I took English lessons there for roughly five to seven months with the goal of moving into hunters…read more Lindsay, the owner of the establishment talked crap about my riding instructor of 18 years that I'd come to her from There also was an instance where one of the horses was coughing and it concerned me and when I mentioned it to her, she threw a fit From what I've read from other reviews, I'm not the only one with a experience similar to mine/a negative experience in general

Lovely place that takes excellent care of their boarders and lesson horses. I have been boarding…read morehere for over a year. Great fields and grass. ZERO drama and the other boarders and riders are so kind and helpful. The owner/trainer Lindsay is wonderful and has boosted the confidence of my horse and I tremendously. Lots of showing opportunities. We could not be happier here!

This was a wonderful equine facility that had fallen into disrepair but is now under new, young…read moreowners. Repairs so far made significant improvement in its' facilities safety and appearance. More work is presently underway. The current crew are very knowledgeable and hard working. We feel that both our horses and ourselves are well cared for here. We originally boarded here for 3 1/2 years and enjoyed riding over its' ample trails and using the formal arenas. We have happily come back to ride here once again. This is a complete equestrian center no matter what type of riding you do.

As a horse owner and boarder, I feel like it's my responsibility to educate others in the horse…read morecommunity on how terrible this facility really is. I moved there originally because I needed a fast, short-term solution. However, in the short 3 months it was never ending care problems, stealing, lawsuits/scandals, and I learned that borders do not have a voice about their own horses. Recently, Potomac Riverside was taken over by new "management" and I use that term loosely. Rebekah and James's knowledge of horses and care is below zero - in the sense that boarders had to step up to teach them what a halter was, how to clean a stall, fill water buckets, feed grain, and lead horses. That does not even cover lameness or any medical issues. They wouldn't know what to look for if a horse were to colic or even know what colic is. A couple of other issues that I would like to also share. The first being that they ignorantly ordered oak shavings instead of pine. Oak shavings are toxic to all livestock and can cause colic, liver and kidney failure, and even death. When multiple boarders tried to educate them about this, they decided they were going to use the oak shavings anyway. Several vets had to be involved in order to correct this detrimental mistake. James and Rebekah also decided (without informing any horse owners) that they would be corralling the horses in from the fields instead of leading them. They refer to it as their "gate system", but it's corralling. This was tried a couple of years ago, by the owner of the farm herself. A horses ended up breaking its leg because it was trying to run to keep up with the mixed heard. It was euthanized the next day. Again, when boarders voiced their concerns about this system being implemented, they were either kicked off the property or asked to move their horses. I would go every single day to see my horses to make sure they had enough food and water, to clean my own stalls, and bought my own shavings because I had to make sure they were safe. I also moved out two days early and never received my money back for those two extra days I paid. James and Rebekah are unethical in more ways than one. I am sure this barn will try marketing tactics such as rebranding, but do not let a new farm name, low-level trainers, and other tactics fool you.

Fully disappointed with customer service! even 1 star is a good mark for this farm, it's zero! they…read morescheduled private classes on the same time and field as group classes, as a result almost all the time you just waiting for free space. horses often is too tired to do a run. Would not recommend anyone!

We have been with Christine V, the owner, since she ran a much smaller barn. She purchased and…read moremoved Red Gate Farm to Bluemont, VA in 2017. It's a gorgeous barn with wonderful horses and ponies. Just the most gorgeous grounds and we usually have a picnic there right after lessons to take advantage of the beautiful views! I think people have to understand you may not always get to ride or show with the horse or pony that you want and that's just part of the sport, unless you actually lease the horse or pony.

We are so happy to have found Cadence! It is an English-style barn and the perfect mix of skilled…read moretraining, great horse care, and a easy going and fun group of riders! Diane is an accomplished equestrian herself and an excellent instructor. I have ridden at amateur barns throughout the country and really appreciate her skill. She has tips about technique that I have not seen before and really work for me. She is a good instructor for everything from pure pleasure riding to competing in rated shows. The focus is on eventing at this barn but there are opportunities for pure dressage to combined training to eventing at every level. Hunters and jumpers are also welcomed. As important as the instructor are the horses. The horses are happy here. There is plenty of space for them to graze and they are cared for by loving people. Finally, and most importantly, the social vibe is fun and supportive. There is a vibrant group of adult amateurs, and ages span from just under 16 to over 60. Even when competing, the focus is on fun rather than on ribbons. Cadence stables is an all-around-great place to ride. We considered more than 20 barns before landing here.

Cadence is one of those special stables that truly values what's important - top notch horse care,…read morecultivating a positive and welcoming community, and providing great coaching. Diane is an accomplished rider and trainer and very collaborative. She not only helps me progress with my riding, but is also generous with her time providing knowledge and advice on horse care. I've become a more informed and educated rider and horse caretaker under her guidance. The people at this barn are dedicated and friendly, and ultimately the horses come first. There's an indoor, and outdoor, and ample outdoor space and grass to ride on. I also used to be intimidated by shows to the point where they weren't fun for me, and Diane and the community here have provided the encouragement I needed to make competing fun. Whether you're just starting out or taking your horse to the next level; looking to enjoy the outdoors or want to compete; want a lesson horse or are looking to board your own; Cadence is a wonderful place to ride.

such a warm, fabulous farm! Heather and her helpers were amazing, and our trail ride was one of…read moreour vacation highlights! And the horses are so sweet and full of personality!

We had a wonderful ride with Heather and June yesterday!! We hadn't ridden in many, many years and…read morethey were so kind and made us feel so comfortable. Our horses, Boris and Smoothie, were so patient and well behaved. Heather is a true horse whisperer and a pro. We were able to observe Heather providing jump lessons to a teen and Heather was incredibly skilled, patient, and encouraging. I highly recommend Heather's team if you are considering lessons or just a trail ride.

I took my grandnephew for his first riding lesson to Progressive. It was a wonderful experience…read more. Judy was patient, kind, but very firm with him. She was conscious of safety, and the lesson horse was well trained and wonderful. He learned a lot. I would highly recommend this business.

I had took my girlfriend here on a date for her birthday because she had never ridden a horse…read morebefore but always had interest in doing so. The experience we had there was amazing. The instructor Judi and her family that work there were very courteous and professional. Judi is very knowledgeable about horses. We learned alot. I highly recommend for you to visit them if you want a horseback riding lesson.

You're absolutely right that I did not check on Khol during his stay with you which is why I am…read moreadvising people to do so. And you're absolutely right that you gave Khol some extra vet care in the beginning which I knew about. It's also true that some horses thrive very nicely at your place. Khol IS in his mid-20s which is a typical age for a retiree. My objection isn't an overpromise of the care I believed I was paying for, and in fact I do appreciate the extra care that you gave Khol when he had a problem in the beginning. My hindsight wish is not only that I would have visited him within the first 4 to 6 months to see with my own eyes, but also that I would have been given a call to say that Khol was not thriving. He was seen by a vet when he arrived at his new farm and was clinically diagnosed with a body condition of 2 on a scale of 1 to 9, where 1 is complete starvation. He weighed 1200 pounds vs his healthy 16.3 warmblood weight of 1600 pounds. His blood work came back fine which indicates that his poor condition was due strictly to starvation. I'll tell you what broke MY heart was your statement when Khol left that you were going to miss "those big sad eyes of his." From the time I had bought him in April 1998 until the day I saw him leave, Khol had not spent one day sad. When he got to where he is currently ---without my even mentioning it --- the caretaker said to me "I don't know how to say this but I have never seen such a sad look on horses face." Khol is where he should be now, and I'm sure many of your herd will live out the rest of their days happy and fat at your place. For those owners whose horses thrive, your farm is the right choice. I would just urge you the next time you have a horse go downhill as drastically as Khol did, that you please alert the owner and give them the opportunity to rethink their choice. And to any owner considering your farm, I will again implore you to do as I say and not as I did, and be sure to visit your horse in the first 4-6 months.

My horse, Sugar, has been living at Welbourne Farm for almost two months. I just visited her,…read moreagain, this past week and she looks great and has become part of a very sweet, small herd of about 10 horses that tend to stay near the main house. She has also found a mate, Cody, and the two of them are inseparable. From the very beginning phone calls, months ago, to Sugar's arrival and since, Josh, Nat, and Amanda have all been very attentive to Sugar's needs and I am happy to say that two months in, she is happy, thriving, and healthy and has taken to living life like a horse in the wild beautifully. These horses sleep under the stars and anyone who knows horses knows that is about as good as it gets for a horse. Josh and his family all take the responsibility of caring for these retired horses very seriously. They really do know every horse by name and all of the horses are checked on daily ... This is the perfect retirement home for a horse ... Lynne

Had such a great time horseback riding and touring the vineyard! Louisa was wonderful, and the…read morehorses were so well-trained, sweet, and clearly well cared for. My horse (Duck) was lovely, and I honestly didn't want the ride to end! My only callout would be that I wish we got a little more time riding the horses, especially given the price. That said, it was still such a beautiful experience from start to finish. Definitely coming back!

ALERT: Please use the bathroom before coming here. When arriving to the farm I asked to use the…read morerestroom and she offered me a roll of toilet paper and directed me to a literal barn stall where there were horses and cows in there (not toilet seat, not even a porta-potty) . Personally I was not comfortable exposing my lady parts to a pile of hay/dirt/mud with animals looking at me . I held it for an hour. Yesterday my good friend and I went horseback riding with who I'm assuming to be Louisa Rice. We did the Ice cream trail at 03:30pm today and let me just humbly share, unfortunately the 3 stars are for the 3 horses and not Louisa. Firstly, I'm only assuming the horse riding instructor's name was Louisa because she didn't introduce herself as the instructor upon my friend and I's arrival . I'm assuming it was her name because, that was the name listed in the booking confirmation via email. Upon our arrival she was clearly very annoyed and didn't want to be there. I am assuming this because she didn't introduce herself, she gave us little to no instruction before getting on the horses, she never asked if we had any prior experience with horseback riding and remained with a passive aggressive/rude disposition for the majority of the session. The instructor today had us immediately hop on the horses without a demonstration first even though we quite literally have no experience with horseback riding lol . I know super safe ... Once we actually got on the horses with some help and guidance, she gave us what I would describe as a 60 second crash course... This was not enough time for us to properly learn how to steer/guide the horses in different directions or know what to do in case of an emergency. The three horses she chose was Juno (normal/mild) temperament, Duck (Very sensitive to touch and hyperactive) and Oden. She made us aware that Oden was old (20 years old), had a history of abuse and that he had an attitude today. Just the fact that she mentioned he had an attitude and had to pop the his butt with her hand to get him to move closer to me....Immediately, why would she give me that horse to ride??? Oden should have been specifically Louisa's horse to ride for the session today in my opinion. Given that I have no experience with horses, let alone experience with horses who have attitudes, are stubborn and in an elderly state, to me, this was already neglectful on Louisa's part. As we rode the trail, there were multiple times that I remained 6 + feet behind Louisa, my friend and their horses while riding Oden. At this point Louisa was doing what I believe to be yelling instructions, but how was I supposed to hear any of what she was saying being 6+feet behind??I did my best to keep Oden safe given her poor instructions or lack thereof. The most terrifying portion is when we had to make a sharp right turn at the cross walk. At this time, Oden was not as receptive to the pulling of the reigns and ended up scratching his leg on the pillar . It was very scary and he was bleeding . Louisa's response during this time was to ask me "why do you have your hands up to you boobs?" And to "look where I'm going" I don't know if she was trying to guide me, but I am not sure what she was talking about at this time. She also asked me to "fix myself" when getting off of Oden referring to my breasts again . This was very strange . I am not sure why she kept making references to my breasts ??? At the point where I was off the horse we made it to the ice cream stop (By the way, the Ice cream is not included in the $165 you pay, you have to buy the ice cream yourself). Louisa remained with the horses while she let my friend and I purchase ice cream and then shortly after, left me and my friend Shakila unsupervised with all 3 horses at least 3 times. She left us with the horses while she left to gather napkins and water to clean Oden. Her instruction was to hold the rubber rope while she left, that's it. Oden looked to be actively in distress, walking in circles, moving around constantly and even tried to back away from me a couple of times while I held the rubber rope as instructed. I was very afraid and I expressed this concern to Louisa several times. Unfortunately she was very dismissive and communicated with me that she would let me know if there was something to be worried about. How could she do this if she had been walking away multiple times for minutes while oden was in distress?? We also did not get to brush the horses as per the ice cream trail package . Overall the horses were not to blame for Louisa's unsafe conduct . One good thing is that there is a very sweet farm dog here !