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Brooke Farrell hangs out with Blacky at Shadowbrook Farm in Mettawa. Her mother, Caroline, is a longtime horse rider.
photography by joel lerner
A breed apart
Riding horses — especially competitively — remains a passion on the North Shore ■ by angelika labno When Melissa Fleisher of Highland Park turned 16, her parents said she could have a horse or a car. She chose a car and never rode again. When she turned 40, her father — who owns racehorses — offered a deal. If she could find a place that could convert one of the horses to a saddle horse, she could be hers. After interviewing several stables around the North Shore, she settled with Celebration Farm, part of Shadowbrook Farm in Mettawa. It was a challenging feat for both Fleisher and Nosey, a black thoroughbred. She jokes that she couldn’t walk for a month since she hadn’t used those riding muscles in so long, whereas Nosey was temperamental and tried to race the other horses. “She would start galloping and bucking — it was like a rodeo!” said Fleisher. “The trainer worked diligently to calm her down, and now she’s as slow as molasses.” Though riding on the North Shore was more commonplace half a century ago — when places like Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest had stables — it still has many adherents, and competitive horseback riding is actually growing. Riders don’t need to drive far to pursue their passion — though they do need a hefty savings account to pay for feeding, veterinary costs, saddles and more. With four kids keeping her busy at home, Fleisher decided to splurge on the “Rolls Royce” level of full service at Celebration. Full service at stables can cost up to $1,500 a month, which includes bathing the horse and blanketing it in the winter. There are cheaper options. At Freedom Woods in Morton Grove, boarding starts around
$700 a month and includes stall cleaning, bedding changes and two feedings per day. For those looking to start riding, Caroline Farrell, a seasoned competitive rider who grew up in Lake Forest, suggests searching barns in Lake County — especially those with school horses — and visiting. There are various breeds, such as warmbloods and quarter horses, and some are better suited to riding goals (such as racing or jumping). “When you find the right horse, it’s worth its weight in gold,” said Farrell.
“When you find the right horse, it’s worth its weight in gold.” | Caroline Farrell Olde Welbourne’s head trainer and third-generation equestrian Denise Dennehy Lenn specifies that for beginners, the most important part is always safety, then the athleticism of the horse. “Your focus is going to be on how the horse takes care of the rider,” she says. Coming from a family of professionals — with father Charles a former member of the U.S. Equestrian Team and mother Daphne an American Horse Shows Association Horsewoman of the Year — Lenn knows the competitive world from a trainer’s perspective and from a competitor’s. She notes that the popularity of competitive horseback riding — especially hunter/jumper and dressage — has increased terrifically on the North Shore in the past few years. “With other sports, like tennis, a tennis racket doesn’t have its own opinion,” said Lenn. “The beautiful thing
about this sport is that you’re working with another mind.” For those who just want to enjoy trail riding, many barns offer year-round lessons in indoor tracks. Equestrian Connection in Lake Forest specializes in horseback riding for those with special needs. Many others offer summer camps where kids learn riding skills in addition to horse health, nutrition and maintenance. Farrell’s daughter, Brooke, who is part of U. S. Hunter Jumper Association, is especially excited for her upcoming camp session. “There’s nothing better than having that bond with a horse,” she said. “I go ride the horse, play with him, hug him and braid his hair.” The human-horse connection and the phenomenon of “horse whisperers” is truly an inspiring one. When Farrell was pregnant with Brooke, her Lipizzaner mare Beladona would not touch her. Once Brooke was old enough to sit on and pet her, the horse would bow her head nearly to the ground as they approached her. For Beladona’s 21st birthday, they treated her to champagne and carrot cake. When she was laid to rest after 17 years, friends came to the home with flowers and memories of the personable horse. Farrell says that her horse taught her to live in the moment. “If you show up in a hurry or you’re anxious, they’re anxious,” she notes. “I had Beladona go and nip me, almost as if she’s trying to slap me and say, ‘Leave your baggage at the door.’ “ She adds that what you put into a horse is what you get out of it. “It’s just like any relationship in life. At the end of the day, it’s a privilege to ride with a horse, and it’s a gift never to be taken for granted. ■