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More News from Fairfax4Horses
Fairfax4Horses Annual Meeting
Our Annual Meeting was held on November 14, 2023, in person and on Zoom. Here are some highlights.
Robert Banner, Chairman, Resource Development Committee for the Equine Land Conservation Resource, explained how use of creative fundraising methods and cultivation of stakeholder investment resulted in raising $5 million for the Great Meadow field event and steeplechase venue in The Plains, VA. The funding made possible the purchase of 175 acres next to Great Meadow, thereby doubling its size, and also made possible expansion and improvements to Great Meadow facilities that have since hosted prep trials for the Pan American, World Equestrian, and Olympic Games, and – for the first time in the United States – the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) Nations’ (Eventing) Cup.
Banner offered to be a valuable source of information and advice to Fairfax4Horses.org as it pursues Phases II and III of construction of a full-service riding lesson facility at Laurel Hill Equestrian Center on public park land in southern Fairfax County.
Brooke Fries, who was serving as Equestrian Manager within the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) structure, gave contact information for reserving the arenas, fields, stalls, and other facilities for Frying Pan Farm Park (FPFP), Turner Farm Park, and Laurel Hill Equestrian Center.
Brooke noted the second annual Horse Expo at Frying Pan Farm Park was a great success with high attendance (around 7,000 people), and many booths with vendors, barns, speakers, food trucks, various experts, and equestrian service-providers.
Meeting participants noted the number one question from people attending the event was where they or their children could take riding lessons. Brooke is aware of this unmet need. Meeting participants were delighted to hear that Brooke is restarting the Equestrian Stakeholder Group within the Fairfax County Park Authority for all equestrian user groups, starting this coming January, either in-person or via Zoom or hybrid.
Robert Banner, Chairman, Resource Development Committee for the Equine Land Conservation Resource, explained how use of creative fundraising methods and cultivation of stakeholder investment resulted in raising $5 million for the Great Meadow field event and steeplechase venue in The Plains, VA. The funding made possible the purchase of 175 acres next to Great Meadow, thereby doubling its size, and also made possible expansion and improvements to Great Meadow facilities that have since hosted prep trials for the Pan American, World Equestrian, and Olympic Games, and – for the first time in the United States – the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) Nations’ (Eventing) Cup.
Banner offered to be a valuable source of information and advice to Fairfax4Horses.org as it pursues Phases II and III of construction of a full-service riding lesson facility at Laurel Hill Equestrian Center on public park land in southern Fairfax County.
Brooke Fries, who was serving as Equestrian Manager within the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) structure, gave contact information for reserving the arenas, fields, stalls, and other facilities for Frying Pan Farm Park (FPFP), Turner Farm Park, and Laurel Hill Equestrian Center.
Brooke noted the second annual Horse Expo at Frying Pan Farm Park was a great success with high attendance (around 7,000 people), and many booths with vendors, barns, speakers, food trucks, various experts, and equestrian service-providers.
Meeting participants noted the number one question from people attending the event was where they or their children could take riding lessons. Brooke is aware of this unmet need. Meeting participants were delighted to hear that Brooke is restarting the Equestrian Stakeholder Group within the Fairfax County Park Authority for all equestrian user groups, starting this coming January, either in-person or via Zoom or hybrid.
This past October, Beverly, Brooke, FPFP Operations Manager Paul Nicholson, FPFP Park Manager Teresa Reynolds, and reps from CHS and Mason Neck Horse Coalition visited Laurel Hill with Brooke and spoke of unmet needs such as a drag, parking issues, and other pending issues. Twelve jump poles have been replaced and thanks to Adriana Gomez, delivered and painted.
Kudos to Mason Neck Horse Coalition, whose advocacy in recent years has helped maintain trails and land access to the open space people love in the southernmost part of Fairfax County. They successfully worked with the Bureau of Land Management to push back on a U.S. Army plan to take 50 acres of Meadowood for pastures for caisson horses. The Army has since fenced off 14 acres off Belmont Blvd for the caisson horses and Meadowood will remain open recreation space that is publicly accessible, per its charter with BLM.
The Army has since fenced off 14 acres off Belmont Blvd for the caisson horses and Meadowood will remain open recreation space that is publicly accessible, per its charter with BLM.
Advocacy from Mason Neck Horse Coalition, has helped maintain trails and land access to the open space people love in the southernmost part of Fairfax County. They successfully worked with the Bureau of Land Management to push back on a U.S. Army plan to take 50 acres of Meadowood for pastures for caisson horses. The Army has since fenced off 14 acres off Belmont Blvd for the caisson horses and Meadowood will remain open recreation space that is publicly accessible, per its charter with BLM.
Hunters Valley Riding Club, River Bend Pony Club, and Clifton Horse Society continue to organize recreational riding activities for adults and youth, including shows and clinics at the three Fairfax County facilities.
Kudos also to Lift Me Up! and Cloverfield Equine Center (formerly Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program), for successful fundraising efforts and continuing excellent service to riders with all kinds of physical, emotional, and cognitive disabilities.