any breeders- farms nearby? Dressage barns? I’m in the area and looking for fun stuff to do today-
I notice that Aldie/ Middleburg is somewhat close- do they have little downtown areas - maybe antique shops? (just missed OT on this one- sorry!) COTH- in Middleburg, right?
I’m not sure about farms on Middleburg/Aldie, but Middleburg is a must see. Great tack shops, food and all about horses. Very high end and lots of stuff to do.
Someone on here will know about farms to visit.
Well, going out Rt 66 to take 29/211 (west of Manassas) from Gainesville and Haymarket towards Warrenton, you will pass through Buckland. Take a left at the light at New Baltimore and it’s a mile or so to Buckland Farm where Pleasant Colony was foaled. Hit up Warrenton, then take Rt 17 over to Marshall and pass by Great Meadow.
Driving the lovely roads between Marshall and Upperville/Middleburg, you pass many gorgeous and historic farms.
There is Horse Country Saddlery on Old Alexandria Pike in Warrenton, The Old Habit next to the post office on the main street in Marshall, and then the Middleburg Tack Exchange and The Tack Box and Journeyman’s in Middleburg.
A lovely, meandering road trip. 
National Register of Historic Places
Upperville has been designated as a Historic District and is a Virginia Historic Landmark that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Situated eight miles to the west of Middleburg, the Upperville/Middleburg area is home to a number of prominent Thoroughbred horse breeding farms and country estates. Part of Virginia’s famous Piedmont horse country, the Upperville Colt & Horse Show was conceived by Colonel Richard Henry Dulany and first held in 1853. It remains the oldest such event in America. A Dulany family member owned Oakley Farm. It was the site of two battles during the American Civil War. Near Upperville, Californian Henry T. Oxnard built a horse breeding operation in 1903 that he named Blue Ridge Farm. Purchased by Rear Admiral Cary Travers Grayson in 1928, members of the Grayson family still own the property which too is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Over the years, others who came to live in the area included heiress Isabel Dodge Sloane, who built the highly successful Brookmeade Stud, Llangollen estate where Liz Whitney Tippett lived for nearly six decades, Bertram and Diana Firestone’s Newstead Farm, Sandy Lerner’s,[2] and the very prestigious Rokeby Farm of Paul Mellon. It was Mellon who donated the money to build Trinity Episcopal Church in 1960 which is at the center of the small community’s social activities. For two days each year more than ten horse farms and centers in Upperville and Middleburg open their gates to visitors. In its 48th year, the Hunt Country Stable Tour raises money for the outreach programs of Trinity Episcopal Church.[3]
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Yes, lots of shops, places to eat and two tack stores. Middleburg is a great choice for a day trip.
In an earlier post she said she was in Bristow.
It is even easier than that. Bristow is basically at the other end of Vint Hill Rd from Buckland. So just get on Vint Hill Rd.
Saddlery Liquidators, Middleburg, is still in the building that Mosby’s used to occupy. Turn at the light at the Red Fox Inn, one block back and slightly to the left. SL is in the back of the building. No where as nifty as the Tack Exchange or Tack Box but still…
I count Journeyman’s, too, although they are pretty much just repairs and chaps now. Four tack shops in a 4 block area!
Darn. Wish I’d seen your post this morning.
You missed the VPCA Iron Dog Competition at Great Meadow.
Got some great shots of K-9’s apprehending “suspects”, searching vehicles and objects for narcotics and explosives - it was REALLY COOL.
There were teams from the US military, federal agencies and local law enforcement.
I got a shot of a dog launching himself at a guy - all 4 paws off ground and nothing showing but teeth! (the dog, not the suspect)
Plus - all kinds of shepherds. Oh my.
Check out the paper Friday for results and photos.
Nice running into you today! Save some money for Warrenton!
Whining: I wanna move to VA!!!
I LOVE it here! spent the day in Middleburg yesterday- my idea of heaven. Visiting family. Grew up near here and have always loved it. I’m sick of Montana and winters and so little in the way of a dressage/ hj mentality. Here is the problem: A native Montanan husband who will NEVER leave Montana!
WHAAAAAAAH. 
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I once knew a couple who lived outside Choteau. (near the Egg Mountain site)The husband would never leave Montana (I don’t blame him as I LOVE Montana too).
But the winters got too much for the wife so she went to… Florida I think… for a few months out of the year. Just to keep her sane.
Perhaps you could work something out like that and come to Virginia.
Yeah, but not for the WINTER. We actually get snow here and nobody seems able to drive in it. This last winter was a doozy.
I think JSwan has forgotten how much snow she shoveled.
:lol: Yeah, I did. That was the winter from hell, wasn’t it.
Perhaps Aiken is a better choice.
I think that snow shoveling is like childbirth – you forget how bad it was over time. :lol::lol::lol:
Hopefully our next winter will be milder than the last one and the snow can go to Canada where it belongs!
I still haven’t forgotten how bad that was. I may never.
[QUOTE=springer;4875017]
I notice that Aldie/ Middleburg is somewhat close- do they have little downtown areas - maybe antique shops? (just missed OT on this one- sorry!) COTH- in Middleburg, right?[/QUOTE]
YES! The whole NOVA area is riddle with antiques shops…PM me for more, as I am a collector/addict
There are a couple of antique shops in Bristow (at the rail road crossing).
Not my thing, so I don’t know if they are any good. But they have been in business a while.
And I was a very lucky young woman, galloping horses at Marsh TB in the 70s, caring for and working Majesty’s Prince for trainer Michael Flynn, moving to Middleburg to free lance at the training track, galloping TBs for momma Lee, start the Yearlings in the rolling pastures of Rokeby for the Mellons , legging up hunters at Fairfield, cornbread w Ruthy while working w Turner Reuters Andalusian Stallion and TBs, the list of equine work, friends and experiences in Upperville and Middleburg was magical and unforgettable… forever in love w Northern Virginia horse country
