were never any shavings, the horses never had water, never got fed at a decent time, the trails are torn up and have been for over a year, the arenas were poorly worked (if and when they were actually being worked), the Park District got a grant for the pastures yet there are still some that cannot be used (because they have not bothered to fix the electric fencing), the manager doesn't do much of anything, the workers are poorly educated and don't have much (if any) prior experience with horses, etc. I also did not like the fact that I would come to the barn and listen to people talk bad about others and the manager do absolutely nothing about it, (even though she clearly without a doubt heard it.) I can say all this about not being happy with the service because I did pay the extra amount for full board, I did not just witness it. I wanted to switch from full board to self board, but my job will not allow it. So I moved my horses to a better facility and could not be happier. Do your homework before selecting a barn to keep your horses at!

Big Creek is a great place to board your horses. I have been boarding off and on here since i was 12. I love this place dearly and it holds many memories for me. Yes there are people that talk about this place like its going down hill, but think about it...this year we brought back rodeos and team pennings, which havent been here in a while. There also have been more activities such as hay rides and more shows. I think it is taking a turn for the better. Rebecca is a good manager, she makes sure things get done..the stalls are done everday, the horses are turned out everyday, and the arenas stay worked. She has also made sure the shavings stay piled up, and if for some reason we cant get them she makes sure she brings out bagged shavings for us to use. I have young horses and with everything that goes on here and the facility we have this is the best place around to work with them. There isnt anywhere else around here that has all the great areas and pastures that Big Creek does. I have been to all the other facilities around, even been offered to stay at some for free but i just like it here too much. If you dont believe me look for yourself. It is a friendly place, all this talk about the boarders running around and being disrespectful is crap. I also have never seen anyone smoke or drink in this facility. Most of the boarders here are self boarders so when i read these reviews about the boarders not being happy makes me laugh, because they do everything themselves so what would they not be happy about? I think that yes everyone is entilted to an opinoin, but big creek is a horse boarding facitlity here to give people a nice place to house their horses. ANd it is. It has unlimited use of arena, pastures, wash areas, water, electricity, brooms, wheelbarrows, lime, shavings, brooms, and much more. Rebecca is also very easy to get ahold of and is always willing to help and answer questions. And if she has a problem she will let you know, she doesnt just brush it off. So if you dont believe me come see for yourself.

Would like to agree with the last few reviews. Big Creek is going downhill yet again. The manager Rebecca isn't doing anything to improve the riding center. Her office is a pigpen and I rarely saw her doing much at all. I'm really disappointed along with many other longtime boarders and supporters. You would think the park district would put more effort into finding a good and productive manager.

Not a good place to be. We had a lot of our horses there and they were not properly taken care of. Whenever we ask why they were not being fed at a decent time, why the stalls didn't look clean, and so on, the management seemed to care less. The new manager Rebecca even got an additude with me when I nicely confronted her about it. I was also sick of everything not getting done and hearing everyone complaining about it even if it was rightly so. People are always saying how the bathrooms are never cleaned, the trails were torn up and can't be used, the arenas aren't worked enough, so on and so forth. People are sick of it. I hope I helped save people their time. Many people are realizing Big Creek is going right back downhill and they are leaving. Hope I was of help.

Big Creek is steadily going downhill. I have horses there and have for awhile. I personally feed my own horses, but I see that the other horses (which the barn feeds) are getting fed at various times. It is never a steady pattern like the horses need. Also the horses are almost always low on water, in the summer when there are two buckets, and even in the winter. I, as well as many other boarders, am disappointed with the newest manager to come, Rebecca. She is often rude to certain boarders and kids that come for lessons, talks behind other boarder’s backs, her office is a mess, and I honestly am not sure what she does with her day. Other people feed and water, other people clean stalls, other people work on the arena, other people give lessons, etc. She also makes rules and does not follow through with them. She allows teenage girls to run around, half dressed, cussing, and carrying on while young children are present. When shows or rodeos come to the barn, she lets them completely take over. Rebecca makes the boarders move their horse trailers when there are events going on, even though that is part of what we pay for. She also allows the people attending the rodeo to park in the pastures. It was muddy one time she allowed it and trucks were getting stuck and tore up the ground. If you have a horse at Big Creek and there is a rodeo, you have to pay to go to the barn that night at a “discounted price,” regardless of if you are watching the rodeo, or simply visiting or feeding your horse. It really isn’t right. We already pay enough as it is, especially when the trails aren’t even available now and haven’t been for over a year. They say they are working on them but no progress has been made. The other employees do not know much about horses or tractors. One of the employees could not even control a filly. She got out of control, ran into multiple objects in the aisle, and ended up nearly dying because she sprained her ankle, was cut up, and was in so much shock. Also, another employee was driving the tractor and somehow ran it into the side of the barn. Thankfully there were no horses in the stall he hit. It is a shame that this is happening all over again for Big Creek. I am planning on leaving soon; Big Creek is not a good place to keep your horse!

I've boarded at Big Creek for quite some time. I've seen a handful of managers go through the place and they are all a disappointment. The newest manager, Rebecca, is no acceptation. She is lazy. The trails have been torn apart for over a year now in an attempt to 'make them better.' Two of the main front pastures are unusable and are overgrown with weeds. The parking lot is always full of pot holes. There are times when you have to go a week or so without regular shavings. The tack room is often left unlocked because people are too lazy to lock it up once they are finished. There are many times that the horses are not watered. There are rules set, yet the manager does nothing but give 'verbal warnings,' even if it occurs more than once. There is often alcohol, smoking in the barn, cussing, people riding through the barn, people messing with other people’s horses, etc. It is also not uncommon for your stuff to go missing there. I often find my pick, shovel, broom, etc in random places because people have no respect and take off with other's property. I have also experienced firsthand hearing the manager talk horrible about another boarder right when they left her office. Calling them psycho, crazy, etc. This is a place of drama and chaotic mess. If you want a good, functioning place to board your horse, go somewhere else. This is the farthest thing from a 'family friendly' barn like they make it out to be. It isn't worth your time.