Hunt Country Stable Tour Returns for 65th Year
More than a dozen private properties open their gates to the public to provide a rare look at equine life in Virginia horse country
UPPERVILLE, Va., April 8, 2024—After a brief hiatus, the popular Hunt Country Stable Tour returns this year for its 65th anniversary, taking visitors through the gates of historic and private properties to experience a variety of horses and equestrian activities. The event takes place on Memorial Day Weekend— Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with special hours at some venues. The tour is self-driving and tickets are available online here. The cost is $40 per person (plus taxes and fees) and tickets are for both days of the tour. There is no charge for children 10 and under.
Highlights of the tour include a chance to go behind the scenes at Kinross and Poplar Grange Farms, two private equine estates with an array of horses in training. At Kinross, horses are trained for three-day eventing and fox hunting, while Poplar Grange trains jumpers and steeplechase horses. Both properties provide incredible facilities and spectacular views of the rolling hills of horse country.
At Oak Spring Farm, established by the late Paul and Bunny Mellon, visitors can explore the renowned hunter and jumper barns. The Mellons, notable figures in the equestrian world, bred internationally acclaimed horses including Sea Hero, winner of the Kentucky Derby. Notable visitors to the Mellons’ stables included Jacqueline Kennedy, who enjoyed foxhunting with the famed Piedmont Fox Hounds.
The Piedmont Fox Hounds are the oldest hunt in the United States and will be at Trinity Church in Upperville (9108 John S. Mosby Hwy., Upperville) on Saturday at 9 a.m. It’s an opportunity for all ages to watch the huntsman demonstrate working with his hounds using a horn and voice commands and mingle with the hounds.
The venue at Old Denton provides a unique experience to gain a newfound appreciation for mules as visitors will see firsthand their abilities across diverse disciplines such as dressage, western reining, and foxhunting. A carriage drive will also be part of this stop.
Additional demonstrations will be held throughout the weekend at various times and locations. Polo matches will be held both days at Phipps Field. The Middleburg Training Center will open Saturday morning only from 7 to 9 a.m. for visitors who wish to watch jockeys and trainers exercise Thoroughbred race horses.
The tour also includes Stoke Farm and Welbourne Inn, historic estates dating back to the 1800s. Welbourne will host historical reenactors who will recount some of the property’s history, which includes famous guests such as F. Scott Fitzgerald to Thomas Wolfe and others. Visitors to Stoke will be treated to breathtaking panoramic views of the rolling hills, verdant valleys, and distant mountain ranges while being enamored by the Ashland Bassets, Virginia’s oldest foot hunting pack, with the opportunity to get up close and personal.
Horse lovers can visit mares and foals at Virginia Tech’s Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center (MARE), a 420-acre equine health and nutrition research facility. Salamander Resort will open its stables to showcase horses and students from local therapeutic riding programs, allowing attendees to engage with these special horses and volunteers. Learn more of the heritage of country pursuits with a tour of rare book and art collection at The National Sporting Library & Museum.
Proceeds from the tour benefit Trinity Ministries, providing financial support to organizations that enhance and enrich the lives of people in need.
Sponsors of the tour include Acre Investment and Holtzman Oil and Propane.
For more information on the Hunt Country Stable Tour and its exciting line up of properties and experiences, visit https://trinityupperville.org/hunt-country-stable-tour.
