August 6, 2002
<mh>The Clifton Horse Society
<lst>* Established in 1976, The Clifton Horse Society serves the needs of those interested in horses in Fairfax County and the surrounding communities. Most club members are horse owners, but membership is open to all horse lovers. Although founded in Clifton, CHS' hundreds of members now include people throughout Virginia, in other states, and overseas. Club activities are recreational, social, educational and service.
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES — Organized monthly trail rides with fast and slow groups are on local trails or those within a short trailer drive of Northern Virginia. Other mounted events throughout the year have included horse/fun shows, competitive trail rides, the Fairfax 4th of July Parade, and Christmas caroling on horseback in the Town of Clifton.
SOCIAL — Activities include picnics, barn dances, cocktail parties, Knowdowns (a "Trivial Pursuit/Pictionary" type of event) and Christmas caroling. Although this is not a children's riding club, social activities frequently include the whole family.
EDUCATIONAL — CHS sponsors clinics on horse care, training, vetting, safety, trailering, purchasing and maintenance of tack, and other aspects of quality horsemanship.
SERVICE — In cooperation with local park authorities and landowners, the club maintains trails and develops new ones. During Clifton Day, CHS runs pony rides. Funds raised support worthy causes such as Therapeutic Riding and scholarships for those pursuing equine studies.
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP — Provides camaraderie with others of similar interests and fosters sharing, learning, and meeting new friends. CHS' monthly newsletter, Lead Line, includes articles about horse care and horsemanship, trail and pasture maintenance, other articles of interest, classified advertisements, and a calendar of CHS events and other area horse organization's activities. Members also receive a club roster with members' telephone numbers and addresses (postal and e-mail). Yearly dues are $20 for single or $30 for family membership.
FOR MORE INFORMATION or to get a complimentary copy of the Clifton Horse Society's monthly newsletter, write to CHS, P.O. Box 183, Clifton, VA 20124. Call Sue Wakefield at 703-250-3242 or Joan Edwards at 703-250-5673.
<mh>Mulford School
<lst>* Mulford School is located on a 6.5-acre estate on Old Centreville Road. Beverly Mulford runs a preschool during the school year from 9 a.m.-noon as well as a pre-kindergarten and kindergarten program. The preschool uses the "Mulford Method of Teaching," written and copyrighted 39 years ago by Beverly Mulford, which teaches lifetime skills to preschoolers.
Riding lessons are taught year-round by Preston and Beverly Mulford and their sons. The school uses a specific method of teaching that doesn't use stirrups and emphasizes control of the horse and encourages riders to use minimal signals so that the rider and horse appear as one.
For information about riding lessons or the preschool, call Beverly Mulford at 703-631-1678.
<mh>Needmore Farm
<lst>* Needmore Farm is located on 75 acres off Route 28, close to the Manassas Battlefield Park and Nokesville Park. The address is 13620 Fitzwater Drive, Nokesville, VA 20181. Harold Mauck, the owner, lives on the farm, which has been operating for more than 40 years. He also has operated Clatterbuck Horse Transportation for 35 years. The farm also has a small breeding operation for Morgan horses and Thoroughbreds.
Needmore Farm offers boarding, full care, feeding twice a day, stall with turnout, for $225/month for board, or $295/month for leasing a horse, which includes lessons. It offers riding lessons and training. Semiprivate lessons are $20 and private lessons are $25 per half hour. The farm has trail rides and participates in local area horse shows. There are lots of paddocks, a lighted, all-weather ring and trails to ride on. Call Mary Campbell, manager, or Harold Mauck at 703-594-2650 or 703-594-3380 (barn).
<mh>Broad Run Riding School
<lst>* The Broad Run Riding School offers riding lessons for children and adults, plus special classes offered for people with disabilities. Lessons are held year-round, and there are five one-week summer camp programs, Scout badges, as well as pony rides, birthday parties and special events. Broad Run has an 80x150-foot all-weather ring.
The school is at 6393 Stoney Road, Midland, VA 22728 (near Opal). Call 540-439-9586. Ruth A. Lyngard is the owner and she may be reached at 703-706-9800 (pager).
<mh>W&L Stables
<lst>* W&L Stables is located off Route 29 at 6780 Bull Run Post Office Road in Centreville. A 210-acre farm, it offers full boarding facilities, including feeding twice a day, turning out to pasture and cleaning the stable.
W&L has five barns, and boarding prices range from $210 to $320. It has an inside arena and a lighted outdoor arena, cross-country field jumps, and a full-size show ring. The stable backs up to the Manassas National Battlefield Park, which has 25 miles of trails.
Besides boarding, W&L Stables conducts riding lessons ($28/hour), has horse shows and guided trail rides ($25/person). Lessons are for novice through advanced riders. All ages are welcome. Instructors teach English and Western-style riding techniques, and lessons are available seven days a week. Guided trail rides run along the Bull Run Stream and last about an hour. Groups or individuals are welcome and reservations are required.
The farm also hosts monthly horse shows, including events such as open English classes, jumping and western shows.
<mh>Willow Bend
<lst>* Willow Bend is half a mile down the road from W&L at 6675 Bull Run Post Office Road. Willow Bend has a lighted outdoor ring and 150 acres on which to ride. Boarding is $175 for field board, which includes feeding and housing the horse in a running shed in the field. Boarding in two other barns costs $200. Willow Bend also offers riding lessons.