Queenside Stables

Stephanie is amazing! My daughter has taken many lessons with her and progressed beyond all expectations. She had never even been on a horse before and was cantering and posting within weeks. Stephanie has the right amount of patience and persuasion to get the students to continually develop as riders. The horses are all impeccably maintained and well trained. I love that the students learn to tack up the horses and the responsibility required to be a rider. If your considering lessons, this is the place to go.

After seeing a bargain on Living Social, I decided to give it a try for my almost 4 y.o. daughter. She has been in love w/​horses since she was 2. The instructor, Stephanie was wonderful and very patient w/​me (neurotic mother) and my daughter. She leases space at a beautiful farm in Boyds, MD. The horses are beautiful, and clearly well taken care of. Stephanie is very aware of the horses she uses, and is very cautious & careful about safety which is always my biggest concern. She actually had Gracie galloping on her second lesson b/​c Gracie saw a more experienced rider and wanted to do the same, so she taught her the basics of posting, had her hold tightly onto the saddle and lead the horse into a controlled gallop, which Gracie loved. I also appreciated Stephanie’s honesty when I approached her about her readiness & the benefit of future lessons as I wanted to make sure my daughter would be getting the most out of this as possible.
Stephanie is clearly very experienced w/​horses, and instructing people in how to ride them. It’s obvious, this is her passion which makes it all the better for anyone fortunate enough to take lessons from her.

Stephanie Barnes is an absolute joy to work with.
As a former rider looking to ease my way back into things, Stephanie impressed me both with her astute assessment of my abilities as well her bright & encouraging attitude that quickly improved my confidence. We determined realistic goals for my improvement and I couldn’t think of a better trainer to learn from. She is very active and invested in her own riding career and certainly provides inspiration for what to aspire to; Stephanie is a beautiful rider who knows her stuff and is passionate about helping others get as much out of riding as she does.
The facilities are well-​managed and offer a refreshing break in the farmlands of Maryland. The farm is also convenient to DC by car or metro/​MARC. Her lesson horses are beautifully trained and she is able to match the rider with the horse best suited for their needs and ability level. Stephanie balances professionalism with the energy and warmth that sets her services apart– I’m looking forward to my next lesson already!