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The Virginia Horse Center
Virginians have been horse-lovers since colonial times and that love affair continues up to the present day. For years, the areas around Middleburg and Charlottesville, Virginia have been called “Horse Country,” but since 1988, equine fanciers have added the Lexington area to that designation. The reason is the Virginia Horse Center, the crowning jewel of the Commonwealth’s $1.46 billion equine industry.
The Virginia Horse Center boasts breathtaking views and pristine grounds, as well as superior facilities for horses. The Horse Center’s 600-acre state-of-the-art environment features eight barns to accommodate 750 horses in permanent stabling or 1,200 horses in permanent and temporary stabling; the 4,000 seat Anderson Coliseum including the 150’ x 300’ Waldron Arena surrounded by a concrete concourse; the East Complex Indoor Arena with 120’ x 250’ show ring and 30’ concrete concourse with bleacher seating; the Wiley Arena with 1,000-seat covered grandstand and 130’ x 300’ show ring; fifteen additional show rings including a covered 90’ x 180’ show ring pavilion and three 96’ x 250’ dressage rings; two cross-country jumping courses, including an Olympic-caliber course at Oak Hill; and miles of riding trails.
In addition, the Virginia Horse Center offers first-class on-site amenities for people with dining and catering services including 9,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space plus a picnic pavilion, two museums, a gift shop, a clothing and specialty shop, plus campgrounds with water and electric hook-ups, and a dump station. 1,300 lodging rooms and multiple eclectic eateries are located within minutes of the Horse Center.
Since opening in 1988, the Virginia Horse Center has hosted more than 1,400 events of state, national and international importance including the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Pony Medal Finals, the United States Pony Club National Championships East, the North American Young Riders’ Championships, the National Barrel Horse Association Colonial Nationals, the World Percheron Congress, the USEF National Four-in-Hand Championships, the Virginia International Three Day Event, the Arabian Horse Association Sport Horse Nationals, the International Friesian Show Horse Association Friesian Grand Nationals, the USEF/American Vaulting Association National Championships, the Professional Bull Riders Virginia Challenge, the American Hunter/Jumper Federation Legacy Cup, the American Quarter Horse Association East Coast Championships, and the National Walking Horse Association Championships - just to name a few! The Horse Center is also home to a wide variety of community events such as the Rockbridge Regional Fair, college cross-country running competitions, receptions, dinners, concerts, fundraisers and other functions.
The Virginia Horse Center is widely recognized as one of the finest equine facilities anywhere in the world. Representatives from states including California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina, West Virginia and Connecticut regularly visit the Virginia Horse Center and seek advice from management as to how to model their planned facilities. The director of North Carolina’s Senator Bob Martin Eastern Agricultural Center wrote the Virginia Horse Center stating that the Virginia facility is the model by which all other equine facilities should be replicated. Austrian and Olympic gold-medalist Andrew Hoy visited the Virginia Horse Center seeking advice for building his planned international facility. Officials from Kent County, England also spent several days visiting the Horse Center to seek guidance on how to build an equine facility to be used for training for the 2012 Olympics and beyond.
As a place for competition, education, and recreation, the Virginia Horse Center is unparalleled and enjoyment is guaranteed. But don’t just take our word for it - come and experience it for yourself. The Virginia Horse Center is located on the northwest side of Lexington, Virginia at 487 Maury River Road, one mile west of U.S. Route 11 on Virginia State Route 39, just north of the Interstate 64 and Route 11 interchange.
Virginia Horse Center events are scheduled every weekend from mid-January through mid-December with many activities during the week. Don’t miss the Old Time Music Jam, a mountain music jam session honoring our mountain heritage, live from the Work Horse Café at the Horse Center the second Tuesday of each month starting at 6pm.. Musicians are welcome to play and the audience is encouraged to dance and sing along.
Most Virginia Horse Center events are open to the public at no charge, but occasionally one may have an admission fee. All events are subject to change. For a complete schedule of events or additional information, please visit http://www.horsecenter.org or call 540-464-2950.
Phone: (540) 464-2950