Wheatland Equestrian
A USEF Center of Excellence for International Para Dressage
Therapeutic Riding, Para Equestrian Dressage, Traditional Riding & Training.
Where all riders thrive. Together.
ABOUT WHEATLAND FARM
Mark & Muriel Forrest
Founders
Wheatland Equestrian was founded on lived experience, deep compassion, and a belief in the healing power of horses.
Irish tenor Mark Forrest and his wife Muriel established the Faith & Family Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, in 1999 to support families like their own. The parents of eight sons—four of whom live with profound disabilities—Mark and Muriel understand firsthand the emotional, physical, and logistical challenges of raising children with serious medical needs alongside typically developing siblings. One of their sons passed away in infancy; others were not expected to survive childhood. Their family’s journey shaped a lifelong commitment to creating spaces of dignity, inclusion, and hope.
As they worked to create a balanced life for all of their children, the Forrests quickly discovered how few meaningful sports and recreational opportunities existed for families navigating disability. Drawing on Muriel’s childhood growing up with horses in Ireland—and witnessing the remarkable physical, emotional, and confidence-building benefits that riding brought to her own children with disabilities—the vision for Wheatland Equestrian was born.
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Muriel, now a USEF Silver Para-Dressage Coach, and Mark set out to create a program that would serve entire families: children with disabilities, their siblings, and the wider community—together, not separately. That vision first took root at the Purcellville campus of Wheatland Farm, where Wheatland Equestrian grew from a small family-centered program into a nationally recognized leader in inclusive equestrian sport.
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Today, Wheatland Equestrian is proud to be recognized as a USEF Para-Dressage Center of Excellence, one of only a handful nationwide. The farm was honored to host the 2018 USEF Para-Dressage Team Observation Event for the World Equestrian Games. The Purcellville facility includes an FEI-quality outdoor competition arena, an ADA-compliant indoor arena, a fully accessible barn with an automated mounting lift for wheelchair-dependent athletes, and miles of scenic trails where riders and families have long enjoyed time together in nature.
In January 2026, Wheatland Equestrian enters an exciting new chapter with the graduation of its programs to Belle Grey Farm in Upperville, Virginia. This transition represents both a culmination of more than two decades of growth and the beginning of expanded opportunity. The Belle Grey campus will assume full operational responsibility for Wheatland Equestrian beginning in January 2026, offering enhanced facilities, increased accessibility, and the space to thoughtfully grow programming, competition, and community engagement. This move positions Wheatland Equestrian for long-term sustainability while remaining deeply rooted in its founding mission.
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Each week, Wheatland Equestrian serves more than 100 riders across para-dressage, adapted riding, traditional dressage, eventing, and youth programs. Our model is intentionally inclusive—bringing able-bodied and disabled riders together within one equestrian center, training, learning, and competing side by side. This approach not only provides riders with disabilities the support they need to succeed on equal footing, but also fosters understanding, empathy, and community connection.
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Our program is supported by a dedicated team of professional staff, an exceptional herd of school horses ranging from First Level through Grand Prix, and a large corps of trained volunteers who make our mission possible. In addition to year-round lessons, Wheatland Equestrian hosts competitions, clinics with elite riders, and family-centered events that celebrate sport, learning, and shared joy.
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At the heart of Wheatland Equestrian is a commitment to faith, family, and service. The Forrest family believes that God’s grace, the beauty of the natural world, and the partnership between horse and human have the power to heal, strengthen, and uplift—both those living with disabilities and those who love and care for them.
We invite you to join us as we continue this journey—honoring where we began, and embracing what lies ahead.
