Virginia Archives

Virginia Spring Steeplechase Racing Begins

Everyone has their favorite harbinger of spring. For some it is spying the first robin, for others it is the first daffodil blooming and for still others it is seeing the trees with new buds. For me the beginning of spring has always been the start of the Virginia steeplechase season. The Virginia Spring Steepechase season starts this Saturday with the Cassanova Hunt Point to Point. Listed below is the schedule of Virginia Steeplechase Racing for the spring season:

Saturday, February 21, 12:30 pm
Cassanova Hunt Point to Point
Buckland Farm, Warrenton, VA
540 788-4806

Saturday, March 7, 12:00 noon
Blue Ridge Hunt Point to Point
Woodley Farm, Berryville, VA
540 53-1577

Saturday, March 14, 12:30 pm
Warrenton Hunt Point to Point
Airlie Race Course, Warrenton, VA
540 219-1400

Saturday, March 21, 1:00 pm
Piedmont Fox Hounds Point to Point
Salem Course, Upperville, VA
540 592-7100

Sunday, March 29, 1:00 pm
Orange County Hunt Point to Point
Locust Hill Farm, Middleburg, VA
540 687-3529
703 727-2357
[email protected]

Saturday, April 4, 12:00 noon
Old Dominion Hounds Point to Point
Ben Venue Farm, Ben Venue, Virginia
540 364-4573
540 636-1507

Saturday, April 11, 1:30 pm
Strawberry Hill Races
Colonial Downs, New Kent County, VA
804 228-3238

Sunday, April 12, 12:30 pm
Loudon Hunt Point to Point
Oatlands Plantation, Leesburg, VA
703 777-8480
540 338-4031

Saturday, April 18, 1:30 pm
Middleburg Spring Races
Glenwood Park, Middleburg, VA
540 687-6545
504 687-6595

Sunday, April 19, 12:0 noon
Fairfax Hunt Point to Point
Morven Park, Leesburg, VA
540 687-0611
[email protected]

Saturday, April 25, 1:00 pm
Foxfield Spring Races
Charlottesville, VA
434 293-9501

Saturday, May 2, 1:00 pm
Virginia Gold Cup Races
Great Meadow, The Plains, Va
540 347-2612

Saturday, May 3, 1:30 pm
Bull Run Hunt Point to Point
Brandywine Park, Culpeper, VA
540 832-2726
540 937-2510

Saturday, May 9, 1:00 pm
Bedford Countiy Hunt Point to Point & Hunter Pace
Wolf Branch Farm, Forses, VA
540 297-3419

For additional information and the fall racing calendar visit the Virginia Steeplechase Website.

Contact

Pam Dent

, e-PRO, SRES, NHD, REALTOR®, Real Estate III, Charlottesville, Virginia at 434 960-0161, [email protected], to list your property for sale or to buy a property in the following areas in Central Virginia: Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Keswick, Glenmore, Ivy, Crozet, Earlysville, Free Union, Cismont, Scottsville, Fluvanna County, Troy, Palmyra, Lake Monticello, Louisa County, Louisa, Mineral, Spring Creek, Orange County, Gordonsville, Orange, Barboursville, Greene County, Ruckersville.

To view all of the Charlottesville, Virginia and Central Virginia Homes for Sale click here and click on the mls search button.

Visit my website Jump into Greener Pastures or read my other blog Charlottesville Real Estate Talk for more information on Charlottesville and Central Virginia homes, events and real estate.

Horseshowing Outdoors in February and You aren’t in Florida – Are You Crazy?

Speakeasy feb 15 005 (WinCE) How many of you stop horseshowing for the winer because you can't afford to go to Florida or can't justify the time away from your jobs to take 2 months off and go to Florida? Maybe your horses aren't ready to go to the indoor winter A shows in other parts of the country so you are forced to stop showing for the winter. Then you start back at the schooling shows in the spring and spend March and April trying to catch up to the horses that have been showing all winter. In Charlottesville and Central Virginia we have been able to ride and horseshow outside all winter.

Of course, there have been days when the temperature did not rise enough for the ring to thaw, but most of the winter we have been able to ride outdoors. Today Shadowfax LLC at the Glenmore Equestrian Center took two sales horses to the horseshow at Speakeasy Farm. After a week of temps in the 60's the 48 degree weather felt a little cool, but the sun was warm, the footing was good and these young horses were able to progress and get some good mileage.

If you are looking for a good area to relocate you farm to, consider the Charlottesville, Virginia horse country where you can ride year round without needing to have an indoor. A Charlottesville horse farm may be the perfect choice.

Charlottesville Takes Part in Local Climate Action Week

The state of Virginia and Charlottesville are focusing on ways to become more environmantally friendly. Last week the Virginia Commission on Climate Change announced the finalization of a plan for the state to reduce global warming by 25 percent during the next 12 years.

During the coming week across the nation localities will participate in Local Climate Action Week. The focus will be on persuading the federal government to give money to support local areas efforts to reduce climate change. Read more to learn about the week’s events in Charlottesville.

Fall in Virginia Can Be a Time For New Beginnings

As we make our way through October the 2008 horseshow season is winding down. In November horsemen will enjoy a few weekends of down time before the 2009 season starts at the beginning of December. This is often a season to say goodby to the good mount that has safely carried you through several years of showing. Ponies are sadly out grown or a rider is ready to move on to a more challenging partner allowing them to progress to the next level. This break between seasons becomes the perfect time to go horseshopping.

Charlottesville, Virginia and Albemarle County are located in the heart of the Central Virginia horse country. Due to the large number of stables in the area, Albemarle horse country becomes a popular horse shopping destination. In addition fall is the optimum time to come to Virginia and shop for the perfect Charlottesville horse farm; plus you can enjoy the spectacular fall foliage at the same time. Albemarle, Fluvanna, Louisa and Orange Counties all have a selection of beautiful horse farms on the market for your inspection.

Shadowfax LLC at the Glenmore Equestrian Center is has three more horseshow weekends left on its 2008 show schedule. The Shadowfax horses and riders under the instruction of Baily Dent have enjoyed a most successful horseshow season. If you would like to have your horse nearby, but do not wish to have your own farm, it makes sense to consider a move to Glenmore or one of the other area equestrian communities.

Come to Charlottesville in the fall to enjoy the spectacular scenery and search for your next horse or the perfect Albemarle County horse property.

Contact

Pam Dent

To view all of the Charlottesville, Virginia and Central Virginia Homes for Sale click here and click on the mls search button.

Visit my website Jump into Greener Pastures or read my blogs Charlottesville Real Estate Talk and Charlottesville Horse Farms and Country Homes.

Batten Down the Hatches – Glenmore Braces for Hannah

The horses at Shadowfax LLC at the Glenmore Equestrian Center in Keswick, Virginia are all snug in their stalls as we wait to see which way tropical storm Hannah will go. Early today the storm was predicted to head up the coast and Albemarle County was forecast to get a total of about an inch of rain. However things have changed, the storm is tracking further west, and as of 6:00 p.m. the forecast was for 4-7 inches of rain with maybe 3 inches in a hour. Needless to say we made sure that all of the horses stayed in their stalls for the night.

Luckily the Glenmore Equestrian Center is on publick water. This is very important because if the storm knocks out the power there is still water for the horses. Most farms are farther out in the country and are on a well. Wells need power for the pump; so if the power is out for several days there is no way to pump the water. One of the things that I used to do whenever a bad storm was forecast was to fill up every spare bucket, tub and water trough so that there would be a supply of water for the horses. That works okay if you don’t have a very large barn, but since Shadowfax has 26 stalls it would be hard to store enough water to tide the horses over for very long.

The horses at Glenmore are safely tucked in for the night with plenty of water, a supply of feed and bedding, and since Baily who owns the business lives in the barn appartment, there is always someone on site to make sure that all is well.

The Glenmore Equestrian Center which is run by Shadowfax LLC is a full care facility offering boarding, training, instruction and horse sales. It adjoins the Glenmore Community located in Keswick Virginia just east of Charlottesville, Virginia.

If you are looking for an equestrian community which offers elegant Charlottesville homes and all the amenities of a gated, golf development, I would love to show you Glenmore.

Or perform your own search of all of the Glenmore and Albemarle County homes on the market.

Relocating to a Charlottesville Virginia Horse Farm – local tack shops

You are moving to an Albemarle County horse farm, but where do you go in Central Virginia for all the necessary supplies for your horse and farm? Listed below is a selection of area saddleries and tack shops.

The Gifted Horse – 1417 Emmet St., Charlottesville, VA 434-979-0965

Dover Saddlery – 242 Zan Rd., Charlottesville, VA 434-964-1301

Boot'Vil – 8633 Seminole Trail, Ruckersville, VA 434-985-4574

Crawford Saddlery - 8629 Seminole Trail, Ruckersville, VA 434-985-4262

Scottsville Saddlery – 975 Valley St., Scottsville, VA 434 286-2101

The Saddle Fitter Inc – 2967 Dawaons Mill Rd., Esmont, VA 434-286-7000

Tad Coffin Performance Saddles Inc – 1151 Dairy Rd., Ruckersville, VA 434-985-8948

If you are looking for that perfect Albemarle County horse farm, I can help you. As a REALTOR and a professional in the horse business I understand the wants and needs of the equestrian buyer and know the Central Virginia real estate market. I am familar with the farms on the market in Albemarle County, Keswick Virginia, Fluvanna County, Orange County, Greener County and Louisa County.
If you would like to perform your own mls search click here.

Albemarle County Neighborhoods – Keswick, Virginia

Keswick is located in Albemarle County just east of Charlottesville, Virginia. This area has some of the most beautiful real estate in Central Virginia. The countyside consists of rolling hills and fields bordered by the southwest mountains. It is a residential area with farms, estates and country homes. Many of the farms are in conservation easement with creates a large amount of contiguous open countryside. Keswick is also the home of the Keswick Hunt and offers some of the best foxhunting country in Virginia. If you are looking for the perfect Central Virginia horse farm or Charlottesville equestrian property, see what Keswick has to offer.

Two featured Keswick communities are Keswick Estates and Glenmore. Both are gated communities with excellent golf courses, country clubs and exceptional homes.

If you are considering a move to Albemarle County, don’t miss looking at Keswick.

Click here to search all of the homes for sale in Keswick.

Eco Tips – An Easy Way to Save Water

Its August in Central Virginia and once again we need rain. In Albemarle County we have not had a significant rainfall for about a month and we are behind for the year. We are not at the point yet where the county has had to mandate water restriction measures, but it is still important that we all work to conserve this important natural resource.

Are you aware of how much water you use? How many times do you leave water running? If you would like to calculate how much water you use go to http://www.csgnetwork.com/waterusagecalc.html and get an estimate of how much water your household uses.

One easy way that we can all save water every day is to turn off the water when we brush our teeth. Depending on how long you run the water while you brush you can save approximately 1/2 to 1 gallon of water each time you brush. This could add up to 1,460 gallons of water saved in a year. If each of us would do this, think of how much water we could save.

Lets all do our part to keep Charlottesville and Albemarle County green.

Why You Should Buy Fresh Buy Local And Eat Organic

We all have heard that it is healthier to eat organic produce. In the past you had to go to a health food store in order to find organically grown fruits and vegetables. Now most grocery stores, even including Walmart superstores, have an organic foods section. However organic food is often priced 50-100% higher than conventionally grown produce.

An option for keeping these costs down is to buy locally grown vegetables. The Buy Fresh Buy Local program in the Charlottesville, Viginia is one way to buy fresh produce with out the added cost of trucking the fruit and vegetables across the country.

If you cannot afford to only buy organic, it helps to know which foods are most likely to contain pesticides. Even after washing, these foods are likely to posess a pesticide residue. The following are the most likely to be contaminated: apples, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, bell peppers, celery, potatoes and spinach.

Buying local may end up being more ecconomical, healthier, and since it is fresher, it will taste better.

Comparison of Real Estate Taxes for Central Virginia

When you are considering a purchase of a home, one of the necessary things to know is the real estate tax rate for that particular area. In the Central Virginia real estate market there are considerable differences in tax rates among the various counties that make up the region. For some purchasers these rates are still very low compared to the section of the country that they are relocating from. However, many purchasers will need to carefully consider the tax rate, because it may impact whether they can afford a particular home.

The following are the real estate tax rates for the Central Virginia area:

City of Charlottesville – $.95/$100 of assessed value

Albemarle County – $.71/$100 of assessed value

Louisa County – $.62/$100 of assessed value

Fluvanna County – $.48/$100 of assessed value

Greene County – $.72/$100 of assessed value

Orange County – $.47/$100 of assessed value

If you are considering a move to Central Virginia, I would be happy to talk with you about the different neighborhoods that make up the Central Virginia real estate market.

Click here if you would like to search the homes for sale in Central Virginia.