Chuck Thompson has been gone for a while, but his legacy still remains here at Palos Hills Riding Stables.

As a young boy, Chuck grew up around famous Saddle Horses and Hackneys due to the work experience  with his great-aunt, the late Mrs. A.C. Thompson.  Chuck had continued his interest in horses, worked with the late Dick Talaber and John Klein, where he got more exposure to other elements of horses, such as the hunter/jumpers, race horses, etc.  In the years that followed, he went to war, married Christa Grunler in 1953, and then became the manager of the  three-story New Parkway Riding Stables located in Lincoln Park. Chuck had influenced the careers of many others who became horsemen.  He and his wife remained at Parkway until 1967….at this time he moved to the now known Palos Hills Riding Stables that they had purchased in 1960 and then concentrated their efforts on that facility 

Chuck continued to run a boarding facility that taught lessons and offered trail rides to the public.  Chuck then had gotten interested in thoroughbred racing in 1978 and became a trainer out at the track.  The thoroughbreds were Chuck’s favorite horse endeavor—he had many winners to his credit and spent many a fun hour at the race track.

 Also, to Chuck’s credit, he and his wife established Thompson’s Saddle Shop, as Chuck felt that the area needed to have a saddle shop to support many of the horse enthusiasts in the area.  He was always an institution in the store and always provided much expertise as well as amusing stories for the many customers that came through the doors.

 One of Chuck’s most favorite memories was of the horse, Morocco.  This lovely spotted American Saddlebred was shown to many blue ribbon wins at the Sun Times Horse Show in Chicago, as well as being a Broadway star.  Morocco was able to help Chuck purchase Palos Hills Riding Stables by going on the road with the Broadway production of The Music Man.  Morocco had the job of driving Forrest Tucker across the stage in song and dance.  Morocco was on the road for almost a year!

It was Chuck’s diversity in horses that made him the success he was.  He will be remembered for the horseman that he was, as well as the many individuals who have come through the doors of New Parkway Riding Stables and Palos Hills Riding Stables.  The number of riders and horse owners, trainers, etc. that have come out of these doors are endless.:)