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!

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.

Great instruction, great facilities, excellent fellow students and families. So happy we found…read moreAdrian and BEF.

My daughter has been riding with Adrian for 4 years and we can't imagine being anywhere else (wish…read morewe had started here). He is focused on developing strong, confident, safe riders and always provides positive reinforcement. He is incredibly dedicated to his students! We finally made the step towards ownership and could not have done this without Adrian. He guided us through every step of the process and helped us find the perfect horse! The stables are well kept and stalls are large. All the horses are well cared for and I feel that as boarders we get exceptional quality care. There is an indoor and outdoor ring, plus a dressage ring. Beautiful turnout fields and access to miles of trails.

The indoor riding arena is great, the horses are generally well cared for, stalls are fairly clean…read moreand the instructors are nice, but there's a lack of timeliness and supervision that was not ok. The morning crew often showed up very late to bring horses in and feed them which meant we couldn't start tacking on time. In order to avoid this, it was suggested on numerous occasions to send my young child to the field (which is MASSIVE), unsupervised, to catch their horse. I understand this is part of the riding experience, but they were scared, and they said that on multiple occasions, and it was rare that anybody was available to go with them to help. I'm not very familiar with horses so I could only do so much, but it would have made everyone more comfortable if there had been someone on site to help out. Every time I mentioned it, I was met with "your child has to learn to catch their horse." Ok. I agree, but my child also needed help and none was offered. The instructor was very friendly but disorganized and lessons didn't flow well. It felt like there was no plan and the lesson was made up on the fly, with no continuity from one week to the next. When my child was fearful, the instructor was very calm and patient, but eventually that patience turned to anger and we no longer felt welcome. My child rode here for just over a year, but I would not recommend it. There is a lack of safety and supervision that makes me concerned for the young beginner riders. Maybe it's a better fit for older, more experienced boarders, but for a first time riding barn, this was not a good fit. Also, several of the yelp reviews for this barn are written by staff. So, keep that in mind...

A great friendly barn. Has field and stall board. Very large turn out fields with plenty of grass…read more A really nice mix of boarders of all ages. Very kid friendly, from lessons, horse shows and summer camps, there's something for everyone.

Calleva is an awesome adventure-learning organization based out of Poolesville, Maryland, with…read moresites everywhere from the Chesapeake Bay to National Harbor. Their Farm in Dickerson is home to one of the better Ropes courses I've seen (not to mention Markoff's Haunted Forest in season). Somehow I ended up in charge of our annual "outdoor adventure" field trips this year. Instead of our usual outfit, I decided to give Calleva a go with our gang. Some of the great folks working there actually came to our school last spring, taking the time to sit down with us and talk about the programs they offer and how they could best meet the needs of our unique population of kiddos. That they wanted to tailor their programs to our students impressed us right off the bat. Once I started planning our field trips, it was really easy to coordinate with Calleva via e-mail and telephone. They were proactive, responsive, and flexible. I even received e-mails and calls from each day's individual Head Facilitator in order to gather more detailed information about our overall goals, how we envisioned the day would go, and specific activities they had planned. Both days of our field trips, we arrived with busloads of active kids, ready to go. The Calleva facilitators were equally ready: fully prepared, organized, and full of energy. They led our students through a really fun, well-thought-out day of team-building, creative problem solving, and testing personal limits. All the facilitators did a great job of explaining the activities, and then -- more importantly -- debriefing at the end, so the students better understood the point of each. We did both high (Zip Line, Big Swing, Balance Beam) and low (X-Games, Think Tank) elements -- and adults even got to play. I also have to mention that hot coffee was ready for us both mornings; Calleva obviously knows who they're dealing with, and that educators run on little more than coffee and adrenaline. The property itself was worth the extra drive it took to get out to Dickerson. The Ropes course is spread throughout somewhat dense woods, up and down hillsides, and over creeks. Whether it's a field trip, company bonding, or a crew of you and your friends, Calleva Farm is an excellent place to challenge your fears and work up a sweat.

This is my kid's second home. They offer team building programs, after school programs, summer…read morecamps, the famous Markoff Haunted Forrest, the equestrian program, and more. My kids have been involved in the equestrian program for a few years, taking lessons, leasing, building their work ethic and learning some great life skills. Great, caring people, great programs, love this place.

Tamara is not only amazing for advanced riders but incredibly patient with beginners. giving lots…read moreof pointers and the why behind everything we do before tacking up the horse to mounting and turning out your horse. I would highly recommend everyone giving her a try.

If you or one of your kids or anyone you know is looking for riding lessons I highly recommend BTO…read more My son started riding at 6 and has been with his coach Tamara since the beginning. He has become a great rider through her lesson program. On top of that the horses are top notch! Great lesson horses and opportunities to go to shows! I would highly recommend Beat the Odds Training! You won't be disappointed!