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.

Not a good experience for us. Maria is the best instructor there. The others? not so much…read more Trainers yelling at students, not paying attention, constant texting, negative, rude, condescending, passive aggressive, just plain unprofessional. We were miserable. Can't recommend, sorry. Look elsewhere.

We had a class for our four kids and it was a wonderful intro to horse back riding. The staff was…read morefriendly and their kids assisted with the class in a really helpful way

I love RCP Horse Center because you can just stroll around the stables and visit the horses. I…read morebring my kids here almost weekly to see what's new. The trail right by the horse barn is also a blast, leading down to Rock Creek. Along the way you can stop to visit the Capitol Stones, stones that were removed from the US Capitol during a major renovation in the 1950's (holy cow, we're not that far from being 100 years removed from that!) The horse stable offers rides, a great idea for a date or just a relaxing weekend. The rides are highly instructional and very fun. They have great holiday rides featuring Santa Claus and ponies wearing costumes. These holiday rides are wonderful for kids! If you are lucky you can see our US Park Police riding around the trails as well. The stables house two types of horses. One type is owned by people, and the others are publicly owned and range from ponies to larger horses who I think are retired race horses. Our current favorite horse is Andrew because, despite drooling a lot, is super friendly. You can't pet most of the horses much to the dismay of my kids. Almost every horse stall has a sign that warns that the animal bites. This is an absolute blast to visit and I look forward to coming here all the time. However I must comment that the people who work here, the authority figures, are generally a bit ornery and I try to avoid them. They fuss at me every single time I'm here, for making too much noise, getting too close to something, walking in the wrong spot. Just be mentally prepared to say, "Thanks, won't happen again!" It gets old real fast, but I still love the stables. It's worth commenting that I think these people believe they have our best interests at heart, but that their fussy pants attitude is so common is just frustrating and is reflected in the (universally) teenage girls who ride here, who are extremely quiet and seem scared to make a wrong move. Yes horses are extremely dangerous animals, but wow the fussing is out of control. I know this is the longest part of my review and it really bothers me, but I try to look past it and suggest you do as well. Anyways, I have to also mention that there's a big barn where they ride around and do dressage. I've watched a few dressage shows--or parts of them, I should say--and they are like silent dances in a circle with one person directing the riders what to do next. There is almost no crowd for these performances, just family of the riders.

Metropolitan eq is unprofessional and irresponsible and the staff they hire are unprofessional and…read moreuneducated. Their entire program is built on the backs of the overworked and under cared for horses in their barn. Plus their therapeutic riding program is non existent and the idea that this organization does good for the world is just untrue. They take donations claiming to better the care for the horses and fix the facility, and then use the most minimal amount of money for the actual horses. Since they took over the horse center, they have done almost nothing besides block off the entrance to a national park trail and kick the public out. They claimed they would redo the entire facility and have taken donations for it and done next to nothing. Plus, they don't actually care about their students and will put them on unsafe, unsound, and ill fitting horses just to cram more people into a lesson. Also, just for good measure they have nothing against using 30+ year old horses in their program. Their entirely prioritize profit over everything else. Go anywhere else to see horses in or around DC

Seems like they're on Groupon all the time. Our horseback ride started about 1.5hours late. I…read morewasn't happy about this at all. Not simply because he was running late, but because the house (castle/waiting room/party room) was absolutely filthy. I was really taken aback by a business looking like this, even if it's a business that works w/ animals. When we got there, the owner and assistant were on a ride w/ another group. Then the group we were supposed to be riding with were an hour late, so we had to wait for them. It was just annoying, although Steven (owner) was friendly. When we walked into the empty house it looked like a construction space, a hen was walking around the inside and I even saw it poop IN THE KITCHEN! Things finally turned around when I hopped on Sherman (my white horse w/ black spots). He was a greedy little thing and ate up all the grass but he was a great horse. Steven immediately put ppl on the horses and taught us while we were riding. He was a straight to it teacher and I liked that. He definitely knows what he's doing when it comes to animals. He took a bunch of pictures and videos and sent them to everyone in the group. I'm thankful to have such awesome pictures that didn't cost us extra. I'm giving 4 stars despite the filth because Steven was friendly, welcoming, and I enjoyed the experience. Tip: -don't eat there if germs bug u -don't arrive early, there's no point -yes, you're in the right spot, even though it looks a little funky on the outside

It's funny this guy is trying to say we never went when we did - I'd love to see what evidence he…read morehas considering during our entire time there he never once asked for our names or checked that we even had a reservation. He also never redeemed our Groupon. He has repeatedly messaged me and begged me to remove this review and has even reported it to Yelp to try to get it removed. Not only do I stand by my review but this Steven Strasburg owner has proved himself to not only be completely unprofessional but also desperate and dishonest. My advice: TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY for your business instead of accusing people of posting fake reviews or saying "it must've been another place". This is the ONLY time where an owner has not only not apologized but tried to say I'm posting for the wrong Castle Strasburg. How many Castle Strasburg horseriding places are there in Midland, VA? SHAME ON YOU!

This business is awesome. They have events for kids and adults to join in to. They are very…read morewelcoming. You will make great new friends. All the instructors are very kind. All the barn staff will help you with whatever you need.

This is a fantastic place to ride for kids and adults of any level. The staff/instructors are very…read moreknowledgeable and friendly! They have numerous programs for kids and even for adults who want to work with the barn staff and learn more about horses and their care. I give four stars only because the building itself needs updating, but the horses are beautifully cared for by people who have ridden and worked there for years. The land is lovely and riders can enjoy a terrific trail through the adjacent woods, as well. Lesson prices are commensurate with other local stables, and in my opinion, worth every penny! The atmosphere is laid back and friendly. If you've been intimidated by stable experiences, as I was in the past, this is the place for you! I've made new friends and really look forward to my visits to the Woodland!

I've been taking lessons here with contract instructor Britton Marcoe for over a month. It's been…read moreincredible. I came to LBF feeling intimidated because, although I've grown up riding Western, I'd never ridden English nor tacked a horse, even though I worked at a horse farm during college. LBF insists you tack your horse, get him or her out of the paddock, etc. It's a real experience that teaches you to respect the animals, the sport and joy of riding. Britton is awesome to work with; she's kind and patient but doesn't let you off the hook. She expertly manages to keep your self esteem afloat while forcing you to improve. The farm is a surprise--it sits at the end of a nicer housing development and you'd never know it was there unless you were looking for it. Mark, the owner, is very cool and laid back, trusting of his riders and instructors. There is one arena, there is no indoor riding. It's not the fanciest of farms but that's just perfect for a novice like me who is already feeling a bit unsure. The last thing I need is a group of prisses casting sideways looks my way because I'm unschooled in picking hooves. I highly recommend this farm and Britton in particular. It's a great addition to your life. While it's a bit expensive, compared to other riding clubs and farms it's a steal.

This is a tough update to post. I like the staff of LBF, I think it was a great place for a…read morebeginner rider, but... the owner recently increased the prices considerably. After a bit of outrage by all he changed his original increase from doubling prices to a $50 a month increase. I still have nothing but respect for the staff there and think it is a great place to learn to ride. As my daughter is getting more skilled, we have moved to an indoor arenas where she can jump snow or sun.

One of the nicer boarding facilities I've found in Upper Marlboro. Marlboro Ridge is a very well…read moreequipped facility with both indoor and outdoor arenas. They have both dressage and hunter-jumper oriented instructors, two heated wash stalls, and three sets of cross ties.

My painfully shy 6 yo granddaughter has a history of disliking and then quitting any activities…read morewe've offered - swimming, soccer, gymnastics, etc. She absolutely blossomed during her first lesson, though! Marina was an engaging, energetic, and informative trainer and Teddy was the perfect first horse to ride. She's hooked!

I'm a novice in this area so my review is based mostly on the horseback riding instruction they…read moreprovide. I had been searching for lessons for my child and stumbled across their site and ad on Craigslist. I was impressed with the instructor's credentials and work with kids so it seemed to be a good fit for my needs. Upon my first visit, she greeted me promptly at our lesson time. She introduced herself, pointed out the horses and pony and started instruction immediately. What I liked is that she began the lesson with getting my daughter familiar with the pony, safety, grooming, saddling, picking, etc. The instructor is patient and my daughter is very comfortable around her. It also helps that she's a military brat :). There are a lot of "brats" around these parts and I try to support these business owners when I can. Unlike many facilities, they are closer to areas in eastern Prince William County, a definite plus for those in Woodbridge/Dale City. It is a small stable with 4 horses and 1 pony on the premises from what I've seen. The horses appear healthy and well maintained. The barn is kept clean. I don't know how long my daughter will want to continue horseback riding lessons at her age but she appears to really enjoy them and her time at the stables.

It's been almost 1.5 years of riding here at Merkel, so I have finally have a well formed view of…read moreMerkel Farm. Stephanie (the owner) is, by far, the most caring, understanding, and helpful instructor I have EVER had. She understands each person's needs and can help each person grow not only in confidence, but in self-reliance. Stephanie always looks out for every person and makes sure they are getting the help they need, as well as being given the push to jump higher (sorry about the pun) as well. Her horses are all loved dearly, taken care of, and get to roam in spacious fields all day like horses should. No horse is forced to stand in a stall all day only to be ridden once, and returned. They get to stretch their legs and take in the serene backwoods Bowie scenery. Every lesson is formed around making each person better, with focuses in different areas. One day might be a balance day, strength day, cross country day, position day, ect. I never know what fun experiences lay for me on the other side of the white fenced arena. The grounds are well groomed, with several large paddocks full of happy horses. There is a spacious outdoor ring, covered indoor ring, and a host of cross country fences around the property. There are several friendly furry friends roaming around the grounds, including Brandy the ever present Goldendoodle, and Pepper, the most friendly cat in the world. I will continue to make Merkel my home and hope that everyone sees the beauty in this lovely farm tucked back on a piece of paradise.

This place is like therapy for my daughter. Great kids riding program that teaches them how to…read moreboth care for and ride the horses. Can't wait for summer camp!