Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is your teaching style?
Wheaton Park Stables is dedicated to teaching balanced seat equitation. We believe in providing students with strong basic riding skills. All lessons and trail rides are done in the English style of riding.
How old do you have to be to ride?
Children must be at least 8 years old to ride in our group lessons, in camps, and on trail rides.
We have pony rides on Sundays and Thursdays, for children 3-7 years old. We no longer have lessons for those under 8 yrs old except for Summer “Camp”.
What is the best way to contact us?
Email is actually the best way to contact us, especially for non-urgent questions. We are generally answering the phones from 11 am - 4 pm, Monday - Friday. We try to return messages within a couple of days.
Can we come visit?
The property outside the barn is always open to visitors during business hours.
We ask that you be respectful of the horses (no shouting, running around the fence line or feeding them).
Children must be under supervision at all times.
Picnic tables are available for you to use. Just clean up after yourself.
The front hall and restrooms of the barn are open to the general public. The aisles of the horses’ stalls and property beyond the fence lines remain closed to the general public.
Can I come ride right now for a lesson or trail ride?
We do not offer lessons or trail rides on the spur of the moment. Our lessons go for 12 weeks at a time, are on-going, and we have a process to get into any classes, especially for Beginners and lower levels.
Trail rides are on Sunday afternoons for those who are 8 yrs old and older, and you must make a reservation.
Pony rides are on Sundays 1:30-2:30 and Thursdays 11-12 for those 3 - 7 yrs old.
Check out our Lessons, Trail Rides, and Special Activities pages for more information.
Do you allow volunteers?
We have a dedicated group of special needs young adults who volunteer their time through a separate program from Monday to Friday.
Other volunteering is mostly by our current students. If you’re available during the day or some Sundays, we sometimes need help with the Special Needs Recreational trail rides offered for our dedicated volunteer program participants.
Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age. No previous experience needed but helpful.
We can no longer accept volunteers for SSL hours, as we are not a 501-(3)(c) organization.
What should I wear?
All students are required to wear an ASTM-certified riding helmet. No bike helmets.
Helmets are available to rent for $10.00 per series of lessons.
Long pants are required – pants that are loose-fitting or stretchy to allow for leg and hip flexibility. Do not wear tight, restrictive pants or any shorts.
Footwear - Boots or closed-toe shoes with a small heel and firm sole. Sandals, clogs, or open-toed shoes are not allowed.
Some students prefer to wear riding gloves to protect their hands and keep warm in the colder months, but they are not required.
We do have some second-hand boots and pants available for a small fee.
We also suggest Anytime Tack off New Hampshire Avenue in Spencerville on the property of Woodland Horse Center. They are good for new and used gear for both humans and horses, especially to try on gear for proper sizing of anything you might decide to buy online. There is also Stablemates in Mount Airy, and Dover Saddlery in Crofton, Maryland, and many online stores.
How can I pay for lessons, or other activities?
We currently take cash or check. Plan accordingly.
We have now added Venmo @WheatonParkStables. There is an additional service fee of 1.94% to use Venmo.
What is the make-up policy for lessons?
You are allowed to schedule two make-ups per session for missed classes. The make-up must be scheduled in another group lesson at an appropriate level. The make-up can only be scheduled within the session the class was missed. A private lesson or trail ride cannot be used as a substitute. Schedule by email or with staff before/after class. If you need to miss a class for any reason, please email us to let us know. If you miss your scheduled makeup without notice, it will still be counted as 1 of your 2 makeups.
What is the policy for closures and/or inclement weather?
Lessons will generally be held despite inclement weather as they are generally held in the indoor arena. Most cancellations will be due to unsafe roads (ice, snow) or extreme temperatures. Wheaton Park Stables staff will notify the beginners only, if lessons are cancelled; otherwise, we will post at the top of our website, as well as on Facebook. It’s up to students/parents to check.
Classes are held on most Federal Holidays except Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, and between Christmas Eve and New Years’ Day. Your instructor will inform you if the class is cancelled for any other holidays.
Pony rides will happen rain or shine as it is held in the indoor arena. As for trail rides, if the weather looks bad, call the day of your scheduled trail ride and we will let you know if the rides are being held, or if an alternative is available.
Where are you located?
1101 Glenallan Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland.
From the beltway, get off on exit 31A, Georgia Ave north towards Wheaton. Follow that for about 3 miles and make a right on Randolph Road. Go 1.2 miles to Kemp Mill Rd, (you will pass Kennedy High school). Turn right on Kemp Mill Rd. Follow Kemp Mill for about 1/2 mile to Glenallan Avenue. Turn right onto Glenallan then our driveway is on the right.