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Boarding north of Washington DC

Hunter/Jumper
#1

So let me explain - I will eventually be relocating to the area. I am naturally very proactive and I am trying to start a list of places to board/train.

Looking into Gaithersburg/Germantown areas EDITED, TO LIVE and other places within 45 mins/1 hour commute of DC…this potentially could send me in the direction of Annapolis. I drive an hour to the barn (45 w/o traffic) right now and feel like that would be my max. Clarifying, an hour max anywhere from a potential new home. Example: we move to Gaithersburg, new barn could be an hour North, South, East, or West from the area

My current situation:

  • great trainer, awesome with young horses and patient with me
  • ok barn, kept up, but nothing fancy
  • indoor, but very small
  • 1 lesson per week
  • sometimes 1 professional ride (depends on horse and $$)
  • opportunity to groom at shows for professional rides
  • $575 board with out lessons

Looking for:

  • great in-house trainer good with young horses
  • OR opportunity to bring another trainer in 1x per week
  • good footing
  • indoor preferred but could budge on this due to having a young horse
  • good hay/feed
  • up kept and professional
  • $650 around (I know the area is a little more expensive)

I am willing to go either way and explore my options (trainer on-site vs. great facility/professional/great care but no trainer)…

I am very low-key, do-it-myself type of person. I do not require a lot of extras but I am a team player and love to be involved at shows. I know it seems like I am looking for a castle on a poor mans budget… but it is what I can do right now!

#2

You aren’t going to get all the way to Gaithersburg in an hour if you are working downtown. I would consider switching your look-see area to the Poolesville area. I moved several years ago, though, so not sure what’s going on in the area.

#3

thanks fordtrakor - I do not think I will be working in Washington DC specifically. My boyfriend will be working out of Arlington, VA so we are looking within an hour (maybe a little more with traffic) of that area… So the barn doesn’t have to be within an hour of DC at all… just 45 mins/1 hour of those areas we are looking to live outside of DC/Arlington, VA.

#4

Rolling Acres or Alan Lohman. Not sure if they’ll hit your price point but tick the other boxes.

#5

[QUOTE=raisethebar;8853736]
thanks fordtrakor - I do not think I will be working in Washington DC specifically. My boyfriend will be working out of Arlington, VA so we are looking within an hour (maybe a little more with traffic) of that area… So the barn doesn’t have to be within an hour of DC, just 45 mins (around, or less) of those areas outside of DC/Arlington, VA.[/QUOTE]

Umm…then you probably don’t want to look north of DC.

#6

Thanks FourFillies!!! I was looking into Rolling Acres already but wanted to see if there would be a suggestion for them.

I know traffic is bad but there has to be something that I can make work in Maryland - especially if I am willing to not have a trainer on site?

#7

As someone that just moved to the No Va area, you are seriously underestimating the traffic. Traffic is insane. I went to Arlington for the day and I live 25 miles from The Pentagon, it took me right at 1hr 30. Don’t underestimate the traffic around here.

#8

I grew up in Northern VA and now live in Houston…so I get traffic. I always tell people to think about “where are you going to live” and “Live where you want to live”. Why? Because over time people change jobs and jobs change locations. Barns/Trainers, on the other hand, pretty much stay in the same place.

Sorry I don’t have any barn recommendations for you in the area you requested because I moved from there along time ago. But still visit friends. Love it up there!

#9

Exactly. We are moving to that area so that way I could travel to Baltimore if needed, Frederick, or DC if needed and of course my boyfriends job as well.

Right now I looked on google maps and it says if I would work or live in Gaithersburg to get to Brookeville (Rolling acres) it says around 25 mins… to get to Poolesville, it says around 30 mins (alan lohman).

Again, I will not be working in the city as far as I know. I hoping to find a job close to where we will be living… And in my career, there is potential to work from home part time which is nice.

#10

How do you feel about paying a boat load of tolls? I mean that might make it better. or if you could find a job where you head out in opposite of the traffic. Seriously I know you don’t believe us but you are seriously underestimating the traffic around there. My husband lived 13 miles from work, 13 miles and it regularly took 1.5 hours in rush hour. Gaithersburg is listed as one of the best places to live in the country. Schools are excellent and there are tons and tons of amenities. It’s beautiful, and you will sit in traffic for hours. every single day.

Now if you can go to the barn during the day and not commuting times, this becomes easier. But if you plan on doing anything from 3:30 to 7:30 at night and 7am and 9:30am you will be going nowhere at all for a very long time. Barn trip for me was always about an hour, and because I had to go over a bridge sometimes much much longer.

For cheaper board PG County has several nice places but that’ll put you in the 1-1.5 hour commute time.

#11

Take whatever time Google Maps or Mapquest give you, and double it. That will be a more realistic estimate of the commute time.

#12

I work in NW DC and ride in Brookeville MD. If I leave work no later than 5pm, I can be at the barn by 6:15. If I leave after 5, it will be closer to 7 by time I get there. Traffic is terrible, period. From home in Silver Spring, on the weekends it takes me 30-45 minutes to get there (and my route is nearly identical - I pass my house to get to the barn).

As for places to check out, Rolling Acres, Walnut Pond, and Lohman are all good places to look at. As others have said, the more you’re willing to drive and pay, the more options you will have.

#13

The problem with you being in Gaithersburg area even if you can work from home most of the time and go to the barn in off hours is your SO having to go to and from Arlington. There are only so many ways to cross the Potomac. And pretty much any time you have to get on I-495, it sucks except maybe leaving the city at 6am on a Saturday.

So, I guess my questions are…are you planning on living with your boyfriend who will be working in Arlington? If so, how much do you want to make his life miserable too?

#14

What Gainer, IPEsq, and really all the others have said.

Check Google Maps or Waze one day throughout rush hour. I just plugged in Arlington to Gaithersburg - as of 5:35pm at least an hour. Which actually seems short to me.

In and out of Arlington is going to be tricky for your BF, but if he works an off schedule (some folks I know work 7am to 3pm to skip traffic), it could work.

There is no overestimating traffic here. I live 3.7 miles from my job - both in DC proper. It takes me 40 minutes most mornings to drive in during rush hour and just shy of 20 minutes to drive home well after rush hour. And over an hour the other morning due to an accident. Don’t get me started on Metro.

#15

[QUOTE=j_feil;8854215]
Don’t get me started on Metro.[/QUOTE]

:lol: :lol:

#16

Honestly, there is a good bit of traffic even at 7am. The early birds I know come in between 5 & 6 am.

My drive is a relatively easy 25 miles, but there are ZERO barns in my neck of the woods. I just passed on a job because it would involve driving the Beltway daily.:eek:

#17

OP, if you haven’t gathered, traffic is a favorite topic of conversation around these parts.

Rather than just complain about traffic, here’s the advice I think most people give for Maryland: Start with The Equiery: http://equiery.com/stables/

Given your requests and budget, you probably are going to need to go a bit off the beaten path. Perhaps, a general use/no trainer facility and have a trainer come to you. The barns named so far are beyond your desired budget.

That said - welcome to the area!

#18

sent pm

#19

OP - are you into showing or more wanting a place to ride with a trainer? Sending a PM

#20

Alan Lohman is great & in Poolesville but probably not within the price range…Same goes for Rolling Acres
Barbie Burns has Beyond A Bay which is in Gaithersburg
Allie Listrani is wonderful & is in Brookeville

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