Noble Horse Theater

I came here twice for the show «Quadrille». It is essentially dinner theater on horses. Dinner theater itself sounds bad enough, and dinner theater in a stable sounds kind of repulsive, but Quadrille actually made for an intriguing evening out with the kids. The theater itself is a dusty yet grand old stable. You enter down a stone paved hallway – watch your step because I recall the surface was a tad uneven – lit by torches. The «theater» consists of tiers of wooden seats and tables that surround a large central horse ring. There is also balcony seating, which I was treated to on my second trip. I sat in a balcony with my daughter and I know that she felt like a princess from a fairytale. And that is precisely what makes this place so special, its fairytale atmosphere. The show itself was a sort of Readers Digest version of the history of the horse. The acrobatics the riders performed while riding were impressive feats and the horses were beautiful to watch. Music and narration throughout the performance was pre-​recorded and the sound equipment was so poor that at one point the track repeated an entire section. No problem, we were treated to a little more of the show at no extra cost. However, for the rest of the show I was nervous that it would happen again. I suffer from vicarious stage fright. Fortunately, the rest of the show went smoothly. Still, it is inexcusable to have such poor sound equipment, so I took off a star for that.
Despite the many horses and the general dustiness of the place, the theater is full of scented candles and actually smells wonderful. I never have eaten a meal during a performance, but I see how one could. You can also bring wine. Just watch your step on the dark, uneven hallway leading out of the theater.
Finally, a bonus if you have kids, or if you just are an adult who really enjoys feeding horses apples, is that after the performance the riders line up with their horses for a meet and greet and, if you so fancy, a guided ride on one of the show’s star horses.

What an interesting concept. Who would have thought a horse stable in the middle of Chicago. The place is fairly clean, but smells like a stable for obvious reasons. They serve popcorn, can drinks and etc, but bring your CASH!
The shows are allright. I went to the Nutcracker performance, and my 3 yr old kept asking if it was done yet. My husband and other mini human enjoyed it. I think 5 and up is a good age. Bring your carrots and apples cause after wards you can feed the horses. ALSO have your CASH ready cause they give horse rides for a FEE.

Hey, Unilocalers! Thanks for saving the day! I had no idea we could bring carrots and apples to feed the horses after the show. Thank goodness I Unilocaled the theater in the car on the way down so we could stop before we got there.
We went for noon show of The Nutcracker. We had a good time. Frankly, the storyline kinda sucks and we found it to be a big snoozefest but enjoyed the show/​tricks that came afterwards.
BRING SNACKS! They charge $ 5 for a small container of popcorn and $ 2 for a can of pop. When you stop for carrots, grab a couple bags of chips too.
They offer horse rides after the show for $ 5, cash only. Fun for the kids!

I came to the Nutcracker on horseback at Noble Horse. The show was a bit slow at first, but was awesome by the end. The performers can do some great tricks with the horses. Don’t forget to bring your own carrots to feed the 4-​legged performers!
But you have to pay your dues before you can witness the awesomeness of horses jumping through a ring of fire.
–Noble Horse is BYOB. Sounds great, except half the crowd is there to get hammered. They pound on the tables and yell, which is fun sometimes, but the other 70% of the time, it just gives you a headache.
–It smells. This one is kind of a «duh,» but everyone deserves fair warning.
–If you go in the winter, it’s chilly inside. Wear a warm coat.
Overall, Noble Horse is a fun, unique experience, but I’m not sure I’ll go back.

It was different but I would not say it was anything really special. Great for little kids. Lots of good looking horses doing some decent tricks.

I came her with the wife and kids and had a great time. I’d definitely come back. Next time I’m going to try and bring the kids!
Seriously, more people need to come check this place out!

Sometimes you eat the horse and, well, sometimes he eats you. Not a big deal, but I got bit by one of the super sweet ponies whilst feeding her carrots. Evidently my strong, masculine fingers closely resemble miniature carrots, and as a result the horse tried to eat one of them. I knew I should have brought apples. It wasn’t the horse’s fault, I should have cupped my hand, but the 6-​pack of Sam Adams Octoberfest and the thrill of feeding a majestic stallion clouded my thinking and I forgot. Live and learn.
This was my second visit to Noble Horse, and it won’t be my last. I went with my girlfriend for the Nutcracker last year, and this time we saw Sleepy Hollow. I preferred the Nutcracker because it seemed better suited to watching horses dance, but both were fun. We’re definitely going to the Nutcracker again this year, and I fully expect it to be super awesome.
Oh, the horses jump through a ring of fire. Yes, it’s totally awesome.

Still cannot get over the fact that there is a stable and trained horses in the center of Old Town! Sure, the actors are not from an acting company, but the horses are very entertaining and can perform a variety of tricks.
Watching a version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a great way to get in the mood for the holiday season. As I was watching the show, I could not help think how much my nieces would adore an event like this.
Can I see myself going every weekend? No. Do I think it is something many Chicago residents (and tourists) would appreciate? Definitely!

I passed this place everyday on the Brown line to work and it intrigued me. Horses are cool — and horses in the cities are cooler (maybe not the one around Water Tower Place, but still)! It was on my to-​do list.
We got there just before the show started — and it was packed with kids and adults. There was only 2 of us, so we were lucky to find seats all the way up top. We sat down next to a birthday party of sort, and there was pizza and drinks everywhere — not helping my growling stomach.
And then the show started — and within the first 10 minutes of the shows, these things happened:
— A horse hit its legs (or something) while jumping over a bar. It made a really loud noise and I honestly jumped. I didn’t quite catch what had happened, but my boyfriend glanced over me with worried eyes.
— Next, a performer tried to jump on a moving horse, and she missed. She managed to hang on and eventually get on top (A for efforts), this time my boyfriend squinted his eyes and forehead in confusion.
However, the show must go on, and it did. But for the rest of the show — we were both just worried that someone would fall off, or another horse would hit something again (luckily they didn’t).
I’d give this place a plus for their effort trying to maintain something old in the city. The «tricks» the horses performed were ok. I was expecting some crazy multiple jumps through fires while the performers flip their bodies countless time — but let’s get real — it’s not.
While I probably won’t return with other adults, I would bring my little sisters here (the kids were much more impressed), or maybe I would returns with other adults and take Ben O.‘s advises and bring 3 bottles of wine!
And beware of the smell and the dim lighting.

We came ½ hour early for the show and it was packed with elderly and kids. We were seated at the top most seats possible. The place smelt of horse (duh) but the show itself was boring. We couldn’t hear nor understand the broadcast of the storyline. It was also hard to see the actually tricks that the horses are doing. They are subtle tricks and unless you know what’s going on, it’s hard to appreciate what’s going on.

I’ve experienced just about every kind of theater you can imagine so why not something with horses?! It was different, I’ll give them that.
Kind of cool that there is an equestrian theater in the middle of the city and it’s easy accessible from the brown line or a short walk from the Red. What’s uncool is that it’s located in the shady part of Old Town.
Walking in the first thing that hits you is the smell. I mean hit you on the chin and knock you out kind of smell. It’s not the horse farm smell that does you in, it’s this combination of horse, wood fire place, and some nasty fragrant lit candles. I mean pick one smell already and be done with it!
A lady takes your ticket and directs you to your Medical times style seating. The plastic seats are a bit too low and mine felt like it was going to break at any minute. The staff are moving through the crowds saying hello and such. There is a little concession stand with snacks and drinks but you’re allowed to bring your own including spirits (which is clearly the way to go). Apparently with the evening show there is a meal served but to be honest the place is dirty I mean dirty. I don’t even think it’s their fault, I think they clean it as much as they can but it’s a little scary and I won’t even talk about the bathrooms.
The show «Quadrille» was ah, um… not completely horrible I guess. I think the flaws in the show are such… A pre-​recorded tape is played to explain what is happening in the show. It’s hard to hear most of the time and boring when heard. Most of the tricks are so subtle that unless you’re a trainer nobody would see or understand them. To me it looked like the performers were trying to accomplish something and the horses weren’t having it. Don’t get me wrong some of the tricks were cool but those didn’t come till the very end of the show. Most of the small acts it seemed as though people were just riding in a circle. I almost fell asleep and would have if it wasn’t freezing in there.
You know I’m all about supporting the arts but Noble Horse you need to work on your show. Still it was something different, the people were nice, and it does take talent to perform on a moving horse.
** I can’t believe I read that someone recommended making it a date night… maybe if you liked to be slapped and walked out on. But then again she might need you for protection in this shady area. I’m still trying to get the smell out of my nose!

If you haven’t left this place drunk and covered in horse saliva, you’re doing it wrong.
Don’t bring any kids, because you’re gonna get really drunk.
Get really drunk, because it’s fun. And, because the narrator — a CD — skips alot and it didn’t look like anyone was in a hurry to fix it.
It’s dark, candlelit, and a little romantic. So, once again … make sure you bring the wine, and not the kids, but you should also make sure you bring some friends or a date, otherwise you’re going to look really creepy… sitting in the back with a case of wine at a children’s play.
Then feed the horses carrots, because they don’t like apples, and frankly, neither do I.

I went here with my boyfriend to see Nutcracker on Horseback, and we had an absolutely awesome time. However, I think the key to this place is keeping your expectations reasonable. This is no ordinary theatre — it basically is just horse show with some sort of plot overlaid on it, so do not expect good acting or dancing or anything really on the part of the humans. The best parts of this are the atmosphere, the fact that you can bring booze and get pretty well lit, and the fact that it is a pretty cool and different way to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city outside to watch some horses do some tricks for a while. Plus, the feeding frenzy at the end is absolutely hilarious — I don’t know how it can be healthy to give a horse that many carrots, but I’ll certainly be back to do it again sometime.

Well, after seeing «The Nutcracker on Horseback» here over the weekend, I have to say I probably will not be back. It just wasn’t my cup of tea — I’m not that into horses, but I did appreciate the place and the show.
The theater itself I really enjoyed seeing. They announced the theater was celebrating its 135^th anniversary (I think that’s the right number…) and it’s the oldest operating show stable in North America.
The theater has tiered seating with wooden bar counters that you can eat/​lean on, and you sit on small-​ish wooden chairs, a little uncomfortable. There were votive candles on the tables throughout the theater, and the whole interior had an old-​worldly feel to it with the large dirt filled arena, candles, wooden beams/​ceilings… it was cool looking.
The show was mixed between parts of the Nutcracker story, horse tricks, a weird cowboy horse-​riding segment, more modern music/​horse tricks, and then things circled back to the Nutcracker. I was having a hard time focusing on the show b/​c it was SO cold in there. By the time we got out, we were both completely chilled, and we had our coats on the entire time. It’s ‘heated’ and indoors, but it’s pretty cold.
After the show, they allow the audience to feed the horses — which sounded fun but actually turned into a literal feeding frenzy (with horse-​mouth foam and bits of apple/​carrots all over the place) swarmed with children, babies, parents and $ 5 horse rides.
If you love horses or have small children that do, check this place out. Otherwise, eh… maybe /​maybe not. Worth checking out, but seeing the show is a different commitment.

If you are looking for something different and out of the ordinary to do some day then this is the place to check out. Historically, this place is as historic as it can get. They have done a very good job of renovating this place and keeping it somewhat modern for being around so long.
The show was very cool. There is not a bad seat in the place. They had some issues with the sound system but the show was very entertaining. If you want to see a show, it is BYO-​everything. I don’t think I could eat anything here. There was obviously a olfactory sensation that is going to be in any stable if you get my meaning.
I had a very good time here. I was not expecting world class acting or performances but everyone did a very good job. The staff was great and it was really cool that you got to pet and feed the horses after the show!

The horses and theater are cool, but the tricks, the acting, the sound and the lighting leave something to be desired. It would be a really great amateur production, like if the neighborhood kids did it that well, but…
The staff was nice though, and I like the idea. Just needs some polish and a good director.

I discovered Noble Horse through groupon. I got two tickets and brought my boyfriend this past weekend, as I thought it would be a unique date.
Unique it was.
The theater is the oldest of its kind in North America and architecturally it’s fascinating.
The seats are all pretty close and we were very high up but had no problems seeing everything. The shows are BYOB and bring your own food. There were lots of people with Subway and Jimmy Johns, which are both nearby.
The shows are a lot more kid oriented– the first 3 rows were taken up by birthday parties, but it was fun nonetheless. We saw Quadrille and while we thought some of it was pretty pedestrian, a good portion of the tricks were interesting and entertaining.
If you can get a good deal, this is definitely an interesting experience and makes for a unique date.

I was introduced to the Nutcracker on Horseback last winter and went back again this year and I am a big fan!
Last year, we got plastered and walked over to the theater. I barely remember the walk, just the bitter wind and cold and great company. But upon entering the warmly decked halls of the Noble Horse Theater I came around on the whole affair.
Without a doubt, the show is for kids. It’s not a faithful adaptation of the Nutcracker, by any means, but the original is really light on story anyway. Really though if you have any interest in seeing some top-​notch horsemanship — the Noble Horse doth provide.
In addition, there is some awesome trick riding that can really get the crowd going — and even a little one-​ups-​manship from the riders.
It’s BYOB and they serve dinner. Bring apples and carrots to feed the horses after you take a free carriage ride (a must for couples).
(I’m just taking a star off because of the schmaltz of it.)

I was really excited when I got my half-​off tickets to see Nutcracker on Horseback from
. I decided to give my mom the other ticket as her Christmas gift, since she loves horses and The Nutcracker.
It’s really a place you wouldn’t expect to find in an area like Old Town, but somehow it fits in. It’s a little bit hard to find, but once you do, parking is surprisingly pleasant. They have a small lot which we managed to get a spot in.
Something that I really like about the Noble Horse is that it’s BYOB, and you can bring your own food as well. Maybe next time when I’m not nursing a wicked hangover, I’ll bring some wine.
The arena is very cool– the building was constructed in 1872, making it the oldest of it’s kind in the United States. The seats are all great-​their website wasn’t lying.
I think the show was really meant for children– but whatever. We had a great time. All of the performers were very talented– especially the trick riders from Russia! WOW! Another awesome part of the show was the end– all of the horses and riders line up so you can meet them and feed the horses carrots. They also offer free carriage rides and $ 5 horse rides.
Anyway, I would highly recommend this place to just about anyone. It’s a fun, inexpensive way to spend a winter afternoon.

I’ve ridden past this many times on the brown line, and today I finally saddled up and saw a show here (oh my, the corniness even pains me, I assure you).
Such an odd location: the ONLY equestrian theater in all of Chicago, right in the middle of a residential stretch of Old Town (easy walking distance from Sedgwick brown line).
I went for a children’s showing of «Sleepy Hollow» and it was just perfect for a fall afternoon. 2pm, cheap tickets, bring your own snacks and drinks (I hear it’s BYO for the evening shows, too).
I mean, it’s not Broadway. But its entertaining, and the kids’ shows are short, to the point, and the one guy doing horsie tricks was pretty darn impressive! Seriously, swinging all around, crazy-​like. Very good.
Worth a shot, good bang for the buck, and you get to pet the horses and take a ride around the showroom on a carriage after the show!
Bring carrots. Seriously. A bag or so, there’s a Dominick’s down the street…