I recently took a job in downtown DC and have the 5+ hours of commuting is a killer. I have just purchased a condo in Woodbridge, VA to deal with that aspect, but now need a place for my mare–preferably within a 30-40 drive. I would prefer a place that offers full board as I do occasionally need to travel for work–and can’t always get to the barn on a daily basis. I would like access to individual turn out for a few hours a day, and in a perfect world an indoor arena. I currently do night checks several days a week and help out with chores on weekend (cheaper than a gym and more fun). I don’t necessarily care if it is a “dressage barn”, I am very capable of riding around fences. In fact, I hang out a lot around the jumper shows. If anyone out there can recommend any barns in the area (private is fine), I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!
Start here:
http://www.virginiaequestrian.com/main.cfm?action=Classifieds&CatID=7
There are a number of barns in Clifton and Nokesville, neither of which is far from Woodbridge.
Your closest barns are probably Jarvis and Meadowood in Lorton. Both are probably full, but you can always get on a wait list:
http://www.jarvisstables.com/
http://www.stablesatmeadowood.com/
Up toward Centreville there’s this one: http://stonebridgeequestriancenter.com/
Where did you move from?
This place is not a bad drive from Woodbridge-- just go around the top of Quantico instead of down 95:
$575.00
Date Added: 1/7/2017
Posted By: Jenny Spain
3056 Tenerife Rd [ MAP ]
Catlett, VA 22019
Email Address: baymoon85@hotmail.com
Phone: 7034007209
Stall available for full or co-op board at lovely farm in Catlett, VA near Warrenton and Nokesville. Primarily dressage and pleasure riding farm. Facilities include: indoor ring, outdoor ring with lights, jumps available, 12x12 matted stalls, fields with run-in sheds, small group turn-out, indoor washstall with heated water and heat lamps, indoor heated bathroom, electric for fans/heated buckets, great people and a vet owns and lives on premise! Top dressage trainer comes to farm, outside trainers welcome with insurance. Full board is $575; co-op board is $275 a month and you buy hay and grain (hay can be purchased from us) and do chores 2-3 times a week. Contact Jenny for more info! Within an hour to several major show grounds! 703.400.7209 baymoon85@hotmail.com
I’m in N Stafford, no indoor, but not taking boarders until late spring.
Welcome to the neighborhood. Really. I’ve been in Woodbridge for years.
Nokesville is not all that close to Woodbridge when you drive it regularly.
When I had a mare boarded in Nokesville 5+ years ago, it was 30 min to get there if there was no one one the road. On normal days it took, 45-60 minutes. I never bothered going on Friday afternoon because the back road was bumper to bumper for a half mile to get through a 4 way stop.
No way, no how are you getting to Catlett in 40 minutes, even going around Quantico. Catlett is pretty far out, and there is a surprising amount of traffic in the middle of nowhere PWC.
If you are closer to Mid-County or Dale City, it is doable in 40 min. If you are nearer to Occoquan - not so much.
[QUOTE=red mares;9043307]
Welcome to the neighborhood. Really. I’ve been in Woodbridge for years.
Nokesville is not all that close to Woodbridge when you drive it regularly.
When I had a mare boarded in Nokesville 5+ years ago, it was 30 min to get there if there was no one one the road. On normal days it took, 45-60 minutes. I never bothered going on Friday afternoon because the back road was bumper to bumper for a half mile to get through a 4 way stop.
No way, no how are you getting to Catlett in 40 minutes, even going around Quantico. Catlett is pretty far out, and there is a surprising amount of traffic in the middle of nowhere PWC.
If you are closer to Mid-County or Dale City, it is doable in 40 min. If you are nearer to Occoquan - not so much.[/QUOTE]
I lived off of Gideon and Smoketown for a few years and got to Nokesville in 30-45 min, which is what I thought she had asked for. My drive was 24 miles. Now, if the op meant 30-40 miles, they would have dozens of options!
Do you know of anything closer with an indoor?
That’s what I thought she asked.
I live near Occoquan. I’ve taken lessons and boarded out in Nokesville. The drive took me 45 on a good day, and that was a couple years ago. I don’t think it’s gotten better.
There is a big h/j barn on Fitzwater Dr, past Nokesville Rd that has an indoor. It was a nice barn. I have no idea who has it now.
I finally moved my horse to a trainer in Rocky Mount, NC and later Hopewell, VA. It was easier than driving to Nokesville 4 days a week.
I think it depends WHERE in Woodbridge to WHERE in Nokesville.
We live in (eastern) Nokesville, and my husband taught at Woodbridge High School, and it was a pretty easy commute. I do not remember the exact time…
For either Catlett or Nokesville, you want to go across Minnieville and Aden or Bristow Roads.
The place on Tenerife is, I believe, where my dressage instructor USED to live, and it was certainly a nice place. I do not know anything about the current owners.
Since I keep my horses at home I do not know much about most of the boarding barns. I can strongly recommend Blue Top in Nokesville, but they are on the far side of Nokesville, and usually have a substantial waiting list.
Silver Eagle (east side of Nokesville) has an indoor, but I do not know much about it.
Scattered Acres is right on the border between Nokesville and Catlett on 28. I have only seen the facility from the road, but I know good things abut the Owner/Trainer, Autumn Rae (Dressage and Eventing focus)
The place on Fitzwater (west side of Nokesville) is South Run Riding School (Hunter Focus).
Cedarbrook Farm is in Centreville - about 25-30 miles. Shannon is the best! https://sites.google.com/site/cedarbrookfarmva/
I can vouch for Shannon- known her since she was just out of high school.
Thank you for the suggestions. I will be living right near the Ripping VRE station, so south Woodbridge? The shorter the drive to the barn the better. I don’t know the traffic in the area, send me in any direction, I don’t have a preference I just appreciate your help.
I sent you a private message. I came back to check other posts and saw Timely Impulse posted the farm I private messaged you about. I can vouch for them they are wonderful!!
S4zeus: Thank you, yes I got the message and have been in contact with them. It’s a little further away than I was hoping, but knowing my mare is safe and happy is worth a little longer drive. They may be full right now but hopefully that will work out. (don’t know how to reply to private posts yet.)
http://www.oliverstables.com would be an easy commute for you. They are “open” until 10pm each night, which allows for late riding. They also have rubber footing indoor.
I was going to say exactly what Rain did-- Jarvis and Meadowood will be your closest and best bets. Meadowood has excellent turnout.
