NOVA/ DC Barn Reccomendations

[charlo22]

Hi! I am looking for a barn to take lessons at and possibly lease outside of DC. I am currently a senior in college but will be moving up to Virginia in May for work. My job is in McLean and I will be living in Arlington, so something around that area would be ideal but willing to drive further for the perfect barn!

I have been riding since I was 6 and competed in hunters through high school and part of college. In college, I had a nasty fall and broke part of my spine so I had to take 2 years off. I am slowly getting back into riding so I need an understanding trainer and safe horses.
Any thoughts are appreciated!!

[C.E_andCipriani]

The only place I’ve ridden at around there is oldfields which is Probobly around an hour away, great place tho just Probobly too far tho sorry I’m not much help:) I’ll let you know if I think of any others I know in the area!

[risuenaVT]

I spent a decade or so living in Arlington and Alexandria and I wound up not riding at all during that time, for various reasons, but a big one is that it was very hard to find any barn giving lessons within a reasonable to me drive (and harder to find ones within my budget).

Depending on where you are in Arlington, there might be some barns in southern Maryland, on the other side of the Potomac that are reasonable distance (I feel like Willowbend was this for a lot of people, but unfortunately it was sold to developers a couple of years ago).

I’m in Maryland, and at least an hour from DC, so I don’t know a ton of barns in your area. I have participated in catch ride shows at Twin Oaks (lovettsville in Loudon county, probably a hike for you, and more eventing focused, but the horses were lovely and I’ve enjoyed every rider I’ve met from there). And I actively enjoy the coach (she’s judged some scrimmages we’ve had at other barns)

Also participated in a catch ride show at Tamarack Stables in Lorton. The horses I was on were lovely, other horses were not so great. So they might be hit or miss, but they’re an option.

If you’re far enough north in Arlington, or have a flexible schedule, there are a lot of barns around poolesville in maryland. But that’s probably 30-45 minutes from you without traffic. Granted, it’s been over a decade since I lived in NoVA, but traffic was hard then and I doubt it’s gotten better since.

[CoffeeLover]

Maybe check out Clairvaux (https://cveq.com), which isn’t too far from McLean. I don’t have personal experience there but have heard good things.

[dmveventer]

I second the recommendation to look at barns in Maryland. I’ve lived in Arlington and a few other spots inside the Beltway for years and it’s much easier to cross into MD and take back roads out to the barn than to trek west on the major VA highways in rush hour. The Potomac/Boyds/Poolesville triangle is a good place to target with lots of barns to choose from. If you’re looking for lesson horses though that’s going to narrow down your options and you’ll probably want to cast a wider net and then decide if you can make any of the drives work. Definitely plug any potential commutes into Google Maps and check the estimated drive times for when you’d actually be on the road - traffic can easily double or triple your trip depending on where and when you’re going.

You really won’t find barns “near” Arlington or McLean, so you’re looking at a minimum 45 minute drive no matter which way you go. It’s not as bad as it sounds (or maybe I’m just used to it) but it definitely helps if you have flexible hours at work and can get out on the early side of rush hour. That may not be possible or advisable so early in your career. FWIW when I moved to the area after graduating I didn’t ride for my first few years. You may want to wait until you’re moved in, more settled in your job, and have a better idea of what your finances look like before figuring out how/if to fit riding into your new life.

[BrownMareDon_tCare]

If you decide to stay on the Virginia side, you’re probably looking out into Loudoun County. Great Falls has some farms, but most of them are private/ don’t have lesson horses.

I second the recommendation to check out Clairvaux. Terri has a string of very steady-eddie schoolies who may be just what you are looking for. The Aldie Equestrian Center and Cavallo Farm both also have lesson horses/ riding schools, so they may be options as well.

Best of luck!