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Stephen and Karen Fulton established Full Moon Farm (FMF) in 1994 on 80 acres of beautiful rolling hills of Carroll County. The property is an ideal location for cross country and the Fultons have hosted horse trials there for over 30 years. They hosted their first USEA-recognized competition 13 years ago, in 2013. This year, they will host three recognized USEA horse trials, two unrecognized horse trials, and one USEA Young Event Horse Qualifier. Running alongside all those competitions is a busy, year-round lesson program, equitation teams, summer camps, and clinics with world-class professionals.
“We believe in the importance of a solid foundation — developing riders that have a well-rounded equestrian education,” says Karen. “From the first lesson, riders learn how to care for and tack the horses. Some of our riders can’t afford to own a horse, so we offer leases and partial leases on our school horses, as well as many opportunities to earn credits by volunteering.” The Fultons also believe in instilling respect for the horses, the professionals, and the volunteers from the beginning.
Lessons learned at Full Moon Farm go beyond riding — the confidence, determination, and communication skills are apparent in the adult riders that grew up riding with the Fultons. Their former students have gone on to become doctors, vets, barn owners, and CEOs. Even years after they’ve stopped riding, many keep in touch and remain active in the barn community — even if only virtually — and they know that FMF will always be a safe space they can call home.
Ellie Bufkin returned to riding when she moved back to the area thirty years after first taking lessons at FMF. Less than six months later she has made her childhood dream of having her own horse a reality, with the help of the Fultons. “The 12-year-old me who first came to FMF is alive and well today just bursting with happiness,” says Ellie, who is now surrounded by new friends as she restarts her eventing career. Among the other “Fullmoonians” that grew up at FMF and ride there today, you’ll find equitation team coaches, weekend instructors, and boarders — they all have full-time jobs in other industries but spend hours each week with their FMF family.
Part of what attracts newcomers to the sport, and welcomes former students back, is a commitment to opening the doors for more people to be able to enjoy the sport. Access remains one of the sport’s greatest hurdles, and in recent years, the Full Moon Farm community has made a concerted effort to address that challenge.
And so, two years ago, in early 2024, the Fulton’s started the Full Moon Farm Eventing Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing marginalization and fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in the equestrian world.
“We are fortunate to have developed a great base of support in the community, both at the farm, in the equestrian community, and from our local Maryland businesses to help us continually develop this program,” says Karen.
In two short years, the Full Moon Farm Eventing Foundation has helped dozens of riders through scholarships, grants, and educational programs. Their “25 in ‘25” campaign allowed them to reach a wider audience, as they raised over $25,000 to establish an annual USEA grant. Their primary fundraising goal for 2026 is to build a self-sustaining funding model to benefit competitors at FMF’s USEA-recognized events. To that end, the foundation is raising funds to add a Modified division at all recognized FMF Horse Trials, with 100% of the profits from those entries going directly to FMFEF.
“We are excited to be introducing the Modified level at FMF in 2026, both as an annual fundraiser to support the Foundation’s mission, but also to widen the opportunities available to riders here in Area II,” says Karen.
While the Foundation has certainly helped bring more riders into the sport by easing financial burdens, its influence is also visible in the culture at FMF. Around the farm, signs of inclusivity serve as quiet but meaningful reminders that everyone belongs there. For riders who may have felt unsure about entering a new barn, or uncertain whether they would be welcomed in the equestrian community, those messages can make all the difference.
“When someone chooses to ride here — a barn that’s an hour from their house, when there are plenty of other barns closer to them — and they tell us that it’s because they saw FMFEF online, or their coworker told them that we would welcome them, that’s really why we’re doing this,” says Stephen. “No one should be afraid to show up somewhere and be worried that they’ll be turned away or ostracized because of who they are. There are enough things to worry about when you work with horses!”
