Metropolitan Equestrian - Rock Creek Park Horse Center — Local services in Washington

We liked this place at the beginning, my daughter took lessons here for a couple years, and did horse shows. Her instructor was pretty nice, taught them a lot about horses and basics about riding, the kids have to do all the preparation and clean up for the horses, which can be hard for 9-10 year old. But the horses there are not very good, she fell three times, and I'm glad she didn't get hurt. So be aware which horse they're riding! I'm not sure if those horses are rescue horses, if they're, they should let you know.

Unfortunately, the facility there is wearing out, and good instructors are leaving, and they rely a lot on the volunteers. Once she's old enough to do volunteering, there's lots of problems... Their summer CIT program is a joke! The horse camp charges a lot ($525/week), and they use CITs to do most of the work for free. So young CITs ends up have to do heavy physical work (enough for an Adult man), do more rounds without breaks, and some girls there are mean and grouping.... Some CITs there are as young as 12 or 11. They make it sounds good(teaching kids about customer service, etc), but no one care about these kids, because the kids are taught to be "responsible", they canNOT take breaks because there's no people...... Well, the horse center are charging the camper for good money, and they overuse these CITs to do the hard work, what kind of logic is that? I guess the staff are overused too, so they don't have the energy to care? Will never send my kids there for volunteering again! Be careful to send your young kids volunteer there, if you're not somewhat related to the horse center they will probably never care!

On a good side, their Halloween...

13 SCHOOL HORSES FOR 80+ LESSONS A WEEK. The horses are old, tired, and overworked. All school horses are OVER 25 YEARS OLD with a few jumping horses aged 28. Only 3 horses are sound enough to jump. There is NOT even ONE proper grass pasture for the horses to graze. They are standing in mud covered with hay or in their tiny stalls with a few dirty shavings.

Rock Creek Horse Center needs to be closed as is with every single school horse retired. You can tell this used to be a happy place but it has reached its breaking point long ago. The horses have no one to advocate for them. They are caught in the middle of a contract war and neither side (National Parks Service and Guest Services) is in it for the horses, just money and business.

Don’t let the people whining and crying about losing their access to these overworked horses fool you, they are inevitably selfish and out of touch with the reality that this operation needed to end yesterday.

A fresh start with a new horse contractor and renovated stables and turn-out is needed for restoration of any humanity and dignity...

Rock Creek Park Horse Center has been my horse home since I took my first lesson there in 1973. The staff and entire team are caring and supportive. I even sent my niece to summer camp there in 2011. She had a blast! The horses are wonderful and provide great rides for all experience levels. I am now, 50 years later, a first time horse owner and board my heart horse at RCPHC. The GM Maureen and the entire staff are supportive, instructive and so nurturing with my gal and patient with my “owner’s ed”! They take the time to explain EVERYTHING, at any time so that my education as a novice horse-mom, and my relationship with my mare, continues to evolve as my understandings deepen. I rest easy knowing that my gal is safe and loved and cared for whenever I’m not there, and truly enjoy my barn family when I am onsite. ...