I have been taking lessons for 6 weeks, and Megan has a measured and sequential training to teach…read moreme how to know the horse and then how to ride. It has been a fantastic experience so far. It is also a wonderful family-owned stable--Tim is around the property all of the time, and clearly loves what he does and loves those horses. The horses get basically free rein and are very well tended to. It is an amazing piece of property nestled in the Mason Neck/Pohick Bay Area of Loudon--beautiful and green, and just a quick drive to get there and home.

I went to Tamarack for a morning trail ride on my birthday and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I…read morehadn't been on a horse in at least 15 years but the instructors there were patient and helpful. I was the only person that morning so it was just me and my guide peacefully riding through the woods. I will say it rained the morning I went and for some reason that equates to spiders coming down from the trees and riding through their webs that you couldn't really see coming.... let's just say my first lesson of 33 was to *breathe*. Luckily, my instructor was in front of me and caught most of the webs before I did. Lol. Afterward, they were okay with me walking the grounds a bit which are beautiful and I watched some of the kids take lessons and chatted with the horses in the barn. It was really enjoyable. I'll be back.

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.

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.

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.

My daughters come here for riding lessons. The stables are clean, horses are beautiful and well…read moremaintained! Staff is great! Black Owned Stable!!!!!!!!! Woman owned Stable!!!! Championship Horses! What are you waiting for?????

Beware! The "knowledgeable" and "professional" instructor sold an inexperienced rider a broken…read moresaddle and refused to issue a refund when the break was quickly confirmed by two professional saddle repair experts.

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.

Great instructors, healthy and loved horses. Love the welcome feeling here for my family. Watching…read morescouts come in and learn horsemanship. Great place I can't imagine going anywhere else.

Came to silver eagle in 2020, it was a great barn for a while, but then problems arose. My…read moreinstructor, Katie, was horrible with communication. She never answered back when I asked about lessons, and during one lesson, she even said she had to leave for a little bit (in the middle of my lesson) to go fill her car up with gas and go to the gas station. She is irresponsible and doesn't care about training properly. I came to a new barn not to long ago and it's so much better. Turns out, Katie was even teaching me wrong. My boots were far too big and my new trainer made sure to tell me. Plus, when I was learning to canter, I was told to land on the horses back, at my new barn, I am told to stand up slightly into a 2 point position, not only is this better on the horses back, but it is the correct way to ride. Also, the facility is horrible. Broken fences, frequent disease outbreaks, many of the staff smoke, horse poop everywhere and they never clean it out, horse fights, frequent horse injuries, etc. I've also seen my old instructor Katie, hit a horse on several occasions. I know you must disciple them if they do not listen or if they bite or kick, but she would fail on beat them with a crop, her hand, or anything else she could find. I would not recommend this stable to anyone.

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.