Mokena Horse Farm 'Really Is a Family Affair'

Need to come up with a Christmas list? Need to find a gift for your children or spouse? Instead of wrapping something under the tree, why not purchase a gift that keeps on giving, such as horseback riding lessons?

Country Meadow Farm, located at 12635 Bruce Road in Mokena, is a family-owned horse farm specializing in horse training and riding lessons. Michael and Dale Arnston and Julie Anne Arnston-Wroble own the farm and take care of the horses and riders.

According to Dale Arnston, when riders become interested in doing shows, they travel the country and take their riders and horses to compete.

Here, Arnston allows Mokena to get to know her a little better.

How did you first become involved with horses?

I was quite young. My older sister took lessons in Chicago and got to visit with Roy Rogers and meet his horse. Our dad took her to a stable for lessons, and I got to ride on an old nag in the back. I was so sad that my horse wouldn’t go. I can remember like it was yesterday. So my Dad, as cool as he was, bent down and picked up some pebbles and tossed them at my horse’s backside. My horse trotted off, enclosed in a ring, and I was the happiest kid. I think that was my first real involvement. Then many years after that, my boyfriend (who is my husband now) started to take lessons in Oakbrook at Keith Line Stables.

When did Country Meadow Farm open?

We ended up purchasing a horse and met some great people when we moved to New Lenox. They owned a barn named Cedar Post. We became great friends and they taught us even more about horses. We started giving lessons out of our little barn at home. Before you knew it, we built a boarding barn and an indoor arena. That was the beginning of Country Meadow Farm in 1974, in New Lenox. 

How’d you end up in Mokena?

About 11 years ago, the farm that we are in now came on the market for sale.  It had a lot of history with it, and many World Champion Saddlebreds had been trained here. 

How many riders do you currently have?

We give around 75 lessons a week, and we have beginner to advanced riders. 

What is the most popular age group for lessons?

You would be surprised; we have it split pretty evenly with children and adults. We always thought we would only be teaching children, but we have many adults that ride and seem to enjoy it as much as the children!

How many horses do you have available to ride?

We have 22 horses in training and 10 (lesson) school horses.

Do you have any trail riding?

We do not have trail rides, because our focus is to ride show horses. We have many riders that just ride for fun and to learn the finer points of riding. All of us teach, and we also have another family member instructing, who has many years of experience. It really is a family affair.

Why would your recommend Country Meadow Farm to Mokena residents?

All of us have patience and love what we do, and we encourage everyone, young and old, to do the best they can for their personal self.  We try to make our instructing fun and seriously teach at the same time. It makes it a little easier for our students because we have a heated facility and we teach year-round.