This place is the perfect option to introduce young children to horses and horseback riding. The…read morepony that they have is older, so she is well accustomed to toddlers and children. She has a calm and sweet temperament and with her being a pony, she's at just the right height where even timid kids aren't intimidated by her. The instructor is great as well. She's super good with the kids and includes activities such as story time, singing, games, and crafts. The lessons all follow a routine which is helpful with this age group of 2.5-5 year olds. The kids get to learn about horses, groom and feed the pony and of course ride! Each child had a good amount of time in the paddock every lesson with one-on-one time with the instructor and pony. The children learned how to go and stop, sit correctly and hold the reins, turn and steer the pony independently, and lean and reach while sitting in the saddle and maintaining balance. This was over one four-week session. We were extremely satisfied with our experience and recommend Miss Shelley wholeheartedly to introduce your child(ren) to the world of equines.

Miss Shelley is as good as it gets when it comes to kids and horseback riding. My daughter has…read moregone to pony school and private lessons with Shelley and loved every minute. Shelley is patient and knowledgeable. I would recommend her program for all the little girls and boys who love horses and want to learn all about them!

We decided on an impromptu horseback ride and they were kind enough to fit us in! We had a group of…read more5 girls and a great time! Matt and Clara were so attentive to us making sure we were comfortable and enjoying the trail ride. Would absolutely recommend for beginners!

We did the farm tour with small grandchildren. They loved it and the staff was very patient with…read moreus and the kids.

Bill at the Rocking S Ranch was terrific! He was great at instructing what to do (we are novice…read moreriders) and an awesome story teller on the trail. We traversed different terrains and he documented the whole experience for us! We can't wait to come back again!

This was really everything we wanted out of a trail ride. Bill took my phone as we entered the…read morewooded trail & kept taking picture of us throughout the trip which awesome. The trail itself was fun. We went up and down some pretty steep inclines & thru a stream a couple of times. Way more interesting terrain than we city folk have ridden thru on past rides. This is just a one man operation so if you call & have to leave a message, understand that you are calling Bill's cell not some assistant, and he's either on a ride or getting the next group ready. It took a few missed connections for Bill & I to finally talk on the phone but it was worth it. Highly recommended for a fun laid back experience.

What a fantastic experience at Royal Horseshoe Farm! The owner greeted us, was very friendly, and…read moreshowed those of us with little experience how to maneuver our horses. Our trail guide was delightful, and the trails were beautiful, including streams, woods, and open fields! We had the opportunity to walk, trot, and canter our horses, and our experienced young teens had just as much fun as us inexperienced grown-ups! The farm was very nice, and the horses seemed well loved and cared for. We have gone on multiple other trail rides in different states and countries, and this one is definitely a favorite!

Easy to book for family of 5 over phone with Rose. Fit and measured kids for their ride pretty…read morequick....love that they let us get use to horse prior to hour trail ride and gave instructions before leaving Perfect weather! Excellent ride through stream, up/down hills and trails in woods, through open pastures, etc Gianna (sp?) guide was excellent and patient and took good pace for us as beginners w minimal riding experience Hour ride for $50 each was well worth hour drive from WV ....would definitely recommend

I found Lucia Farm through Fairfax Parktakes. I always loved horseback riding (trail riding), and…read morehave been doing it on and off for a few years so I decided to get serious. I was looking everywhere for low prices, and for knowledgeable instructors in the area. Everywhere I looked the cost for lessons were extremely high. I looked through my Fairfax Parktakes account, and found lessons that were affordable. They are scheduled on the weekends. I have Sunday classes. I love my experience so much that I plan to continue taking horseback riding lessons here! Here is a picture of my riding horse for training.

Great farm, great owner, great horses. As a "green" rider, I decided to take lessons here to get…read morefamiliar and learn everything my little brain could soak up. My first lesson was with the owner herself, Dru. You couldn't find a nicer person, let alone owner, to give you a private, first lesson. My following lessons were in a group setting with another instructor and were just as helpful and great. I would share her name but I'm afraid everyone will call and steal her from me as she only gives lessons one day of the week! (I know, so not the way of Yelp...shoot me) Not only do they give the attention needed to give proper lessons, but they really reinforce the care, time and attention that's needed to properly care for and bond with a horse. You literally start your lesson by grooming your horse (to bond), tacking your horse (with guidance, of course), and doing a little ground work. Lessons aren't rushed and the instructor always ensures that your safety and comfort level are top priority. Oh, and they teach English riding, not Western! I plan to continue private lessons to advance my skills and overall knowledge of horses and maybe eventually do some more group lessons. If you are interested in horseback riding lessons, I'd say go here. Also, for the work and level of guidance, the prices here are hard to beat. From my understanding, the farm offers additional services but I'm not sure what exactly they are. It is a bit far if you're coming from the city and its surrounding areas but it's totally worth it-- if not just for the lessons then to also get a fresh breath of rural air and to take in the amazing scenery.

Both Todd and Barbara Johnson , owners of JBit Ranch are wonderful. Todd is an enthusiastic…read moreequestrian that shares his knowledge of natural horsemanship with his students. He goes above and beyond to make sure you understand the natural horsemanship ways to communicate to the horse!!

More pleasant communication to the boarders. Signs…read moreindicating the numericals of the various pastures would be helpful and ways to request certain actions for the horse's wellbeing such as masking and mask removal at evening.

I have been horseback riding with Melinda Cohen at Dream Catcher Farm for 15 years. I would…read morerecommend it to anyone looking to learn to ride, as well as those who have ridden for years and want to continue. The farm is about 45 minutes from Chevy Chase/Bethesda, but the drive is very easy - just up 270. It's a quick 15 minutes from the Frederick area. Melinda welcomes students from beginner levels to very advanced. The facilities are top notch and the community is very friendly. Both the horses and the students are happy. There are acres of fields and miles of trails, as well as an indoor arena for rainy days or cooler temperatures. I couldn't ask for a better place to ride or a better place for my horses!!!

Came here for horseback riding lessons for our 6 and 4 year old. Absolutely magical experience for…read morethem. The trainer was great with kids and patient. The grounds are beautiful and there are lots of other animals to see and interact with: chickens, turkeys and two of the happiest resident dogs I've ever met. Thank you for an experience our kids won't soon forget.

Great people! They love their horses and it shows.... Such a gentle ride. Will definitely be back!read more

We just had the best horseback trail riding experience…read more Melisa and her all ladies crew are amazing. Melisa was very courteous and pleasant to talk too. In a few minutes she set us up, a family of 4+1, for a custom horse ride experience within the same day. I say 4+1 because our two year old was to little to ride. However, Melissa offered to give him a ride and keep him close to the horse riding group in her four-wheeler Kubota. She took pictures of us riding the horses, which she will send us, and she allowed the kids to treat the horses with apples and carrots that we brought ourselves for them. A great, unforgettable family experience. It was all worth it, and we will definitely do it again. We will also recommend to all family and friends. Thank you very much Melissa and the crew!