My experience at Linden Farm has been phenomenal! I started as an adult student with little…read morehorseback riding experience. Through excellent instruction and encouragement, I am now participating in horse shows and leasing a horse. I recently traveled to Ireland on a horseback riding holiday and received compliments on my riding. This can be 100% attributed to the quality instruction at Linden!

My 10-year old daughter visited Linden Farm with a girl leadership program to learn about horses…read more The owner was unprofessional and didn't seem to care about our girls. The owner used an aggressive tone (yelled) most of the visit and provided cynical responses or dismissed many questions from our girls. It was extremely difficult to work with the owner to ensure our girls received a fair & safe experience filled with learning and fun. The owner allowed children (who seemed to be about 11 or 12 years old) to lead some of the learning experiences for our group, which was not effective. Based on the owner's conduct & demeanor, I should've rated this place a 0 star, but there were a couple staff members who were good with the children and knowledgeable about horses. Our groups that were lead by the adult staffers received quality instruction and professional interaction. Unfortunately, the owner inserted herself in every aspect of our visit so the overall experience was not pleasant. I recommend Finding another farm IF you're taking children... I'm never going back.

My family boards our horse at this beautiful 50 acre facility that has all of the amenities and…read moregreat customer service! We often bring friends and our extended family with us and they ALWAYS comment how nice it is. It is truly our home away from home. The facility is very clean, has a large outdoor and indoor lighted arena (great riding in the winter, rainy days or evening riding.) We love the picnic benches and having lunch with other boarders, or just relaxing after a ride or we can ride to the nice on-site pond and have a packed lunch. There is even a nice boarders indoor lounge with a full kitchen, lounge area, bathroom and shower. And very clean!! The owner takes great pride in the facility and ensures the boarders and the horses care is number one priority. There is always someone available 24-7. I'm not sure what the people who gave negative reviews were looking for; staff turnover is kind of inevitable in the horse world. And it is not our concern why someone left, or what that person did or did not do for the reason they are no longer there. But I am sure that a GOOD owner wants to make sure they have the right person there to take the best care of the horses and boarders. And this is why we board our horse here because the owner cares about the boarders and their horses. I would highly recommend this facility to anyone who is looking to board at a facility that takes pride in customer service and the care of your horse(s) this is the place! We are thankful to have found such a wonderful place to board our horse and so is he! **It is also VERY comforting to know that when the State performed their normal periodic mandated State Board of Inspection of Licensed Horse Facilities in the winter during the freezing temps. the facility passed with flying colors!!

This is a first rate facility and my horse has never been healthier or happier. Me too! I travel a…read morelot for work and never worry about the care of my horse. Deb is a first rate barn manager and I know she will call me if there is any concern. As I prefer, the horses spend most of their time in turnout except for inclement weather. The barns are well kept and the other boarders are all friendly despite being a diverse and eclectic group of horse owners. I'm a western trail rider, but we also have competitive jumping and dressage horses. Check it out for yourself and also see the the Facebook page.

Went to the website for information and it's shut down. No big deal, I'll just call right?…read more The lady that answered could not be bothered and seemed put off by the fact that I had the audacity to call. "As it CLEARLY states on our website, we don't do that." Sorry for checking, miss.

So happy to of found Soft Landing Stables. The property is idyllic and the horses are well loved…read more It's been a wonderful experience riding at this barn, the horse trainer- Wendy Powers, is amazing! Would highly recommend this barn!

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.

Stephanie is amazing! My daughter has taken many lessons with her and progressed beyond all…read moreexpectations. She had never even been on a horse before and was cantering and posting within weeks. Stephanie has the right amount of patience and persuasion to get the students to continually develop as riders. The horses are all impeccably maintained and well trained. I love that the students learn to tack up the horses and the responsibility required to be a rider. If your considering lessons, this is the place to go.

After seeing a bargain on Living Social, I decided to give it a try for my almost 4 y.o. daughter…read more She has been in love w/ horses since she was 2. The instructor, Stephanie was wonderful and very patient w/ me (neurotic mother) and my daughter. She leases space at a beautiful farm in Boyds, MD. The horses are beautiful, and clearly well taken care of. Stephanie is very aware of the horses she uses, and is very cautious & careful about safety which is always my biggest concern. She actually had Gracie galloping on her second lesson b/c Gracie saw a more experienced rider and wanted to do the same, so she taught her the basics of posting, had her hold tightly onto the saddle and lead the horse into a controlled gallop, which Gracie loved. I also appreciated Stephanie's honesty when I approached her about her readiness & the benefit of future lessons as I wanted to make sure my daughter would be getting the most out of this as possible. Stephanie is clearly very experienced w/ horses, and instructing people in how to ride them. It's obvious, this is her passion which makes it all the better for anyone fortunate enough to take lessons from her.

In brief: Best, most professional training and instruction in the DMV area…read more The owners live on the property and are completely devoted to the horses. Lots of individual attention and customized care. If you're at the barn in the late evening... you might notice Jen or Sam coming out to check on the horses, tuck them in, and give them a flake or two of hay for "midnight snack." The lessons are simply THE BEST. Thoughtful goal-setting... specific feedback and exercises aligned to your goals... and a totally positive, encouraging, yet demanding atmosphere. No matter your level, you WILL become a better rider and you WILL feel better about your riding. Lots of opportunities to compete, but no pressure if you're not interested. Barns are notorious for drama and craziness... so much so that a certain degree of barn drama comes to seem inevitable. Not so at ACSH. The vibe is professional and friendly. In six months, I have heard zero critical comments about anybody else's riding or handling or anything else. You'll get lots of feedback but it will never feel negative. Drawback: The facility is not pretty nor in particularly good repair. The tack room is crowded and poorly lit... but the water buckets are SPOTLESS. It's all about the priorities, right? (: FWIW: I've boarded at four different facilities in the area... ridden at five... and taught at four. ACSH wins the blue ribbon for everything but looks.

Excellent program. My child transitioned to Meadowood from another nearby riding program and they…read moreimmediately set to work undo bad habits learned there. Lessons are usually taught in small groups, but individual lessons are also available. My child has progressed rapidly under the tutelage of a wonderful and highly experienced instructor who emphasizes proper horsemanship technique. Meadowood is a beautiful and well-maintained facility with professional and caring management. The hardest part is getting in because I don't think they take that many beginners, but my child entered as an advanced beginner and has flourished here. Highly recommended.

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!