Coventry Farms

I love this barn. I started riding here over 7 years ago and I have gotten the greatest experience. At Coventry, Jim and Kris Mcconnell are always welcoming and have their arms wide open at all times. The welcoming atmosphere is what makes this place great. The school horses are very sweet, kind horses that have plenty of experience teaching kids (and adults) how to ride. The ""malnourished"" horses at this barn are non-exisistent. The school horses are aged but well taken care of. The skinny school horses are because of age. When a horse becomes older, their ribs tend to protrude out, so that makes everyone's complaints about how that the school horses are skinny, invalid. The Mcconnell family has always been very supportive with my family, especially in times of economic trouble. The barns aren't gleaming and sparkling, but they are well taken care of. I absolutley love this barn and I will never leave! The Mcconnells are my second family and Coventry farms is my second home! more

I rode at Coventry for several years and would not recommend it to anyone. I have to say, many of the positive reviews on here are clearly written by owners or people who work there, which is unfortunate, but shows just how the people at this barn operate. For example, Dan Brost, one of the reviewers, is an owner and it is clear to me that several other positive reviews are by people who own or work at Coventry. Anyway, the horses are not at all well cared for, which is my biggest concern. The school horses are kept in poor conditions, they are sometimes used in 2-3 one hour lessons a day and the arena footing is poor. I couldn't handle seeing the poor skinny school horses kept in dirty, dark stalls all day, they kicked around for hours in lessons. As far as the care of boarders horses, there is no turnout, stalls aren't cleaned as often as they should be, water is often empty and the feed is of poor quality. For the price you pay, you can find much better. There is a big emphasis placed on showing and buying their horses - and if you don't, you don't get the same attention. I would recommend anyone considering boarding or taking lessons at Coventry, check it out carefully and follow your instincts. There is better out there! more

First off I would like to say that I am not sure where the reviewers posting negative comments are talking about they must be thinking of another Coventry Farms in Littleton. That, or they must be making up lies. I have not been at Coventry for very long but I already have been accepted into the family and am getting to ride amazing horses in my lessons with fantastic trainers. I believe that what others might not truly understand is the sacrafice the other trainers make everyday for their students, like me. They have lives too! Almost always they would rather put aside their own problems to help you conquer your own. All the horses I get to ride are in fine health and are perfectly happy to do their job. more

One of the worst decisions I have ever made was to ride at Coventry Farms. Although the trainers can be nice, the barn itself is quite atrocious. From my experience, the school horses (and their tack) is treated quite horribly. And the privately owned ones not much better. While the therapeutic riding at Coventry is doing well, the English jump training is bad. The amount of English show competitors right now (not including the owners) is very, very limited. All I can say is do not board or ride at this stable. The condition the animals live in will make you depressed. On another note, the other reviewer by the name of Dan Brost is an owner of the barn. I am not sure why he has to make up stories of his 'first time to the barn' if he has nothing to hide there. more

I have been riding at coventry for over a year now and I although do not own a horse, I have always been treated like one of their own family members. The McConnells are not only phenomenal traniers but they are the best at incouraging riders to go beyond their comfort zones! I have belonged to other barns but at Coventry I really feel like part of a family. All of the horses are great horses & are very well cared for. The school horses teach you a lot about riding and they are top notch. For all the people out there saying mean & nasty coments you should think twice about lying about something that you obviously don't have a clue about because coventry is the best barn ever!!!! more

On our first visit to the barn, we were impressed with the friendly owners and trainers,who are very, very knowledgable. The horses were very well kept, from the Grand Prix horses to the horses used in lessons. The barn is very clean and beautiful. The instructors were very helpful and interested in sharing their passion with riders of all levels. They turn out really great riders. All of the girls we seen, seemed so self assured. Everyone was so helpful and cheerful. So if you want to horse show and win, Coventry Farms is the best place to be !!!! more

I have been riding at Coventry Farms for almost five years now and wish I had known about it sooner. The McConnells are the most down to earth, encouraging people I have ever met and they have helped me in my riding skills more then i could have ever imagined. The way I was treated here stayed the same through good and bad financial times. If you are just learning to ride, or want to compete and win in shows, Coventry Farms is the best place. more

My daughter has been riding at Coventry Farms for several years and I can't say enough good things about them. The progress she has made in her riding has been amazing. This is a family owned business and everyone is treated like a member of the family. Jim and Kris McConnell are true professionals and their knowledge of horses and the equestrian world is unlike anything I have seen. They are always at the barn and available for any question, no matter how big or small. If you or your children want to go to a happy place and learn all about riding horses, I highly recommend Coventry Farms. more

This barn is not only filthy and disgusting, but the horses (especially the school horses) are treated terribly. The barn is hanging on because of the therapeutic riding, and without it the barn would lose money. I was very disappointed, the owners are bad trainers because not only do they show up to your lessons late or never, but they spend it socializing the entire time. They seem very uninterested and tired of teaching. If you board your horse there, expect them to hardly get fed, exercised by the trainer, and the stalls to be cleaned 3-4 times a week. Horses aren't turned out daily, and they don't blanket. I made an account here just so I could warn people and have them not make the same mistake I did. more

My daughter and I both ride at Coventry. We started as once a week riders on school horses and gradually moved into leasing and owning our own horses. We're now at the barn everyday & would move in if we could! It's a great community of riders-from beginners to grand prix-and horses-from rescues who only walk & trot to horses in their prime and showing at high levels. It's a great place to ride if you just want to have fun with a horse or if you want to do serious, competitive showing. Wouldn't be anywhere else! more

I have had a very positive experience at this barn. I am unable to own my own horse and do not lease. I have been treated the same as those who do own or lease. Everyone is very friendly and supportive. The horses are well taken care of, as well as being selected for a student's skill level. Every time I take a horse from a stall for a lesson, the stall has been cleaned by the time I put the horse back afterward. Instruction is excellent and there is plenty of personal attention. Overall, this is a great place to ride, no matter if you are a child or an adult! Pros: great instruction, good people more

Horses are underfed and forced to live in horrible conditions. If it isn't their fanciest horse they neglect it. If you are not the best rider in the world forget about being treated equally. All the people at this barn who can afford their fancy ponies will treat a person who doesn't own a horse like a slave. This is barn is filled with snobs and stuck up people. Cons: Neglected horses and customers more

Horses are fed only 1x/day not 2x/day, stalls are only cleaned every other day, dog food feed to horses when money is tight. Don't board here. Pros: Good trainers Cons: Some Trainers show up late or not at all for classes more