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!

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.

Wow. Gentle horses and smiling kids, friendly staff and busy volunteers. All in an idyllic setting…read morein Clifton VA. What's not to love. The riders are kids with disabilities, recovering military riders, and at-risk youth. The therapists are the horses, and they are expert therapists. It's a mighty little program that relies heavily on volunteers and it has something for everyone. Check it out and bring a friend.

From the owner: NVTRP provides equine-assisted activities to kids and adults with disabilities, youth-at-risk, and…read morerecovering military service personnel.

Drove down here on the weekend, in the heart of the wintertime…read more Visiting the area around Bristow with my mom + sister, so figured this would be a good spot to walk the dog. Plus, this was technically on the way back, so it worked out nicely for us. Entrance to the park is a bit tricky -- just go straight at the traffic light at the end of the road. The road is narrow, and it's easy to miss it by heading left instead -- a mistake we almost made. The parking lot is not spacious but there were lot of free spots at the time we went. Thankfully it was not too busy. Only I got down, as it was rather cold weather. I walked our dog for a good half-hour. Trees everywhere, the scenery was nice. A bit muddy at parts, but not overly so. I recommend bringing a pair of hiking shoes just in case. Trail ran through the woods, with some interesting views. Saw all kinds of trees -- long and narrow ones, fallen ones, dead and decaying ones where the wood gave way when you stepped on them. The walk felt kind of lonely though -- I honestly didn't see another soul on the walk. I figured it might be the weather or something. My dog enjoyed it a lot. I did too for the most part. The views were nice and relaxing, very calming overall. I am a fan of the cold, so that helped too. Overall, cool spot. Nice wooded trail area for casual walks, and for bringing the dog on. Last visited: 1/7/23

Very nice state forest for a hike! It's woodsy and provides plenty of shade to hide from the sun…read more Different trail options available. Picnic tables available for a food break as well. Toddler approved ;)

We were here to have a private horse riding lesson for our daughter's birthday:) She had such a fun…read morespecial time.

I can't say enough about our experience at Battlefield Park Polo. My sons have been riding here…read morefor 7yrs and went from timid riders to well trained polo players. They've learned horsemanship as well as sportsmanship. They have learned to care for the animals they ride. They have to make sure the horses are fed, given water and stalls are cleaned before they leave. This happens on a daily basis. No barn is perfect but if there's one place to bring a child who wants to become a good rider and polo player then it's here.

My daughter has been riding for over 12 years now. She's been with Scattered Acres for over a year…read moreand we cannot imagine a better place for our horse boarding and eventing training! A+++

Summary: an Introduction to Horsemanship lesson for three of my grandkids; it was simply, superbly,…read moreexcellent! In early April l contacted Scattered Acres about getting an introduction to horses lesson for some of my grandkids. Autumn promptly returned my call, asked relevant questions (ages, sizes, personalities) and worked with both myself and the boy's mother to set up a time and plan. The lesson itself lasted over two hours and included both Autumn and Lisa from the farm to guide the boys through a load of great learning; horse safety, riding safety, care of the horse, getting them saddled, mounting, gentleness but presence (confidence); it was just excellent. I was also very impressed with the way Autumn and Lisa divided up the instruction. The youngest boy can be a bit timid and Lisa was great about encouraging him and helping him along while still making sure he was really doing what was needed. It was a great example of nurturing a student along but not just doing it for them. Despite the occasional rain, the time flew by and all 3 kids had a great time and kept talking about how "cool" it was and how nice Autumn and Lisa were. As it happened both the Vet and Farrier were there that day and as a group we also took time to observe what they were doing. I could not have asked for a better introduction to the world of equines than the kids had that day. Just as important, both the boy's mom and myself (who can be adventurous but always extremely safety conscious) felt that everyone (including the animals) were always being handled in a safe manner. Whenever even a potential safety issue was seen the boy(s) were called out and constructively corrected. I had contacted six farms in the area, quickly narrowed it to three, and honestly feel Autumn and Scattered Acres was the ideal choice and stood well above the others. I have no hesitation totally recommending the farm, Autumn and Lisa.

They care so much for their rescued farm animals. Everyone is so kind and obviously loves these…read moreanimals unlike commercial zoos that exploit them.

I don't often leave reviews, but VVS deserves 10 stars. Bill and his crew are fantastic horse…read morepeople and humans. I had recently moved to the area and needed to bring my horse (3 year old at the time) out of his prior training barn and into a facility I could work him at. Well, lets just say my 3 yr old need A LOT more training then I had time or confidence for. Bill was wiling to help train him and keep me posted with videos and pictures of his progress. The horse is now almost 5, and is an absolute star! If you have a young horse, a horse who needs some refresher training, maybe a kid who wants to learn to ride, or just a wonderful barn family....call Bill, like right now!

Bill Payne owner/trainer of VVSP is one of the top professionals in NOVA and just so great to work…read morewith. He presented my 2 year old in the FEH East Coast Championships and took reserve overall 2yo East Coast. Judges were commenting how they "Really appreciate how he stands up and presents the horses so it is easy for them to judge". This is exactly what you want! VVSP welcomed me with open arms when I moved to the east coast from the west coast. His guidance and education in the sport set me up for success and it shows. He not only bred the top scoring FEH East Coast Champion horse overall this year but his expert education in coaching/breeding/riding knowledge and presentation talent really impressed me. He also develops young horses with a calm patient method. I am very impressed in his program and if you want success in our sport, connect with Bill for all of your young horse needs.

Had the most incredible experience at Morningside stables today with a lesson for my toddler…read moredaughter. Could not have asked for a more patient and fun teacher than Tara. The property is huge, with tons of space for birthday parties, a playground, trampoline, and so, so many horses -- including ponies and a miniature. We also saw experienced riders practicing their hunter style riding -- they were gracious and incredibly kind. That says a lot about the teaching environment, and it's a makes me feel comfortable having my little one here. Can't wait to come back.

My daughter has been riding here for the past three years. It's a wonderful place where children…read moreare encouraged to learn at their own pace. The owners are truly dedicated to the kids. My daughter loves riding the different ponies, the fun and caring teachers, and the special trail rides. I highly recommend!