.JPG)
When Fairfax4Horses first began seeking a site for a public riding stable, Laurel Hill Park in Lorton, Virginia, was the site that had the most potential for an equestiran facility. The park has acres of open spaces and access to over five miles of trails. It is located near major highways and residential communities in Fairfax County. It also has a unique history that includes agricultural activities.
After years of intense effort, Fairfax4Horses successfully facilitated the development of a large (200x250) riding ring which is now available to individual riders and groups. The ring has all-weather footing, stadium jumps and dressage markers. Ring equipment is maintained by Fairfax4Horses and the Park Authority. The parking lot is gravel except for two paved spaces reserved for vehicles with handicap tags.
Equestrian matters are handled by the Equestrian and Maintenance Manager at Frying Pan Farm Park. Other park oversight is handled by dedicated volunteer groups such as Fairfax4Horses and Clifton Horse Society.
Laurel Hill was originally the site of a prison commissioned by Theodore Roosevelt for the District of Columbia as a city jail and model for a Progressive-Era correctional facility. Over the years, as Lorton Prison grew to accommodate over 8,000 inmates and practices within the field of corrections changed, the appearance of the facility changed as well.
By the mid-1980s, the Lorton complex consisted of four separate prisons and over a million square feet of space for male and female offenders. Today, amidst all the changes that have taken place, the colonial-style courtyards and arcades built by Lorton inmates from handmade bricks commemorate a rich and diverse history that has inspired the planning for the new park.
Planning for the Laurel Hill Equestrian Center is continuing in several different directions. The Fairfax County Park Authority and the Fairfax County Park Foundation signed an agreement to cooperate with Fairfax4Horses to develop plans for an Equestrian Center. The goal is to eventually have a barn, indoor ring, and full lesson program so that individuals living in densely developed areas of the county will enjoy the physical and mental benefits of equestrian activities.
Aerial View of Laurel Hill Park
