The riding? What riding? I went to MM back in the 80’s - it was a hell hole then, not surprised that it still is. I was in the 3-month course for hunter/jumpers back then. All levels of riders were in the class with me, from rank beginner to those who were taking the course to ‘go pro.’ We had less than 1 hour of riding in a group lesson 4 x week. “Less than” because in that hour, we were expected to groom, tack up, walk our assigned horses down to the arena and stand while we waited for the instructor, who was always 15-20 minutes late. Then we mounted up, warmed up on our own, and maybe jumped a few jumps (with little guidance or instruction - it’s a wonder that someone didn’t get killed), and the class was over. Except for the walk back to the barn, cooling out and grooming, stashing tack and rushing to your next class. On the 5th day, MM held a ‘mock show’ - most of us were assigned duties like gate steward, etc. because we were only the lowly 3-month course people. I learned absolutely nothing that served me well - my real knowledge came from being a working student for a trainer after I got home. I wasn’t hired because of my MM certificate, believe me.
The horses all seemed ‘sad’ - tied in tie stalls, no turnout what so ever. Each horse became part of our ‘assignment’ - you were expected to oversee all the care of that horse: feeding, cleaning the stall, grooming.If you were a jerk and didn’t do your assigned work, the horse suffered. I felt so sorry for the horse I was assigned, that I purchased her. Nice little mare, but not cut out for that life. The majority of the horses at MM back then, and maybe still, were donated or sent there by their owners for the ‘training.’
MM is way out in the middle of no where (could be that it’s been built up more around the area), so if you are bound and determined to attend this ‘training facility’ have some transportation. I didn’t. Three months in the back hills of West Virginia was…interesting to say the least. You didn’t have to live on campus back then, but there wasn’t anything to rent nearby…there were a few people that actually lived in the area and drove home at night if I remember correctly.
I don’t know how old you are, but MM was filled with 17 yr olds. That’s fine. I wasn’t a 17 yr old, and had nothing in common, or very little, with the drama that they created on a daily basis. There are easier ways to get some really good horsey education and riding lessons. - and believe it or not, you had to go down to the supply office and put a request in for a roll of toilet paper, and then carry it with you. Almost forgot that one.
Really, what more do you need to hear? When I was there, two people - one from Alaska and one from CA- stayed only 2 weeks and turned around and left.
