Bought my wife some horseback riding lessons and she convinced me to give it a shot. I've never…read moreridden a horse before but Anita was patient with me, focusing on my form and making sure I dont start to have any bad habits. Had a great experience and now my wife's anniversary gift is couples horseback riding lessons :)

We had a trail lesson. The trail had old tires, broken pipes, and trash, and we even passed by a…read moregutted vehicle. The owner was rude to us because we didn't 'look up' enough - she said she was joking but it was at our expense, wasn't funny, and her tone was not joking. Also, the horses do the exact same trail every day, and will just follow the guide anyway, it's a bit like the touristy horse rides, except there isn't anything touristy to see. I wouldn't go back, there are several nicer farms nearby.

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!

Not a good experience for us. Maria is the best instructor there. The others? not so much…read more Trainers yelling at students, not paying attention, constant texting, negative, rude, condescending, passive aggressive, just plain unprofessional. We were miserable. Can't recommend, sorry. Look elsewhere.

For our first lesson, we found the staff patient, friendly, and the horses very well-behaved…read more You'll first learn how to properly interact with horses. You'll learn about the "kit" and how to mount and ride in the saddle. If you're a beginner, this the place for you. Experienced riders will undoubtedly find the staff well versed in advanced horsemanship. I highly recommend a visit.

Once again good old uncle Derryk and his wife are attending another kiddie berthsdeh parti and come…read moreto find out the theme to this one is western as in on the ranch. Yep the little girl of my very good friends loves loves loves little horses and they are learning her to ride maybe one day she'll be one of those equestrians chasing the steeple. So what better way to encourage interest in something is through reinforcement. Little kids love horses so when you give a birthday party (mind you you must have sufficient yard space) why not have some little ponies around for the little cowboys and gals to promenade. That's right here is a opportunity to have ponies there for your kids birthday. It reminds me of those commercials that you see on TV when the little girl wants a pony to play with for her birthday. Stone Eagle Stables located way out in Jessup Maryland will bring the miniature horses to you. Or if you want your group can go to them. They specialize in pony rides for back yards parties, churches, public parks, schools, churches just about any place. They also have moon bounces and can provide clowns with balloons if needed. Everything one would need to have a very memorable party for your little ones. Stone Eagle is a family run business with the head honcho (he looks like the actor Sam Elliott) his wife and his teenage kids. They tell me that they have many many years experience in breeding and raising horses every since they were little kids themselves. They are very warm and friendly working well with the little kids. They explain to them on their level about the do's and don'ts with the ponies.... remember even though they are small horses they can still cause BIG damage to children and adults if spooked. Everybody had a great time with the pony show kids and adults alike, parents had plenty photo ops with their kids and horses. All the kids rode as much as they wanted to and even after chasing wife down almost having to bring the horse in the house where she was hiding after I raised her hand for next to ride. Cowboy Barry (Sam Elliott lookalike) was able to get her to take the pony for a spin. She is very petite so she didn't put a hurting on the little pony unlike me I need a large Clydesdale to support my heavy weight. Great entertainment for the whole family and the little kids loved it the best you just can't go wrong with this for some home on the range good times. Happy trails to you partner.

We had a unicorn come to our bridal shower. My daughter was so surprised and all the guests loved…read morehaving their picture taken with the unicorn! It was an event we will never forget! We got to hold bunnies, goats and pet mini horses and even a calf. Staff was so nice and accommodating.

Monica is amazing! My dog Lucy worships the ground she walks on. Wouldn't go to anybody else.read more

I wish I had taken before and after pictures because our dog was shedding so much we couldn't keep…read moreup and now she looks incredible! Other bonuses: whatever shampoo/products were used, she smells great (I couldn't stand the highly perfumed smell her last groomer used) and the convenience of mobile grooming is phenomenal. You've got a new regular client!

This is a phenomenal organization. I first learned about it when I moved into the community just…read moredown the road from it. I had always wondered what it was and decided to check them out. They do amazing work with special populations. The staff and volunteers all truly love what they do. They are very knowledgeable about the horses and are very caring and patient with the folks that participate in their programs. One of my high school friends has a son that has been part of this program for several years. He speaks incredibly highly of them as well. The executive director is beyond passionate about the horses and about the mission of the horse farm. The facility is incredibly spacious and serene. If you love horses you should consider volunteering. The more I have learned about what they do and their mission, the more I cannot say enough about them.

Don't pay for adult refresher riding lessons here. I was left alone in the arena while the…read moreinstructor was off talking to another volunteer. Horse took off and I got thrown. They never even followed up to see how I was. They sent the other volunteer to see if I was going to pursue action. I have a torn hamstring and a torn hip flexor. Lots of PT and still struggling over a year later. They need to stick with what they are good at. Medically and emotionally complex individuals get great care. That is not the same as "teaching" riding.

This is like nothing else. Going there is like visiting an old friend--the experience is extremely…read morecausal, laid back, and organic. It's almost like Steven has created a start-up farm immersion experience. At Steven's request, we started considerably later than expected on the horses so they wouldn't be exposed to extreme heat--which would be a potential disaster for me as a super-busy, over-scheduled DC person, but Steven was very polite about it and neither my party or the couple we met there were in any hurry. We also had the opportunity to Kayak in the lake near the main house, which was fun and relaxing, and Steven entertained us with engaging conversation. The actual horse-back riding vastly exceeded my expectations for excitement and interest. The animals were glorious and had distinct and entertaining personalities and idiosyncrasies, all well known to Steven. If you like speed, Spirit is a great horse for you; others prefer to take it much slower. You will get involved in every aspect of the horse's care--if you'd like--from swatting horse flies, feeding them, taking down saddles, and giving them a bath with a bucket, and you will get the best pictures you've ever seen for free, thanks to Steven. If you have a free day or evening, and you want a taste of what it would be like to live on a farm and raise horses, just go. Unless you own your own horses, it will probably be the best horse experience of your life. It will inevitably be fun, unscripted, and pleasantly unexpected.

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

I really wanted to have a positive experience with Saddle Up 4 Fun. When I initially learned that…read morethey offered a horseback riding experience specifically geared toward Girl Scouts, I was excited to support the business and bring our troop out for something new. Unfortunately, the communication and organization surrounding our experience were disappointing. There were logistical issues leading up to our scheduled session, including an attempt to cancel due to preparedness issues on their end. Despite that, I gave them the benefit of the doubt because I did not want our Scouts to miss out on an experience they had been looking forward to. Thankfully, the Scouts did enjoy the horseback riding experience itself, which is why I wish the follow-through had matched their experience. Our biggest issue has been receiving all of the patches that were earned and paid for as part of our group session. We were not given enough patches for all participating Scouts. I brought this to the owner's attention immediately and was willing to meet the following day to retrieve the remaining patches. Unfortunately, despite multiple attempts to follow up, I have yet to receive the missing patches or a clear resolution. As a Girl Scout Troop Leader, I work hard to create positive experiences for our Scouts, and earning their patches is an important part of that. The girls participated, completed the experience, and should receive what was included with their session. I truly wanted to be able to recommend Saddle Up 4 Fun, especially because our Scouts enjoyed their time with the horses. However, the lack of organization, communication, and follow-through afterward has made that difficult. I hope the business improves in these areas, particularly when working with youth organizations and group leaders who are responsible for coordinating experiences on behalf of families. ~Troop Leader

From the owner: Equine-Assisted Therapy Equine-assisted psychotherapy, also…read morecalled equestrian therapy or horse therapy, is a type of experiential mental health treatment that involves a person in therapy interacting with horses. Designed for people of all ages, equine therapy has been shown to treat a wide range of mental health issues Riding Lessons Horseback riding is a sport that has been around for hundreds of years. The only difference between then and now is that most people do it today recreationally instead of relying on them for transportation, plus it’s very relaxing and fun! Birthday Parties For All Ages Providing ponies for kids’/adult birthday parties can be a fun and rewarding experience and make you the best parent or coolest person ever!