I have been horseback riding with Melinda Cohen at Dream Catcher Farm for 15 years. I would…read morerecommend it to anyone looking to learn to ride, as well as those who have ridden for years and want to continue. The farm is about 45 minutes from Chevy Chase/Bethesda, but the drive is very easy - just up 270. It's a quick 15 minutes from the Frederick area. Melinda welcomes students from beginner levels to very advanced. The facilities are top notch and the community is very friendly. Both the horses and the students are happy. There are acres of fields and miles of trails, as well as an indoor arena for rainy days or cooler temperatures. I couldn't ask for a better place to ride or a better place for my horses!!!

Came here for horseback riding lessons for our 6 and 4 year old. Absolutely magical experience for…read morethem. The trainer was great with kids and patient. The grounds are beautiful and there are lots of other animals to see and interact with: chickens, turkeys and two of the happiest resident dogs I've ever met. Thank you for an experience our kids won't soon forget.

This is an excellent place for children and adults alike who want to learn to ride and have the joy…read moreof being around these beautiful animals. The staff is caring, professional, knowledgeable, and down-to-earth. I highly recommend Wulfcrest Stables for anyone who loves or wants to get to know horses!

From the owner: The Stables at Wulf Crest Farm is a premier boarding, training, and lesson facility in Northern…read moreVirginia, located conveniently outside of Leesburg on Route 15. Multiple equine professionals create a welcoming and educational environment. The Stables at Wulf Crest offers unparalleled care for your four-legged animal. We take safety and health as top priority. We have experienced staff, clean facilities, ample amenities catering from the weekend hobbyist to the everyday competitor.

This was a wonderful equine facility that had fallen into disrepair but is now under new, young…read moreowners. Repairs so far made significant improvement in its' facilities safety and appearance. More work is presently underway. The current crew are very knowledgeable and hard working. We feel that both our horses and ourselves are well cared for here. We originally boarded here for 3 1/2 years and enjoyed riding over its' ample trails and using the formal arenas. We have happily come back to ride here once again. This is a complete equestrian center no matter what type of riding you do.

As a horse owner and boarder, I feel like it's my responsibility to educate others in the horse…read morecommunity on how terrible this facility really is. I moved there originally because I needed a fast, short-term solution. However, in the short 3 months it was never ending care problems, stealing, lawsuits/scandals, and I learned that borders do not have a voice about their own horses. Recently, Potomac Riverside was taken over by new "management" and I use that term loosely. Rebekah and James's knowledge of horses and care is below zero - in the sense that boarders had to step up to teach them what a halter was, how to clean a stall, fill water buckets, feed grain, and lead horses. That does not even cover lameness or any medical issues. They wouldn't know what to look for if a horse were to colic or even know what colic is. A couple of other issues that I would like to also share. The first being that they ignorantly ordered oak shavings instead of pine. Oak shavings are toxic to all livestock and can cause colic, liver and kidney failure, and even death. When multiple boarders tried to educate them about this, they decided they were going to use the oak shavings anyway. Several vets had to be involved in order to correct this detrimental mistake. James and Rebekah also decided (without informing any horse owners) that they would be corralling the horses in from the fields instead of leading them. They refer to it as their "gate system", but it's corralling. This was tried a couple of years ago, by the owner of the farm herself. A horses ended up breaking its leg because it was trying to run to keep up with the mixed heard. It was euthanized the next day. Again, when boarders voiced their concerns about this system being implemented, they were either kicked off the property or asked to move their horses. I would go every single day to see my horses to make sure they had enough food and water, to clean my own stalls, and bought my own shavings because I had to make sure they were safe. I also moved out two days early and never received my money back for those two extra days I paid. James and Rebekah are unethical in more ways than one. I am sure this barn will try marketing tactics such as rebranding, but do not let a new farm name, low-level trainers, and other tactics fool you.

My favorite barn! Erin is a great trainer and gives the best advice on how to improve your form and…read morealways helps with groundwork! She has amazing horses, some small and slower for the little ones, and some big and energetic for those with more experience. Highly Reccomend for anyone who wants to ride.

We took our 4 kids to an introductory class this past weekend. The kids ages ranged from 5 to 15…read more None if the kids have ever been near a horse. Tammy and Erin did a fabulous job catering to their needs and levels of understanding. We all enjoyed our time at Fitzgerald Stables. The stable was immaculate. Their horses were very calm and patient around the kids. Overall we had a fabulous time and we look forward to our next visit with them.

One of the best barn out there! Instructors are understanding,firm, and kind. They take such good…read morecare of their horses. So much land, so many opportunities and such a fun barn for shows! Always supporting each other! If your looking for a kid-friendly (and adult) barn this is the place!

Excellent barn that can take riders from a weekly lesson program through horse ownership. Great…read moreplace to get started in our sport and not have the need to immediately outgrow the program. Thumbs up. Good people.

I found Lucia Farm through Fairfax Parktakes. I always loved horseback riding (trail riding), and…read morehave been doing it on and off for a few years so I decided to get serious. I was looking everywhere for low prices, and for knowledgeable instructors in the area. Everywhere I looked the cost for lessons were extremely high. I looked through my Fairfax Parktakes account, and found lessons that were affordable. They are scheduled on the weekends. I have Sunday classes. I love my experience so much that I plan to continue taking horseback riding lessons here! Here is a picture of my riding horse for training.

Great farm, great owner, great horses. As a "green" rider, I decided to take lessons here to get…read morefamiliar and learn everything my little brain could soak up. My first lesson was with the owner herself, Dru. You couldn't find a nicer person, let alone owner, to give you a private, first lesson. My following lessons were in a group setting with another instructor and were just as helpful and great. I would share her name but I'm afraid everyone will call and steal her from me as she only gives lessons one day of the week! (I know, so not the way of Yelp...shoot me) Not only do they give the attention needed to give proper lessons, but they really reinforce the care, time and attention that's needed to properly care for and bond with a horse. You literally start your lesson by grooming your horse (to bond), tacking your horse (with guidance, of course), and doing a little ground work. Lessons aren't rushed and the instructor always ensures that your safety and comfort level are top priority. Oh, and they teach English riding, not Western! I plan to continue private lessons to advance my skills and overall knowledge of horses and maybe eventually do some more group lessons. If you are interested in horseback riding lessons, I'd say go here. Also, for the work and level of guidance, the prices here are hard to beat. From my understanding, the farm offers additional services but I'm not sure what exactly they are. It is a bit far if you're coming from the city and its surrounding areas but it's totally worth it-- if not just for the lessons then to also get a fresh breath of rural air and to take in the amazing scenery.

My wife and I had an amazing experience at Piscataway Riding Stables. The ranch is easy to find…read morewith plenty of parking. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. They will take the time to give you a tutorial and ensure your safety. Weekends are first come, first serve. They go out in groups, so by the time we signed up, paid, and got a quick tutorial, we didn't have a long wait to ride. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who want to ride. They also offer volunteer opportunities.

I had an amazing experience. Took the family and her friends for her 16th birthday. She loved it…read more It's very economical $70 for one hour and we all loved it. Nick and the crew were amazing. I hope they keep up the great work. I will be back as soon as I can to experience more. Highly recommend.

I have had a few lessons with Kelsey and am already seeing progress (I am a beginner). Kelsey is…read morevery knowledgeable and can relay that knowledge in ways that are easy to understand. She is patient and encouraging. The facility is beautiful and well-maintained as are all the horses. If you *really* want to learn to ride, including biomechanics and all the hows and the whys, then you should consider Willow Mist.

Good Luck Stables was great! We called in the morning and they got us in for a 60 minute trail…read moreride. He even took us around the pen to do some trotting. I highly recommend if you are looking for a quick trail ride to satisfy your equine desires. They have a bunch of animals that you can pet, so it's perfect for all ages.

We decided on an impromptu horseback ride and they were kind enough to fit us in! We had a group of…read more5 girls and a great time! Matt and Clara were so attentive to us making sure we were comfortable and enjoying the trail ride. Would absolutely recommend for beginners!

Great climbing gym here in NOVA. The Sterling location has plenty of bouldering walls alongside…read morewith Top Rope/Lead and Auto-Belay. The Sterling location isn't as big as some of the other climbing gyms, but it is plenty for a climbing session. I will say, the one issue of this location is that since it's a little small, the bouldering section is a little cramped in spacing compared to their other location in Alexandria. Not a a big problem at all, but can be during peak hours. Their staff here are very nice and friendly as well. Always a good group of people being welcoming to new guests and members. The facility itself is also well kept and clean.

I tell myself that I come here because it's good for me. That it's far more fun than just going to…read morea regular boring gym to move around some heavy plates of metal or to set myself up like a rodent on a wheel and go absolutely nowhere really fast for an hour. I tell myself that making time and partnering up is better motivation and will ensure that I actually make the time to work on my fitness. Forget all that. I come for the eye candy. Plus, I lie to myself and imagine that if I keep up with climbing, I'll also have a ridiculously ripped, lean, toned body with a perfect V-shaped torso. No, don't burst my little dream bubble. Fair warning. Until you obtain a membership card (which took us roughly three weeks from signing up), you'll have to deal with the stench by the front desk. Our suspicious: the stack of rental climbing shoes that have been worn by countless people. Fortunately, I can now hold my breath or breathe through my mouth as I navigate past the worst of it. Once you're back into the main part of the gym, it's much easier to breathe. With plenty of bouldering, huge tall walls for belay climbing or top roping (which I still haven't experienced myself), and a couple of auto-belays, there has always been ample room to find a wall to climb. Plus, membership benefits include free yoga classes, a significant discount on climbing gear (which, believe me, I looked... it's never on sale anywhere), and a huge benefit on pricing for classes. The staff here seem well-informed and helpful, and it's always been easy enough to hunt someone down for questions about the gym, equipment, or suggestions on how to improve. After about a month, I can legitimately say that I'm pretty addicted. Whether it's on the climbing itself, or the view... well, jury's still out.