Equestrian Center
Liberty Mountain Equestrian Center is a USHJA Recognized Riding Academy that expands across a 380-acre property on Liberty Mountain. Open to Liberty University students, faculty, and staff, the Equestrian Center is one of the largest facilities of its kind in Virginia, featuring indoor and outdoor riding arenas as well as three barns with 78 horse stalls. Even if you don’t ride, you can always stop by and see the horses—take a study break and enjoy all that Liberty University has to offer at the Equestrian Center!
Trail Rides
Guided trail rides are available for Liberty students, faculty, and staff by appointment.
Riding Lessons
Additionally, riding lessons for all levels are available at a low cost.
Horse Boarding
Bring your horse to school and get full-care boarding at the Liberty Mountain Equestrian Center.
Main Barn
This barn houses the main offices for the Liberty Mountain Equestrian Center, horses for the Liberty programs, and includes:
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- Eight 12’x12’ stalls
- 14’ wide concrete aisle way with rubber matting
- Men’s and women’s restrooms and changing rooms
- Wash stall with hot and cold water
- Tack room/tack cleaning room/laundry room
- Farrier bay and hay storage
- Climate-controlled feed room
Indoor Riding Arena
The Indoor Riding Arena is 120’ x 300’, as large as any collegiate indoor in Virginia, and features the following:
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- Footing made of kyanite sand mixed with rubber and Euro-Fiber atop a packed sand base. A polymer sand additive holds moisture in the footing and keeps it firm
- LED lighting to provide an extraordinary bright riding area
- Three large cupolas to exhaust hot air out the top
- Five 14’ ceiling fans to circulate air throughout the building
- A large concrete pad extending down one side of the arena
- Bleacher seating for about 200 people
- An enclosed, heated judge and announcer stand with a 3000 watt PA system
Outdoor Riding Arena
The Outdoor Riding Arena is 120’ x 300’ and features the following:
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- Footing made of Virginia river sand
- Underground drainage to carry rainwater off to a nearby retention pond
- Large stadium lights to illuminate the arena at night
Boarder’s Barn
This barn is available for boarding of student horses and includes:
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- Twenty 12’ x 12’ stalls with rubber matted floors, Dutch back doors opening out to outdoor dry lot
- Several offices for team coaches, grad students, and barn staff. All offices, tack rooms and restrooms are climate controlled
- Barn Staff and Student Worker Lounge with kitchenette
- Restroom / Shower / Changing Room
- Two wash stalls with hot and cold water
- Farrier bay and hay storage
- Boarder tack room with laundry facilities
- Horsemanship Classroom with digital projection equipment
Liberty Barn
This barn is the home to Liberty University horses and includes:
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- Twenty-four 12’ x 12’ stalls with rubber matted floors, Dutch back doors opening out to outdoor dry lot
- Men’s and women’s restrooms
- Men’s and Women’s Equestrian Team locker rooms – each member has a private locker
- Two wash stalls with hot and cold water
- Farrier bay and hay storage
- Equestrian Team tack room/tack cleaning room
- Equestrian Team Lounge
Barn Name: Austin
Registered Name: Pocos Dun It Again
Breed: Quarter horse
Year Born: 2001
Job at LU: PHED Classes, Recreation Lessons, Trail Rides, Club Sports Team, Campus Rec Camps
Fun Fact: Austin is Senior Director Bill Crawford’s favorite horse in the barn!
Employee Since: 2017
Barn Name: Bella
Breed: Miniature Horse
Year Born: 2009
Job at LU: LMEC Greeter
Fun Fact: Bella is best friends with Sierra.
Employee Since: 2013
Barn Name: Chex
Registered Name: HR Puff n Stuff
Breed: Paint Welsh Cross
Year Born: 2013
Job at LU: Hunt Seat Club Sports Team, Campus Rec Camps
Fun Fact: Chex is named after the 1969 adventure show: H.R. Pufnstuf.
Employee Since: 2021
Barn Name: Emma
Registered Name: Sonny’s Emcee
Breed: Quarter horse
Year Born: 2003
Job at LU: PHED Classes, Trail Rides, Recreation Lessons, Club Sports Team, Campus Rec Camps
Fun Fact: Emma is known for being very vocal in the barn, especially around feeding time!
Employee Since: 2015
Barn Name: James
Registered Name: James Bond Z
Breed: Belgian Warmblood
Year Born: 2014
Job at LU: Hunt Seat Club Sports Team, Campus Rec Camps
Fun Fact: James’ spirit animal is a lap dog.
Employee Since: 2021
Barn Name: Lupe
Registered Name: Little Lady Lupe
Breed: Thoroughbred
Year Born: 2010
Job at LU: PHED Classes, Recreation Lessons, Hunt Seat Club Sports Team, Campus Rec Camps
Fun Fact: Before coming to LMEC, Lupe had a career as a successful racehorse!
Employee Since: 2017
Barn Name: Willie
Registered Name: City Lights
Breed: Thoroughbred, Arabian, Clydesdale cross
Year Born: 2004
Job at LU: Hunt Seat Club Sports Team, Campus Rec Camps
Fun Fact: Willie’s alter ego is named “Winter Willie”.
Employee Since: 2019
Barn Name: Prince
Registered Name: Little Red Corvette
Breed: Thoroughbred/Quarter horse cross
Year Born: 1999
Job at LU: PHED Classes, Recreation Lessons, Hunt Seat Club Sports Team, Campus Rec Camps
Fun Fact: Prince is John Eubank’s favorite horse in the barn!
Employee Since: 2017
Barn Name: Reba
Registered Name: Colorado Dove
Breed: Paint horse
Year Born: 2008
Job at LU: PHED Classes, Recreation Lessons, Club Sports Team, Campus Rec Camps
Fun Fact: Reba is the shortest riding horse in the barn.
Employee Since: 2020
Barn Name: Sierra
Breed: Miniature horse
Year Born: 2011
Job at LU: LMEC Greeter
Fun Fact: Sierra is best friends with Bella.
Employee Since: 2013
Barn Name: Solomon
Registered Name: Now Watch This
Breed: Warmblood cross
Year Born: 2000
Job at LU: PHED Classes, Recreation Lessons, Hunt Seat Club Sports Team, Campus Rec Camps
Fun Fact: Solomon loves to play in his pasture!
Employee Since: 2017
Barn Name: Valentine
Breed: Miniature horse
Year Born: 2009
Job at LU: LMEC Greeter
Fun Fact: LMEC’s only buckskin colored horse, she also has the highest pitched whinny in the barn.
Employee Since: 2022
Barn Name: Dillon
Registered Name: Dillion’s Almost Dun
Breed: Quarter horse
Year Born: 2006
Job at LU: PHED Classes, Recreation Lessons, Club Sports Teams, Campus Rec Camps
Fun Fact: Dillon takes a nap in his stall every day.
Employee Since: 2014
Barn Name: Dexter
Breed: Appendix
Year Born: 2006
Job at LU: Recreation Lessons, Hunt Seat Club Sports Team, Campus Rec Camps
Fun Fact: Dexter is best friends with James.
Employee Since: 2021
Barn Name: Mason
Registered Name: That’ll Be All
Breed: American Warmblood
Year Born: 2007
Job at LU: Recreation Lessons, Hunt Seat Club Sports Team, Campus Rec Camps
Fun Fact: Mason always looks for peppermints after a lesson is over and will follow instructors around the arena until he gets one!
Employee Since: 2019
Barn Name: Moses
Registered Name: Holy Moses
Breed: Irish Sport horse
Year Born: 2010
Job at LU: Hunt Seat Club Sports Team
Fun Fact: Moses is the tallest horse at LMEC, standing at 17.3 hands high!
Employee Since: 2022
Barn Name: Bond
Registered Name: Li Bond
Breed: Warmblood
Year Born: 2006
Job at LU: Hunt Seat Club Sports Team
Fun Fact: Bond has allergies just like people.
Employee Since: 2021
Barn Name: Kavellio
Registered Name: Kavellio SE
Breed: Dutch Warmblood
Year Born: 2015
Job at LU: Hunt Seat Club Sports Team, Campus Rec Camps
Fun Fact: Kavellio is the youngest LMEC horse.
Employee Since: 2023
Barn Name: Lily
Registered Name: Thymeless
Breed: Thoroughbred
Year Born: 2005
Job at LU: Hunt Seat Club Sports Team
Fun Fact: Lily is originally from the UK.
Employee Since: 2020
Barn Name: Louie
Registered Name: Lutz
Breed: Andalusian Percheron Cross
Year Born: 2009
Job at LU: PHED Classes, Recreation Lessons, Trail Rides, Club Sports Teams, Campus Rec Camps
Fun Fact: Louie does not like to stay clean, and will always roll after a bath!
Employee Since: 2022
Barn Name: Mackie
Registered Name: Mackie Dee Hobby
Breed: Quarter Horse
Year Born: 1998
Job at LU: Recreation Lessons, Western Club Sports Team
Fun Fact: Mackie is the oldest working horse at LMEC.
Employee Since: 2015
Barn Name: Major
Registered Name: Major Ambition
Breed: Quarter Horse
Year Born: 2006
Job at LU: Club Sports Team
Fun Fact: Major is best friends with Dillon.
Employee Since: 2019
Barn Name: Nikki
Registered Name: Femme Nikkita
Breed: Quarter Horse
Year Born: 2003
Job at LU: Western Club Sports Team
Fun Fact: Nikki takes a nap in her stall every day!
Employee Since: 2017
Barn Name: Oscar
Breed: Thoroughbred
Year Born: 2001
Job at LU: Hunt Seat Club Sports Team, Campus Rec Camps
Fun Fact: Oscar’s best friend is Fenway.
Employee Since: 2018
Barn Name: Sneakers
Registered Name: My Sneaky Suspicion
Breed: Quarter Horse
Year Born: 2006
Job at LU: PHED Classes, Recreation Lessons, Club Sports Teams, Campus Rec Camps
Fun Fact: Sneakers loves to help out with horse camps!
Employee Since: 2023
Barn Name: Cash
Registered Name: Brios Nowata Joe
Breed: Quarter Horse
Year Born: 2006
Job at LU: Trail Rides, Western Club Sports Team
Fun Fact: Cash is nicknamed “Joe”.
Employee Since: 2015
Barn Name: Lassie
Registered Name: Majestic Lassie
Breed: Thoroughbred
Year Born: 2013
Job at LU: Hunt Seat Club Sports Team
Fun Fact: Lassie is best friends with Nikki.
Employee Since: 2017
Barn Name: Fenway
Breed: Appendix
Year Born: 2006
Job at LU: Hunt Seat Club Sports Team
Fun Fact: Fenway’s best friend is Oscar.
Employee Since: 2020
Barn Name: Smokey
Breed: Paint Horse Cross
Year Born: 2005
Job at LU: Professional Residential Babysitter
Fun Fact: Smokey is Moses’ babysitter!
What are the open hours of the Equestrian Center?
- The Equestrian Center is open to visitors from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Saturday. The horses that reside on the property very much enjoy seeing visitors and guests, and we welcome both the Liberty and local communities to visit us during these hours only. We ask that all visitors be mindful of the speed limit and be respectful of the daily operations. If you are planning to visit in a group larger than 10 individuals, we ask that you call us in advance to let us know.
Can I ride the horses? If so, when?
- All riding at the Equestrian Center is scheduled in advance and by appointment only. Riding is available for current residential students, faculty, and staff of Liberty University. More information on our riding programs can be found here.
Can I feed the horses?
- No, feeding the horses is not allowed. The Equestrian Center is home to a variety of horses consisting of all shapes and sizes. Quite a few of the horses do not belong to Liberty University and may have dietary restrictions. We ask that all visitors do not feed any of the horses out of caution and respect to the horse and its owner.
How do I sign up for a trail ride or riding lesson?
- To sign up for a trail ride or lesson, individuals must be a residential student or a faculty/staff member of Liberty University. Please inquire at equestriancenter@liberty.edu to receive more information on availability and/or pricing.
What should I wear at the Equestrian Center?
- Students are encouraged to always wear closed-toed shoes when visiting the Equestrian Center. If individuals are participating in a trail ride, lesson. or enrolled in a PHED class they are required to wear appropriate riding attire. Appropriate riding attire includes closed-toed shoes with a discernible heel, riding pants or jeans with no rips, and a fitted top.
What styles of riding are available at the Equestrian Center?
- The Equestrian Center Instructional Staff specializes in Hunt Seat and Western riding with a focus on pursuing the highest quality level of horsemanship amongst participants. The Equestrian Center is home to the Liberty University Club Sports Equestrian Team; the Equestrian Team trains and competes in Equitation on the Flat, Equitation over Fences, Horsemanship, and Reining. Individuals participating in trail rides at the Equestrian Center will ride in a Western saddle. Individuals participating in either Hunt Seat or Western lessons will ride in the corresponding tack and style.