Silver Spring institution earns top recognition from The Maryland Small Business Examiner for more than 40 years of teaching English-style riding through lessons, summer camps, and youth programs
SILVER SPRING, MD — Woodland Horse Center, the 25-acre Silver Spring equestrian institution that has taught generations of Maryland riders, has been named the Best Horseback Riding Lessons in Maryland for 2026 by The Maryland Small Business Examiner as part of its annual Best of Maryland Small Business Awards program.
The recognition celebrates a riding school that has spent more than four decades doing one thing exceptionally well: teaching people of every age how to ride. Located just eight miles north of the Capital Beltway at 16301 New Hampshire Avenue, Woodland Horse Center has built a reputation that reaches across Montgomery, Howard, and Prince George’s Counties — and a customer base that includes families with riders spanning two and even three generations.
A Full-Service Equestrian Education
What sets Woodland Horse Center apart is the depth and structure of its instructional program. The 25-acre estate features lighted indoor and outdoor rings, paddocks, stables, open fields, and riding trails — a complete teaching environment that allows lessons to continue year-round in any weather. Students learn English-style riding through Woodland’s signature Balanced Seat method, with progression through walk, trot, canter, the basics of jumping, dressage, and general equitation and horsemanship.
The school’s lesson program is built to welcome riders at every stage of life. Pony Pals Lessons introduce children ages 5 to 7 to the saddle with a parent walking alongside for support. Children’s Lessons for ages 8 to 16 build core riding skills in groups divided by ability. Adult Lessons serve riders 17 and up — beginners, returning riders, and experienced equestrians looking to refine their technique. An Introductory Lesson is available for anyone wanting to meet the horses, the instructors, and decide whether riding is right for them or their child.
Summer Camps That Bring Riders Back Year After Year
Woodland’s summer camp program has become a defining experience for kids across the region. Pony Pals Summer Camp gives the youngest campers, ages 5 to 7, a full week of English-style riding instruction focused on safety, fun, and confidence-building. Horsemanship Summer Camp serves riders ages 8 to 16, grouping campers by ability and teaching not only riding but the full picture of equine care — grooming, tack, horse behavior, and the bond between rider and horse. Mini Day Camps offer kids ages 8 and up an individual day of summer camp built around a one-hour lesson and hands-on horse care.
For many Woodland families, camp is where the love of riding begins — and where it lasts. Testimonials from current students include parents whose children have ridden weekly for years, adults who have taken lessons for two decades, and former campers who returned as instructors.
Built on Caring Staff and Well-Loved Horses
Woodland Horse Center also operates Show Teams for riders ready to compete, a Saddle Club for students who want to deepen their horse-care skills, and Anytime Tack — an onsite tack shop that makes Woodland a true full-service facility. The center is open seven days a week and is widely recognized in the regional equestrian community for the quality of its instructors, the temperament and care of its horses, and the warmth of its barn culture.
It is, in the words of one parent quoted on the Woodland website, her daughter’s “happy place.”
Recognition Earned Through Decades of Service
“Woodland Horse Center represents exactly what this award was created to recognize,” said a spokesperson for The Maryland Small Business Examiner. “More than 40 years of consistent, professional, deeply caring instruction — and a community of riders who keep coming back generation after generation. Few small businesses in Maryland can point to that kind of longevity, and even fewer earn the kind of loyalty Woodland has earned. They’ve built something remarkable in Silver Spring.”
Woodland Horse Center was selected for the 2026 Best of Maryland Small Business Award in recognition of exceptional riding instruction, outstanding youth programs, and commitment to Maryland’s equestrian community.
About Woodland Horse Center
Woodland Horse Center is a full-service equestrian facility located at 16301 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20905. For more than 40 years, Woodland has offered horseback riding lessons, summer camps, clinics, and show team programs for riders of all ages. The 25-acre property features lighted indoor and outdoor rings, paddocks, stables, riding trails, and an onsite tack shop, Anytime Tack.
For lesson enrollment, camp registration, or general inquiries, call 301-421-9156, email woodland16301@verizon.net, or visit www.woodlandhorsecenter.net. Follow Woodland Horse Center on Facebook and Instagram @woodlandhorsecenter.
About the Best of Maryland Small Business Awards
The Best of Maryland Small Business Awards, presented annually by The Maryland Small Business Examiner, recognize outstanding small businesses across the state for excellence in service, customer experience, and contribution to Maryland’s communities. Winners are selected through editorial review based on customer feedback, business reputation, longevity, and industry recognition.
For more information, visit mdsbexaminer.com.
MEDIA CONTACT: The Maryland Small Business Examiner 6340 Security Blvd, Ste 100 #1176 Baltimore, MD 21207 mdsbexaminer.com
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