All the searches I do bring up the wrong Lexington 
Anyone live here and can give me some information on the area? What is the H/J scene like? I know of the horse park but I was wondering if the show scene dies if something isnât going on there. What is living like? Good grocery stores, where is the closest mall, airport, etc? Weather? Is it worth it to move here or should I keep looking?
Well, since you havenât gotten any answers yet, Iâll tell you what I know, although it may be outdated.
Itâs basically a lovely small town with two colleges, W&L and VMI, between the Blue Ridge and the Allegany Mountainsâvery pretty, very historic!
The mall you might be looking for is in Staunton, Harrisonburg or Roanoke (wonât have a Nordstroms) probably an hour away, up or down I-81 (also known as the truckerâs highway)!
Iâm sure there are grocery stores, but I wouldnât be looking for a Whole Foods!
Roanoke has an airport for regional flights-- I do think they fly jets in and out of there.
My only real visits there were in the '70âs to dances at VMI and in the '90âs to horse shows at the horse center. The horse center was lovely thenâhavenât been in several years. I do remember that the outdoor rings seemed to be on the small side. (I was told that that was because they also hosted gated horse shows and those folks like smaller rings so they can pass the grandstands offen and get whoops from the crowdâdonât quote me on that ;))!
The weather is four seasons. Can get hot and humid in the summer (not as bad as east of there) and get a dumping or two of snow in the winter (it is in the mountains). Spring and fall would be beautiful.
I canât answer about the H/J sceneâitâs been too long agoâbut Stonewall Jacksonâs stuffed (taxidermied) horse is there somewhere!:eek:
I went to a two week overnight camp out by there almost 15 years ago now but hereâs what I remember:
-Small town/rural vibe. The âmain streetsâ in that area are really cute and pretty. I remember them being very well maintained. Lots of churches.
-Went to the horse center for a vaulting expo and it was a nice facility and seemed to be a big local attraction/hangout/event place.
-When we went âoutâ it was to a pretty small, typical rural mall and a Ceciâs pizza so I canât help you there.
As with small towns in Virginia, not sure what the economy is like unless you drive to Roanoke or maybe Charlottesville. I know in my field I would not be able to find a job closer than Richmond, but not sure if thatâs a concern or if horses are your job!
Canât speak to the A show scene but I know there are a lot of local VA hunter associations that seem to host frequently, but donât have any personal experience with the actual shows.
What are you looking for in a place to move? Looking only in VA?
Thanks for all the responses so far. We are looking for rentals which narrows the list significantly. It is between one in Lexington and one in warrenton.
Warrenton would give you all of the scenic, more access to horse activities than just at the horse center, and be much closer to major travel access via DC/Dulles. You would be, in theory (not at all in practice) an hour from DC proper there, plenty of shopping closer to you in Manassas.
I went to college in Roanoke, and thought Lexington was cute and scenic, but if you have the choice between there and Warrenton, Iâd go with the latter.
Yep, what JEM said. Out of those two, Warrenton would be my pick.
I love Lexington for all the reasons others probably donâtâsmall town feel, rural, etc. i would pick it over Warrenton because I hate NOVA and all the traffic!!! Trainer options are better in Warrenton though there are some good barns in the Lexington area.
Traveler, RE Leeâs famous horse, is buried at the W&L chapel.
lexington is such a charming town and the horse center is one of my favorite places to show, ever.
Iâve been living near Lexington for the past 12 years. We moved here because we wanted enough land for horses and beautiful views. Our top choice was Charlottesville, but couldnât afford it. So we bought 50 acres across the mountain in Lexington, thinking it was a horsey community because of the horse center. We were wrong. It is primarily a farming community and college town. Trainers and barns are limited here. There is a great local circuit, the SWVHJA that has shows in the area almost every weekend. The people involved in those shows â both competitors and show management â couldnât be more welcoming. Itâs like a big family. But if you want A-rated shows, you will have to travel two to three hours, aside from the four A-rated shows the horse center puts on. As for the town, someone once described it as Annapolis without the water. It is that cute. But it is small. The influence of the two colleges adds to the sophistication, two coffee shops, a bookstore, several clothing shops that appeal to the wealthy kids from W and L, one very high end restaurant (Red Hen), a great veg cafe (Blue Phoenix), a lox and bagel place andâŠas of last week, a Michelin star chef. The town itself is liberal (influenced by W and L), with a burgeoning community anti-Trump movement that has morphed in community action groups. But just outside of town and you can be in poor Appalachia. If beautiful views are important, this is the place to be. If malls, nightlife, cutting edge medical care, and lots of H/J trainer choices are important, look elsewhere.
Another vote for Warrenton!
I actually live in Annapolis. I can see the similarities in comparing the old downtown areas, but there is a LOT more available immediately outside the downtown (like a Whole Foods, a Nordstrom, etc) here than there is in Lexington. Frankly Iâd move to Warrenton just for Red Truck Bakery though.
Thanks everyone. We actually drove through the town today and was shocked by how much larger it was than we thought it was going to be! It is larger than southern pines in my opinion. Very cute too, there is a drive in theatre!
However the house didnât work out at all so my question is all for nothing now 
going up to warrenton next weekend probably. Iâve been in the area before but donât know too much about it either so I may ask for some more info on there and leesburg. Iâve spent quite a bit on time in MD but almost none in NOVA. Seems like warrenton is closer to shows with culpeper and the like right there but maybe I am wrong about that.
As to Culpepper, you may want to slip over to the Tom Stuzzieri threadâjust so you will knowâŠ
There are rated shows outside of Fredricksburg and Richmondânice local schooling shows also, indoor shows in Charlottesville in the winter and Warrenton has a few shows also. IIRC, the Labor Day show is not rated except for the Hunter breeding which I understand is very nice and hosts The Sally Wheeler Challenge with a âsister showâ on the west coast.
I hope the house in Warrenton works out.
Yes, I saw that thread. I always take threads like that with a grain of salt. I attended WEF regularly and would hear similar complaints from people complaining the footing is too hard, too this, too that, the stalls are bad, they werenât refunded when it rained, etc etc. So until I actually show there I have no opinion one way or another.
Thanks everyone for the replies
Warrenton is a C. But youâd be close to Rose Mount in spring and summer, Keswick, plus not too far to Upperville or Loudoun, which are all As, in addition to the HITS options. The Barracks rated winter shows, plus whatâs at the VHC in Lexington. And all the local VHSA shows, if thatâs more your pace.
Warrenton is a beautiful area. I drive through it a few times a week. BBQ joint there is awesome. Definitely a strong H/J and $$ scene up here. You would love the horse country and community, please donât expect to get to DC in an hour though. Real nice people that we have met out exploring. Donât forget to stop at the Galloping Grape when youâre in Warrenton. My husband loves the wine selection while I pick up a few odds and ends.
Thanks for all the info on warrenton everyone!
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