The traditional Hunt Country Stable Tour, with more than a dozen stops at some of the most prestigious stables and equine facilities in Upperville and Middleburg, will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 24-25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Some of the country’s premier thoroughbred breeding farms, show hunter barns and country estates will be open to visitors. The tour is a fund-raiser for Trinity Episcopal Church in Upperville. Tickets are $20 per person in advance or $25 on the day of the tour.
Visitors will see newborn foals, carriage exhibits, exquisite country estates with impeccable barns and stables, some of them 250 years old. The country lanes between Middleburg and Upperville, are about 25 miles west of Fairfax on Route 50, where more horses are concentrated than any other part of Virginia.
This year, the tour adds Windsor Farm, a 180-acre equestrian breeding and sales facility with more than 50 young horses for sale.
The Irish Hobby Farm is also new this year. It features driving demonstrations with carriages and horses of all sizes.
Bolinvar Stables, in the heart of Middleburg hunt country, has large warmblood and crossbred horses.
Lazy Lane Farm, where 1934 Kentucky Derby winner Cavalcade was born and is buried, has also produced winners of the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
Newstead Farm, Rokeby, Heronwood Farm and the Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center (MARE) all offer views of yearlings and foals.
From 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 24, the Middleburg Training Track will allow visitors to observe training and conditioning.
At the Northern Virginia Equine and Canine Swim Center, horses and dogs are rehabilitated and conditioned by swimming.
Before 5 p.m. on Friday, May 23, tickets are available for $20 at the Loudoun Convention and Visitors Center, 222 Catoctin Circle in Leesburg, at the Pink Box in Middleburg, or at Trinity Episcopal Church in Upperville.
On the day of the tour, tickets are $25 at the church. For more information, call 540-592-3711.