ISO Horseback riding lessons for 6 year old girl and maybe mom

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any suggestions for horseback riding lessons for a six year old girl and maybe me too. We live in Fairfax so I am looking for something reasonably close by with a good program for teaching children. I am looking for a program that emphasizes safety, respect for animals, proper care of animals, proper riding skills, etc. I don't have a tremendous amount of riding experience -- took lessons a couple of times as a kid so I don't know what to look for in a program.

[Anonymous]

I only know the Maryland side of things and grew up riding in rural Pa., so i dont have a specific suggestion. Barns that host "pony clubs" would be a great place to start though. These clubs emphasize responsible riding, care of horses, equipment, and have a lot of emphasis on teams. I loved being involved as a kid. Maybe start with the U.S. Pony Club web site, www.ponyclub.org. On the md side, I loved riding at reddemeade farms in silver spring. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I've been riding and teaching in this area for almost 30 years, and I'm sad to say, there are fewer and fewer stables that offer public riding lessons in this area. Many of the public stables have some really questionable instructors. But there are a few places that I know of that I think do it "right". Its really hard to find a place that has lesson horses these days. Here's a quick run down of places I know well enough to recommend checking out:

Barranda Ridge (Natalie Gregory), Fairfax Station: This is probably closest to you. I've heard good things about Natalie although I don't know her personally. She has a couple of younger girls that teach for her which always makes me a bit nervous, but her program is "pony club" based and I think that is always an asset. I think she'd be a good choice for a beginner, and probably not too expensive. She has an "eventing" focus (dressage and jumping). In my experience, pony club based programs often emphasize the horsemanship aspect of riding more than the hunter barns in the area -- although there are certainly some very good hunter barns that do well in this regard.

Cavallo Farm (Mike Bertozzi), Leesburg: Mike's farm is a very competitive show barn, and they are geared towards riders that want to compete. While I think they would let you take 6 months of lessons to try it out, I think after that they would want you to half-lease a horse or something. Its probably not what you're looking for right off the bat, but I mention them because Mike is a VERY good horseman, and would give you a really great start. His assistant instructors are also good. This is strictly a "hunt seat" barn (flat work and jumping for the hunter ring).

Virginia Academy Riding School (Mychelle DeWoolfson), Ashburn: I don't know anything about VARS except it supposedly has lesson horses. Mychelle, on the other hand, is a very good trainer... so any program she's associated with I suspect would be well run and worthwhile. (hunt seat)

Twin Oaks Riding Stables (Chantilly): I don't know Twin Oaks very well, but know a few people who have ridden there and really liked it. It is a no-frills operation, but the instructions seems sound, and the students seem appropriately mounted. Its probably not as expensive as a place like Cavallo, and I think is not "show" oriented. (hunt seat/balanced seat)

Clairvaux LLC (Leesburg) - another show barn, but very good instruction. (hunt seat).

American Academy of Equestrian Sciences (Marina Genn), southern Leesburg: Marina is a top quality dressage instructor, and one of very few with good quality school horses. The facility is beautiful, and she has a strong emphasis on theory/horsemanship. She is not cheap ($60/hr for a group lesson?). They have a lovely indoor ring which is great for the winter. Although Marina is certainly qualified to teach jumping (and I think she does offer jumping lessons), her main focus is German-style dressage. Of the instructors listed here, and taking nothing away from the others, I think Marina is the most knowledgeable. If you're interested in dressage, and don't mind the cost or the drive, she's worth looking into.

Woodlawn Stables (Alexandria) - I know nothing about Woodlawn other than the fact that it has been a lesson barn in this area for a long long time. I cannot vouch for the quality of the instruction, so you'd be on your own to check it out. I think they are geared towards beginners.

One final thought: River Bend Pony Club is roughly in the Fairfax area. If none of these options look good to you, or if you want more opinions, I'd contact someone from the club. Usually Pony Club people are knowledgeable and helpful, and they may know of some good instructors that just have a few lesson horses (but maybe don't operate a larger stable). Sometimes these people can be very good instructors and can cost less than the big establishments. Most of these barns/organizations have websites, so you can find out more info by googling them.

Good luck to you. I started riding with MY mom roughly 30 years ago, and while I have stopped teaching, we both still ride (she is 69, I am 35), and I have many many fond memories of riding with her.

[Anonymous]

I thought there was one out if Clifton several years ago. I can't remember the name, but if you are desperate maybe you can google "Clifton + horse farm" and see what you get.

[Anonymous]

PP 8:13 Do you know of anyone good on the Maryland side in the Potomac/Darnestwon/Poolesville area?

[Anonymous]

8:13 here.

I used to know that area very well, but not so much any more...

Potomac Horse Center is a huge public riding stable there... I can't vouch for any of their current instructors, but I have found that they vary greatly over the years. Some are good, some are scary. I suspect the current batch has a mix. Its also a huge institution, so be prepared for less-than-personal treatment.

Waredaca farm (they have a website) - might be a good option. They have good instructors, and a pony-club based /eventing focus.

There is also Tulip Pond Farm in Poolesville. I've seen the head trainer (Daphne) ride, and she's quite good... but I can't vouch for her teaching/business skills. She does hunt seat.

One final mention is a woman named Sam Sandler. I don't have any contact info for her, but she's in Pooleville and I suspect you could find her with a little digging. She is a one-woman operation, and Sam has done a little bit of everything (dressage, fox hunting, endurance, eventing). She doesn't have a fancy barn, but she's quite capable.

Lastly, Seneca Valley Pony Club is in that general area, and those folks know a lot of people in that area. They might well be worth a call.