My painfully shy 6 yo granddaughter has a history of disliking and then quitting any activities…read morewe've offered - swimming, soccer, gymnastics, etc. She absolutely blossomed during her first lesson, though! Marina was an engaging, energetic, and informative trainer and Teddy was the perfect first horse to ride. She's hooked!

I'm a novice in this area so my review is based mostly on the horseback riding instruction they…read moreprovide. I had been searching for lessons for my child and stumbled across their site and ad on Craigslist. I was impressed with the instructor's credentials and work with kids so it seemed to be a good fit for my needs. Upon my first visit, she greeted me promptly at our lesson time. She introduced herself, pointed out the horses and pony and started instruction immediately. What I liked is that she began the lesson with getting my daughter familiar with the pony, safety, grooming, saddling, picking, etc. The instructor is patient and my daughter is very comfortable around her. It also helps that she's a military brat :). There are a lot of "brats" around these parts and I try to support these business owners when I can. Unlike many facilities, they are closer to areas in eastern Prince William County, a definite plus for those in Woodbridge/Dale City. It is a small stable with 4 horses and 1 pony on the premises from what I've seen. The horses appear healthy and well maintained. The barn is kept clean. I don't know how long my daughter will want to continue horseback riding lessons at her age but she appears to really enjoy them and her time at the stables.

My wife and I had an amazing experience at Piscataway Riding Stables. The ranch is easy to find…read morewith plenty of parking. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. They will take the time to give you a tutorial and ensure your safety. Weekends are first come, first serve. They go out in groups, so by the time we signed up, paid, and got a quick tutorial, we didn't have a long wait to ride. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who want to ride. They also offer volunteer opportunities.

I had an amazing experience. Took the family and her friends for her 16th birthday. She loved it…read more It's very economical $70 for one hour and we all loved it. Nick and the crew were amazing. I hope they keep up the great work. I will be back as soon as I can to experience more. Highly recommend.

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!

Iron Ponytail Farm made our daughter's birthday amazing. It wasn't just a quick "lesson" with a few…read morelaps around the riding arena. They gave a full experience-taught grooming, how to mount, and different types of riding. It really gave our daughter a feeling of responsibility and accomplishment on top of a great time riding. The staff was incredible; they took their time, explained every step, and really made an effort to connect with her and her friend. I would highly recommend this little farm as go-to for anyone considering a birthday experience or for riding lessons. We look forward to many more lessons while stationed here.

My son has been part of the IPF family since July 2021. I say family because that is what it feels…read morelike there. The owner and all of the working students are kind and compassionate, and their love of the animals shines through in everything they do...right down to "baby proofing" the farm for a foal they are expecting soon. They take the time to get to know their students and their families. My son is now a working student at IPF, and the values they are teaching him about hard work, compassion, confidence and generally just being a good human shine through in every aspect of the person he is growing into. I couldn't be prouder of my son for what he does there, and it is truly an honor that IPF has welcomed him and all of us into their heard. Thank you, IPF!

My 12 year old began taking riding lessons at Misty Brae after doing summer camp for a few weeks -…read morewe loved the barn, the instructors, and switched over a few years ago. She started riding at a young age and often pushed herself back slowing her own progress; not anymore! Her instructor Katie has literally figured out what makes my daughter tick, helping her pull out of her shell and pushing herself once again to be better than 'ok' and grow!!! She's gone from quiet and unresponsive to letting Katie know what she needs/accepting constructive feedback and encouragement in stride, literally! At 12 my daughter already knows she wants to become a riding instructor - Katie is a big part of that, for example encouraging her to prep horses and riders for the subsequent beginner lessons. From camps to the open acceptance of volunteers, great staff........ wonderful wonderful barn!

Misty Brae Farm is a very special Place. Both of my…read moredaughters learned to ride there and will forever have a connection to horses thanks to the amazing barn. It is a place the empowers the children and allows them to be themselves and learn to ride from a beginner to very high level. We also loved the camps !!!!

Excellent program. My child transitioned to Meadowood from another nearby riding program and they…read moreimmediately set to work undo bad habits learned there. Lessons are usually taught in small groups, but individual lessons are also available. My child has progressed rapidly under the tutelage of a wonderful and highly experienced instructor who emphasizes proper horsemanship technique. Meadowood is a beautiful and well-maintained facility with professional and caring management. The hardest part is getting in because I don't think they take that many beginners, but my child entered as an advanced beginner and has flourished here. Highly recommended.

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.

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 have been taking lessons for 6 weeks, and Megan has a measured and sequential training to teach…read moreme how to know the horse and then how to ride. It has been a fantastic experience so far. It is also a wonderful family-owned stable--Tim is around the property all of the time, and clearly loves what he does and loves those horses. The horses get basically free rein and are very well tended to. It is an amazing piece of property nestled in the Mason Neck/Pohick Bay Area of Loudon--beautiful and green, and just a quick drive to get there and home.

I've had a very frustrating and negative experience with Tamarack. In fact, if I could rate at…read morezero, I would. I had been trying to get someone to contact me for years--literally--about riding lessons for my daughter. Finally decided to try one last time and I was pleasantly surprised when Megan, an instructor, reached out to say she had availability in August. We set the date for a lesson but not the time. I subsequently emailed her back 3 or 4 times asking to provide a time for the lesson and/or confirm the date and never heard back. I haven't heard from her in 6 weeks at this point. Even if something had changed, that's ok, but at least have the courtesy to reply and not ghost me. Don't waste your time on this completely unprofessional establishment.

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.