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Horseback Riding - Parks and Recreation
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Places to ride
Country Comfort Farm: St. Michaels, MD 21663. 410-745-3160. www.countrycomfortfarm.com
Dun-Pikin Farm: 4808 Mountain Road, Pasadena, MD 21122. 410-255-3918. www.dun-pikin.com
Equilibrium Horse Center: 1685 Underwood Road, Crofton, MD 21054. www.equilibriumhorse.com
Harmony Ridge Riding Stable: 195 Fiddlers Hill Road, Edgewater, MD 21037. 410-798-5200
Hylan Forge Sport Horse Center: 750 Old Herald Harbor Road, Crownsville, MD 21032. 410-923-8808. www.hylanforge.com
Millersville Stables: 1086 Dicus Mill Road, Millersville, MD 21108. 410-987-5169. www.millersvillestables.com
Equestrian Trails
For a list of Maryland State Forests and Parks that have equestrian trails, visit the Department of Natural Resources website.
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Saddle up for horseback riding fun
By DIONNE WALKER, Staff Writer
Movies like the recent blockbuster "Seabiscuit" have proven profitable for more than just Hollywood producers.
Area stable owners and horseback riding enthusiasts credit a combination of increased box office attention and growing interest in country music with boosting the number of locals stepping up to the saddle.
But at the same time, more county residents temporarily trade in Subarus for steeds, increasing land development means unfenced riding areas are dwindling.
"The way the environment is building up, there's nowhere to ride," said a line foreman at Millersville Stables. "And nobody wants to jump in their car on a Saturday and drive to Montana to ride a horse."
Numbers of riders at Harmony Ridge Riding Stable in Edgewater have increased dramatically since its opening two years ago, said co-owner Rachel Conte. The 20-acre facility has 20 horses to choose from and offers lessons in both functional Western riding as well as the more showy English riding.
"We've been getting bigger and bigger," she said. "We have someone that calls every day who wants to sign up."
Many times, she said, kids are happy just cleaning stalls and hanging around with the horses.
"They just love it," she said, adding that parents, meanwhile, are glad to see their children outdoors rather than loitering at shopping malls.
Paul Turner, owner of Hylan Forge Sport Horse Center in Crownsville, said horseback riding has been undergoing "a renaissance." He linked it to the lowering price of lessons as well as more disposable income. Now, rather than an elitist sport, horseback riding has become middle class, he said.
Chris Vazquez helps Tijuana Lane, 11, get Jimmy ready for riding the trail at Millersville Stables. Although development of land has long caused a decline in places to ride, local stables have the means — and recently, increased business. |
He estimated it would have taken about $10,000 to get started riding 20 years ago.
"Riding is definitely a lot more affordable," he said, offering about $5,000 as a starting rate now.
Tom Drury, owner of Millersville Stables, grabs some equipment to saddle his horses for customers. His facility is one of the few in the county that offer trail rides. Their property is protected by a Department of Natural Resource-issued status as an environmental safe spot. |
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The recent prevalence of horse movies has also fueled interest, as has television, said "Wayne," a stoic foreman at the 3,000-acre Millersville Stables.
"There's a lot more people getting involved in country music," he said, pointing to the genre's rustic music video settings and the prevalence of horses therein. "(That) has influenced people ... as far as wanting to see the country life."
But a horse is no good without somewhere to ride, and all agree horse trails are on the decline.
The Millersville facility is one of few still offering trail rides in the county, their vast property protected by Department of Natural Resource-issued status as an environmental safe spot.
Preferred by many riders, trail riding involves riding on free-range paths rather than around a circular ring.
Meanwhile, though Mr. Turner can still offer a few trails, he worries their days are numbered. His 25-acre Crownsville center sits on a larger 200-acre farm.
"As of six months or so ago a major chunk of that property came onto the market," he said. "In this instance, there's no way we can fight back."
Attitudes toward free-range horseback riders are also changing, Ms. Conte said. When she began riding as a child some 25 years ago, she said it wasn't uncommon to see free-range horse riders trotting along.
Now Ms. Conte said people have bought up all the land and get angry if you ride on it.
"People get kind of snooty and don't want you on their property," she said.
But all is not lost, Mr. Turner said. He urged state and county officials to put a moratorium on development in some communities and encouraged state parks to designate trails for horses and walkers - rather than paving them over, effectively shutting out riders.
"There's plenty that can be done to remedy this," he said.
To those interested in trying their hand at horseback riding, Wayne offered simple advice: Grab a pair of boots and long pants, "And show up here!"
Published July 30, 2004. Copyright © 2007 Capital Gazette Communications, Inc.
