About the Danada Equestrian Center

Danada's mission is to provide DuPage County residents the unique opportunity to study, observe, and participate in a variety of educational and recreational equestrian activities.

Danada achieves its mission by:

Presenting comprehensive, multifaceted, educational programming designed to enrich and expand the community's equestrian experience and knowledge of the DuPage Forest Preserve District's conservation, restoration, and management practices as evidenced at the Danada Preserve.
Provide educational programming in an enjoyable recreational setting for DuPage County residents.
Offer a variety of volunteer opportunities.

The staff at Danada are assisted by trained volunteers. Daily horse care and feeding routines are taught through lectures and demonstrations. Volunteers receive hands-on experience in feeding, grooming, saddling, bridling, and basic health care. The Equestrian Center's annual celebration of the horse, the Fall Festival, also wouldn't be possible without the enthusiasm and hard work of Danada volunteers, and those volunteers from other Dupage County Forest Preserves.

Historically, horses and people have had a unique relationship. The horse has been instrumental in improving the quality of life. In our modern age, people have turned to horses for recreation and companionship. As DuPage County becomes more urbanized, the opportunity for this type of equestrian recreation is attainable by the Forest Preserve District's mission to maintain open spaces and special facilities such as the Danada Equestrian Center.

The Danada Equestrian Center serves a vital role in the community as a resource and educational center for learning horse care and horsemanship. Horse owners utilize the facility for information, referrals and polishing up riding skills. Non-horse owners gain the unique and valuable opportunity to get "hands on" experience in the care and riding of horses. The Equestrian Center offers programs designed for beginners and intermediate level equestrians which are a blend of lecture, demonstrations, and balanced seat mounted riding instruction. These programs emphasize the principles of good horsemanship, the responsibility involved in the care of horses, the basics of safe and pleasurable horseback riding and the benefits that can be gained from a relationship with a horse.

For the general public who wishes to utilize the Center but with less involvement, the Center offers recreational activities such as horse-drawn hayrides and sleigh rides. The annual Fall Festival helps to educate the public as to what the world of horses is all about. Visitors are always welcome at the Center to view the horses and activities taking place. Group tours are also available.

In short, the Danada Equestrian Center presents many diverse possibilities and opportunities for DuPage County horse enthusiasts and the general public that are not offered anywhere else.