Equilibrium Horse Center: A riding opportunity near DC

School horses sharing hay in the field

Equilibrium Horse Center is situated on 83 beautiful acres of countryside in Gambrills, Maryland, 35 minutes from the center of DC. It is open seven days a week all year, including holidays, and closing time is usually around 8 p.m., depending on any individual lessons that night.

The center boasts a large indoor riding arena, stables for over 50 horses, an outdoor riding arena, wooded trails, fields and a lecture hall. As well as riding instruction, Equilibrium boards privately owned horses.

Riders of all ages and skill level are welcome. At any time during the year you will find DC residents riding at Equilibrium.

Introduction to Horses

The center’s friendly environment encourages students to learn not only the basics of riding, but also those of horse management. A monthly lecture called Hello Horses! is recommended to new students and parents, ($40 per family) where the fundamentals of horse care, safety, grooming, tacking and cooling out are taught. This is a great way for new riders to learn about the animals they are going to ride.

DC resident Debra Carr and Philip

Lesson Structure

The center teaches English riding, including dressage, show-jumping, hunter jumping and cross-country jumping. Lessons are available evenings and weekends.

New students take a private ½ hour lesson so the instructor can place the rider in the proper group or private lesson. (Call 410-721-0885 to schedule the first lesson.)

Group and private lessons are available. You will often find parents and children taking lessons together.  Many other adults take private call-in lessons, which fit better into their busy work day schedule.

Practice rides are offered for semester students. 

Emily Mitchell prepares to ride her mare Marisol

Cost of Lessons

If taken in semesters of 10 weeks, the cost is $40 per 1 hour group lesson or ½ hour private lesson, and $60 for a 1 hour private lesson. You can begin during a semester at a prorated fee. Call-in lessons are available for an extra $5 per lesson, and practice rides are $40 per hour. Click on above link for more details.

Brittany McGuire jumping Shadow 

Shows and Clinics

Run by Sandy McGuire, Equilibrium has an active show schedule catering to all levels of rider. Click on Shows for details.

The horse center also runs dressage and hunter jumper clinics. The next dressage clinic will be from 4th to 8th April and features noted author/equestrian Erik Herberman. Auditors are welcome for $25 a day.

April 19th is the last of the Spring Dressage Shows, and on May 3rd the center will run its Horse Trials. (In a ‘horse trial’ the horse and rider combination perform a dressage test, jump a course of show-jumps in the ring and a longer course of cross-country fences over natural terrain.)

The hunter pace shows are very popular and the next one is on June 7th. This is a competition where riders complete a specific trail -- with or without jumps -- as closely as possible to an optimum time. Complete beginners can also take part and enjoy a day out with other riders.
 

Show Teams

Brittany McGuire runs the center’s team which participates in shows both at home and competitions (mainly hunter) at away locations. Non-riders are always welcome to help, including with fund raising activities. Email EHChorse@aol.com for more information.

There are many more competitions and clinics running throughout the year. It would make a fun day out for the family to come and watch some of them.

And maybe you’ll feel the urge to try riding for yourself!

Contact details:

Equilibrium Horse Center,
1685 Underwood Road,
Gambrills, MD 21054
Tel: 410-721-0885
Email: EHChorse@aol.com

 

Sandy and Brittany McGuire with their rescue dog Tucker

Picasso the black horse dozes in the background