I'm looking for an h/j good barn in the Nova/MD area for myself to take lessons at. I live in Arlington and I'd like to keep my travel time to no more than 1 1/2 hours each way. I'm really not familiar with the barn scene around here so I don't even know where to start looking

A bit of background.... I’ve ridden for 15+ years, shown A circuit, etc but over the past 5 years or so have just ridden other people's mostly green (and often evil) critters. I've been riding horses for a friend lately, but the pony I'd been riding sold and I've been limited to riding a horse that I really don't feel safe riding...we mostly hack in fields and on the road and said horse is about as phobic as they come and that makes my rides no fun at all. His response to his phobias is to run like hell or ricochet himself off of trees and fencepost, which isn't fun. I don't enjoy fearing for my life when riding is supposed to be my stress reliever. I've noticed that I tend to panic a lot easier than I should and riding just isn't all that fun for me as it stands right now. My confidence is pretty shot. I really miss lessons, jumping and doing normal h/j related things, which I haven’t' done in a while.

So after a pretty damned adventurous (okay, scary) ride on Saturday I've decided I have two options:
A) Find a good barn to take lessons, get my confidence back, and remember why I like to ride
B) Quit riding for a while because my nerves can't deal with my current equine option anymore

I don't like option B, so if anyone could point me in the direction of option A, I'd be very, very appreciative.
Like I said, someplace no further than 1 1/2 hours from the Arlington area. Also needs to be someplace that is used to adult schedules and preferably does weekend lessons. Fun, relaxed atmosphere would be good too (someplace where I'm not going to feel like a weenie).

I ride with Terri Young in Leesburg. She has a wonderful program, lessons are tons of fun, and she is honest as the day is long (doesn't overcharge, isn't pushy)...

I have been riding for 24 years, have had TONS of lessons, but have limited show experience because my non-horsey parents thought shows were extravagant and expensive (which, of course, they are). I have been riding with Terri for a year now and am VERY happy with her program, especially her versatility. She has a very good resume (as shown on her website), teaches beginners up to AA/AO's and jumpers, and did a really really wonderful job starting my 3 year old. She also has a wide variety of lesson horses, packers and greenies. I can't recommend Terri's barn enough...

Pick up an Equerry from the Surrey, in Potomac, or some other Maryland tack store, and you'll have a good reference for pretty much all the Maryland barns near you. One of the big "lesson barns" is in Gaithersburg, Potomac Horse Center. It has a very large lesson program. But other barns will have lessons from good instructors on leased horses, which also might work well for you.

I really enjoyed riding with Betsy Parker at Hunters Rest Farm in Warrenton area, she posts on this board in the foxhunting section so you should be able to find her as a member, she has a bed and breakfast and a lovely barn and outdoor arena, and just gorgeous trails that include a meadow to gallop in and a river to cross. I went there for disability treatment and therapy and to de-stress and it was the best summer I had.

Another place you could try is Madeira - it's a girl’s boarding school but I know there are adults who are not students or necessarily parents of students. The gal who runs the riding program - Sue, is simply a terrific person. They do lots of fun things - like foxhunting, trips to Ireland, clinics etc in addition to the regular showing thing. I would definitely recommend giving them a call to see.