Lakewood Pony Adventure

I just had the most horrifying experience at this place. I took my daughter to see the ponies as we have been going for years and our neighbors told us it was under new management. As we were waiting for our neighbors to come meet up with us at the ponies a little child was on the one trot pony they had and the pony got loose by itself running and jumping all over the area with the little girl on it and she was screaming and falling off to the side of the pony. Only saw one older lady working the whole pony ride lady and it was like she didn't know what to do and parents and public were jumping fences and yelling and the poor child was screaming. Their was no control and it was like they had no idea what to do. I will never take my child to this facility ever again, I don't see this new buisness staying in buisness with ponies that clearly are not trained. This pony rides is not safe!!!!! more

I was there the day they opened with my kids . It may not have been up to par for the first day. But my kids had a great time talking to and learning about ponies and things u can do for then. They loved the Petting Zoo the Animals were so iwell taken care of that we know soon the place will be where we will come back to. Thank you all for Making a great day for my kids.\r Michael&Kim and family'. more

Diana D. I too was there today with my daughter and it has been long time and I too had stopped going due to no trotters, but honestly don't they think maybe they should have waited till the place was in better shape I mean it's kinda an eye sore especially with the outhouse being the first thing you see and not very welcoming. The staff was nice and so the people left the place kind of bad but really if your going to take on buisness probably should make it more presentable. Just my opinion and maybe in a few months I will try to go back but for now it's just not that pretty and needs a lot of work and more professional buisness like feeling and the outhouse I'm sorry has got to go thats just disgusting and they really need a wash station especially dealing with animals. more

Dave, I don't know where you were but we just visited the Lakewood Pony Adventure and I couldn't be more thrilled! What a huge improvement from the previous bunch!!! The lady told me they had only just opened last Friday and are still trying to clean up and rebuild from the mess that last bunch left. These animals are well cared for and well fed, the workers are polite and went out of their way to make sure my kids had a great time. I was given the choice if I wanted to lead the pony my daughter was riding or have one of the workers lead her. I was more than happy to be in there with my daughter and being able to be that close to a pony myself! The lady in charge told me of all the improvements they are putting in, including shade for the ponies, which I think is important. The petting zoo animals were also in good condition, clean and well cared for. What a change in attitude from the last crew and this one! That was why we stopped coming. These people seem to genuinely be happy to make the kids experience a good one while making sure the animals are happy in their job too.\r I most highly recommend this spot, even for us big kids!\r We will be back often. They said you can even schedule birthday parties there and will be offering ""Mommy and Me"" classes where the parent and child learn about the ponies and work directly with them. What's not to love? more

It was my first trip today to this place and I read all the reviews and tried to go to place open minded regardless. Roxann S. your absolutely right, I never saw the old place but this was not what I expected at all. I got to place and a person directed me to where the place was. No pony ride sign and didn't see any ponies out and was told that they believed the place opened at 10am so went over and they were not even ready for opening and it was indeed suppose to open at 10am. Also no hours posted buisness name nothing, and the entrance let me tell you the first thing you see is an outhouse not very welcoming kind of gross. The place is not upkept at all. I really was shocked because some of the reviews made the place sound great and others that people were rude. Well I wouldn't say they were rude however lot of people standing around and one lady had pony out in the open and it was swinging it's hind end all around my kid and I'm not positive but don't ponies horses kick sometimes so probably shouldn't have it out where public are walking to get into the place. Just my opinion I'm a city guy so don't know much. So I went to office and no one was in their walked around two guys doing ponies on a circle thing and then the next thing I know they took them off and put them over on a bigger circle. Didn't understand that but realized later they were doing rides over there now. It was just so unorganized and kind of crazy. I didn't even bother to find who I was to go to and pay and ask I took my child to the horses instead and plan to find another place. Anyone got any ideas? more

Just went by to take my girls to ride the ponies and see the animals and it's under new management and Very unorganized. Had to pay the man directly not like in the office. Animals were nice and was quite more then the last place but it's put together horriblly and cheap dirty looking with pieces tied etc.. Pony ride area had no gates which made me a little nervous had fencing but no gates. Only 2 ponies and were unattended and one turned around and started to push the bar around making the other go backwards and felt so bad for that pony. Also they stand in the sun their is no cover like the old place and summer is coming up.The old place may have been pretty strict on rules and at times could sound harsh but at least the place was extremely clean, organized and animals were taking care of. Just not what I expected at all. Wish for the old place to be back much rather deal with strict rules then a trashy looking pla ce. Do no recommend going to the new management go to Irvine or Griffith park. Also at least at those places they have green grass and not dirty and dusty. more

I saw the center while driving by. I stopped in to check it out. It was very difficult to find the main office. The staff there did nothing to help, and glared at me like they wanted me to go away. When I did find the main office the manager was very unhelpful. Once I mentioned I was interested in lessons, she for some reason became nicer. I wonder why. Lessons are $50 and It looks like they have some really cool stuff to offer. If you're willing to deal with poor service. more

My children grew up visiting the Lakewood Pony Adventure and it was a thriving business 15 years ago. I was excited to share the experience with my three little neighbors and took them and their mom over today. I'm sorry to say it was awful. The place is poorly run and that would be being polite. If you're going to work with people and their children get some people skills! The petting zoo was advertised but was not open. Their reason.....the person who handles it went back to high school! What?? So you have an advertised time but just don't have it open? While I was there a number of other parents came with their children to find they had traveled for nothing. The pony rides were awful.....I think it lasted approximately one minute if even that. Again, what's up with the staff? These people do not have the savvy or know how to work with people or children. Yikes! I was very sorry to see the place in such a dismal state. If it continues to be run as it is I cannot imagine it will last much longer. It once was a place of good memories and fun for kids now it's a little scary with a very unwelcoming feel! Very sad! more

For the younger children there is a very nice pony ride and petting zoo area that is well run, clean, with very sweet animals. They even host parties! Pros: Sweet animals that are well cared for. Cons: The pony rides/zoo are only open Wed-Sun. more

Lakewood Equestrian Center is a great place to ride. The facility is one of the larger facilities in this area. It also offers two great riding programs in hunt seat and in dressage. The grounds have improved in the last several years with new footing in several of the arenas, new plantings, new turn outs and new stalls. The people boarding are great as well and also participate in making sure the facility continues to improve. This place has gotten a bad reputation due to the unfortunate experience of a few with conflicts with the management of facility. This is not the norm and does not represent certainly what is happening today. More people should come and check out this oasis within our city!!! Pros: Close to Freeways, lots of space more

this review is about the boarding stable, not the pony rides or petting zoo. Lakewood could be a fine stable--I hear that it was once upon a time. Now it is up to the boarders to do any upgrades at all. The owner simply doesn't care. You'll find boarders picking rocks out of the footing, planting trees, buying new hoses, putting mats in the washrack areas, etc. This is something management should do. Boarders watch out for your horses there, not the manager. The jumping arenas are raked maybe once a week, resulting in horses having to work on hard sand. The hay quality is inconsistent. Shavings are too. You have to be in training--and in a lesson--in order to jump, and there's only one jumping ""trainer"". Too bad, because the place is large, has a lot of arenas and turnout pens, and could really be a nice facility. Pros: lots of space, freeway close, barn workers are nice Cons: management doesn't care more

It was a wonderful experience to go take my niece here. The ponies are docile and friendly and she LOVED the experience. Not to mention it's a great thing to do that is easy on the pocketbook. Pony rides ... I forget how much... but I think they're like $5 to ride a pony the goes around and around a pole in a pretty carousel-type setup. The petting zoo was great too, at only $1 for admission to it. You can buy pellets to feed the goats and sheep for like $1.50 I think. It's definitely not an all day activity as the pony ride is short and how much petting zoo can a person take? But it's enchanting to a little one to get to ride a pony and spend time with the other animals. The only negative is that the workers are so RUDE. But I put up with it for the experience that a place like this gives children. more

This place I would recommend to all of the people in the world! They are so good with my daughter and all of their horses. They have great service in all ways the only thing is they have NOTHING wrong with their facility. they are wonderful! Pros: Horses, and Service Cons: Bathrooms more

Lakewwood Equestrian Center has gone downhill for a number of different reasons. many of the riding areas have unsafe footing and poor or no lighting. There is little or no arena maintenance. The feed is mediocre. The costs are astronomical compared to the level of service. There is a dressage trainer and hunter jumper trainer(relative to owner). You are not allowed to do any sort of schooling over ground poles or anything unless you are in training with the hunter jumper trainer. The woman Chris who owns the place is rude to her customers and is unprofessional. The center could be so much more and provide a higher quality service to the shrinking equestrian community yet it continues in mediocrity. Pros: close to freeway, pony rides for kids, lots of space Cons: grumpy owner, place needs upkeep more