Maryland Academic Equitation League

Maryland Academic Equitation League This is the next generation of the former Inter School Horse Show Series (ISHS) in the DMV area. For school teams & clubs and individuals as well.

Open to student equestrian athletes in grades 5-12 at most experience levels.

This one's for the coaches!!
09/15/2026

This one's for the coaches!!

A reminder for our 2026-2027 Student Athletes - please be sure to download, fill out, and return your Lesson Verificatio...
09/15/2026

A reminder for our 2026-2027 Student Athletes - please be sure to download, fill out, and return your Lesson Verification Form to us as soon as possible so you are all set to ride this fall! www.maelhorseshows.org/registration

Student Athletes in grades 5-12 - it's that time of the year to start gearing up for the MAEL show season! Registrations...
09/15/2026

Student Athletes in grades 5-12 - it's that time of the year to start gearing up for the MAEL show season! Registrations for our first show of the season - the Equitation Judges Clinic - are open until midnight this Sunday, September 20, so be sure to get your entries in soon! This is for ALL riders who are interested in participating in MAEL this year - whether returning or new to the series - there is something good in it for all of you! Already have a school team? Great! New to MAEL? Let us know how we can help you get started! Register here: www.maelhorseshows.org/registration and email us at [email protected] with any questions!

School equestrian teams and clubs are currently forming and registrations are now OPEN for the 2026-2027 MAEL Horse Show...
08/28/2026

School equestrian teams and clubs are currently forming and registrations are now OPEN for the 2026-2027 MAEL Horse Show Series! Join us for a fun and educational experience where student athletes can compete in horse shows representing their schools! Please visit our website to get all the details and to register for your first show! Or email us at [email protected] if you have any questions about the show series and/or how to start your own team or club at your school! Remember, this series offers opportunities for riders who want to show for their school rather than someone else's barn. Riding for your SCHOOL is sooooo COOL!! Bring your own horse or lease one of ours, and there are levels for just about every rider! Join us for our judges clinic on September 27 to get some great feedback from an experienced hunter/eq judge before the show season kicks off. Visit www.maelhorseshows.org for lots more info.

✨ BIG NEWS! ✨NFF Stables is leveling up and entering an exciting new chapter!🐴 We are proud to announce that NFF Stables...
08/01/2026

✨ BIG NEWS! ✨

NFF Stables is leveling up and entering an exciting new chapter!

🐴 We are proud to announce that NFF Stables is now Rivendell Equestrian Center!

While we are under new ownership, you'll still find the same great management and staff you've come to know and trust. Our commitment to exceptional horse care, quality instruction, and our welcoming equestrian community remains stronger than ever.

At Rivendell Equestrian Center, we'll continue offering:

🏇 Horse Boarding
📚 Riding Lessons
⭐ Training Programs
🏆 Horse Shows (including Maryland Academic Equestrian League)
🤝 Clinics, Kids Camps, and More!

Whether you've been part of the NFF family for years or are looking for the perfect place to begin your equestrian journey, we can't wait to welcome you to Rivendell Equestrian Center.

This is more than a new name—it's the beginning of an exciting future!

Stay tuned for updates, special events, and exciting announcements as we officially launch this new chapter! (And pardon our dust as our website is very much a work in progress!)

NFF Stables is now hiring Riding Instructors and Horse Care Workers! The barn worker job might be a good opportunity for...
03/26/2026

NFF Stables is now hiring Riding Instructors and Horse Care Workers! The barn worker job might be a good opportunity for high school students, future graduates or college students as a summer job! Contact us for more info! [email protected] or 240-367-7721.

Better late than never, here are the judges cards from the Invitational show! Our judge was Omar Del Valle and he is ver...
03/20/2026

Better late than never, here are the judges cards from the Invitational show! Our judge was Omar Del Valle and he is very skilled at equitation, as you could see by the ways he tested our riders from the beginning to the end of the show! He really put them through their paces and it was fun to watch! There are a few notes to share with you to close out the season with:

(1) If you get lost on your jump course, circling around and around is not the way to go - you may be considered to have had a technical refusal depending on where you go. If you're lost, just stop and gather your bearings before continuing.

(2) Never go through the in gate either into or out of the ring at any pace faster than a walk. Trotting or faster through the in gate is an automatic elimination.

(3) Please check your bits, what might work for you at home may not be an approved hunter or equitation bit. This could be the difference between winning the class and not being given a score at all.

(4) There is never a good time to pass someone on the rail and cut them off. Please pay attention to who is around you and be courteous at all times.

(5) Holding your reins like you are playing the piano or sitting in your saddle like you are in a recliner chair with your feet way out in front of you and the back of your butt on the cantle of the saddle - that's not proper equitation in any situation. You may want to revisit corrections to your position when taking your lessons at your home barn.

(6) No stirrups work! More of you need to do this! Sitting trot can be a beautiful way to ride but some of you were bouncing on the horse's back in such a way that made it clear you need to do some no stirrups work and the horse probably needed to take an Advil afterwards! Having a solid seat and legs will help you in all aspects of your riding, both on the flat and over fences, even out on the trails!

One thing is clear, though, so many of our MAEL riders have done a lot of work on themselves throughout the season and it shows! The fact that so many of you mastered the tests that were given to you by our judge shows that you take your riding seriously and you give it your all! Congrats to all of you!!

Lastly - if you need help interpreting any of the comments or symbols, reach out to us and we'll help to translate.

It was a great end to a wonderful season at the Invitational Show this past Sunday! We love the opportunity to honor our...
03/17/2026

It was a great end to a wonderful season at the Invitational Show this past Sunday! We love the opportunity to honor our top scoring teams and riders, and highlight their skills as the Top 8 in each division go head to head! And our judge, Omar Del Valle, really put all the riders through the paces with lots of equitation testing, what fun to watch these riders meet the challenge!

Here is a summary of how the year-end awards shook out:

SCHOOL AWARDS

Varsity Reserve Champion School - St. Andrew’s
Varsity Champion School- Oakdale
JV Reserve Champion School - Oakdale
JV Champion School - Butler

DIVISION HIGH POINT RIDER AWARDS

2’6” Division High Point Rider - Ciana Rutledge (Oakdale)
2’3” Division High Point Rider - Kayla Waddell (Oakdale)
2’ Division High Point Rider - Evelyn Samman (Sherwood)
18” Division High Point Rider - Paige Scherer (Oakdale)
Crossrails Division High Point Rider - Maggie Shaylor (Butler)

SECTION HIGH POINT RIDER AWARDS

High Point Varsity Rider - Kayla Waddell (Oakdale)
High Point JV Rider - Maggie Shaylor (Butler)

MEDAL HIGH POINT RIDER AWARDS

High Point Varsity Medal Rider - Ciana Rutledge (Oakdale)
High Point JV Medal Rider - Evelyn Samman (Sherwood)

CONGRATS to all of the riders who took part in the MAEL series this year, you all have a lot to be proud of and we can't wait to see lots of you back this fall!

We are getting ready for our Invitational and Open Horse Show this Sunday, March 15! We will be welcoming back the Top 8...
03/13/2026

We are getting ready for our Invitational and Open Horse Show this Sunday, March 15! We will be welcoming back the Top 8 riders in each division, as well as the two Medal divisions in the Invitational. After the Invitational and before the Open Show we will be holding the awards ceremony to finish out the season!

Here are the division listings with entries and horse assignments for those who are leasing from NFF. This also includes for the Open Show in the afternoon.

Show rules are all the same - 10:00 a.m. start, probably breaking for the ceremony between 11:15 and 11:30 (just a guess). The only difference is that the medal classes will include a flat phase as well as a jumping phase. We will go ahead and say the JV schooling will take place "not before" 11:30.

We are sad that the season is ending but glad that means that spring might finally be here!

Senior Spotlight 10 - Chloe Stark (St. Andrew's)Chloe has been on the St. Andrews team for 7 years now, starting in 6th ...
03/12/2026

Senior Spotlight 10 - Chloe Stark (St. Andrew's)

Chloe has been on the St. Andrews team for 7 years now, starting in 6th grade when she first joined the school. Chloe reports that being a part of the team and showing with MAEL has helped her grow all around as a rider, and been good practice for her future in IHSA! Currently, she plans to continue riding at the collegiate level next year, likely at Miami University in Ohio. As for her independent junior riding career, Chloe's horse Hopkins has taken her through all four years of high school. She is saddened to be leaving St. Andrews and the equestrian team, but is excited to see what's next in store for her in both riding and school. Chloe says she will always remember the memories made with this team, and hopes to come back and visit in the future! Lastly, Chloe has no doubt that Carlyle will continue to show each rider who is paired with him how to keep their heels down and sit up, but most of all how rewarding it feels to succeed after working hard. She tells us that she will forever be grateful for the skills that both Carlyle and MAEL in general have taught her.

Chloe wishes to thank everyone, especially coach Sarah, who has supported her through every high and low during her high school riding career!

CONGRATULATIONS TO CHLOE on her upcoming graduation and best wishes for a bright future!

(PHOTOS COMING)

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NFF Stables/18205 Darnestown Road
Poolesville, MD
20837

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