About MerryMount

MerryMount Equestrian Center has been in operation since 1960. It is located in the historic "Rosaryville" area of Upper Marlboro, the heart of Southern Maryland horse country just a short distance from the nation's capitol.

The MerryMount equestrian center maintains a family friendly atmosphere, offering diverse activities for all ages. At the core of the operation is the Equestrian School, which is an English (Hunt Seat) riding academy. For the past forty years, we have taught young and not-so-young riders from all over the Greater Washington area the joys of riding. The school operates year round with an indoor arena for winter and inclement weather use.

Full care horse boarding is available in the main barn where the stalls are on aisles surrounding the indoor arena. There is also a self care barn available. Shows run through the summer months for the general horse public. In the spring and fall we have horse shows for the MerryMount students and boarders. Also, a Day Program for children runs weekly in the summer. Review our fees here.

MerryMount provides instruction in English riding, primarily the "Hunt Seat." Lessons are taught to riders of all ages and

levels of proficiency. Catherine Gladmon Farley, nationally recognized trainer, and a group of competent instructors teach in private, semi-private or group formats. A large string of well-trained school horses are maintained for lessons...these horses are never rented to the public and so maintain a high degree of training. If a student owns or has access to another horse, instruction may be taken on that horse.

MerryMount maintains a complete school tack room, providing the student rider with all necessary tack and equipment to safely participate in our lesson programs. This equipment is provided at no additional cost to the rider, although many students eventually choose to purchase some of their own gear.

Beginner lessons teach basis riding skills and also stress the capable handling of the horse, tacking, grooming and safety. Our more advanced students may pursue an interest in showing. The school horses may be used by students in local shows. Many of our students perform very well on the show circuits.

In group lessons, MerryMount uses a unique system of advancing the individual student at their own rate rather than requiring that they conform to the group. All riders who master the material being taught at a particular level will be moved onto the next level.

MerryMount holds in-house Horse Shows twice a year. They are open only to MerryMount boarders and students. These week-long events, held in the regular group lesson hours, are an important part of the lesson program. All students, beginners through advanced, are encouraged to

participate. The shows are designed to give experience to the novice riders and to allow the accomplished riders the opportunity to sharpen their showing skills at home. Outside judges are engaged and ribbons/trophies are awarded to the winners.

Clinics and seminars are scheduled throughout the year. Experts and noted personalities from various areas of the horse world come to MerryMount to share their fields of knowledge.

MerryMount fields three Equitation Teams, two of which are members of the National Capitol Equitation League (NCEL). Both the 'A' and 'B' teams are comprised of eight (8) members who must be enrolled as students and be under the age of eighteen (18). Similarly, MerryMount sponsors an adult team that competes in the National Capital Adult Equestrian League (NCAEL). Team members must be over thirty (30) years of age. All teams are chosen by judged competitive tryouts. Throughout the winter months, the teams travel and host competitions with other

schools accumulating points for their team. At the year end "Final Meet", championships are decided and trophies are awarded to the high point school and riders.

The Summer Day Program is held each year from mid June through August. The program, centered around horseback riding instruction, equestrian skills and animal care is open to children between the ages of six (6) and sixteen (16). All levels of horsemanship are included from the young beginner to the accomplished horse show veteran.

During the school year, MerryMount sponsors a Saturday youth worker program. The program participants are our advanced-beginner and above students, chosen for their reliability, work ethic and desire to develop equine care and barn management skills. Youth workers spend the day working at the center, assisting less experienced students preparing for lessons, cleaning and maintaining the barn, caring for horses, and helping instructors. In exchange, they receive an additional group lesson at the end of the day.