Beautiful Barns In Hunt Country

Story and photos by Austin Kaseman

St. Bride’s is owned by Barb and David Roux, who purchased the property 14 years ago. The priority was to build a training facility for world-class jumpers.

The Lower Barn (white and green barn) was originally built in the shedrow style to house Thoroughbreds around 1927. It was fully restored in 2010. The architect is unknown, but the original owner of St. Bride’s Farm, Admiral Cary Longhorn, was an integral part of the planning and supervised the construction. During the restoration, the ten stalls were reduced to nine to accommodate a wash stall, and a porch was added to provide shade. American Eventer and Olympic champion, Torrance Watkins, operated out of the barn in the 1980s.

The Upper Barn was completed in 2011, and includes ten stalls, a tack room, feed storage, vet bay, wash stall, and tack stalls. The goal was to construct an environmentally responsible and sustainable structure. Recycled materials, including bamboo, lighting lasting 100k hours, and footing (Atwood) in the indoor environment that does not need water, helped accomplish this mission. Additionally, a system was built into the design to divert roof water from the indoors and barn into a pond, and a dry fire hydrant was installed for emergencies.

Fuog-Interbuild, Inc. worked closely with the owner to design the structures in 2010 and 2011. In 2011, they were awarded both the National Frame Building Association Building of the Year, Judges Special Award, and the Horse Barns/Facilities (3k – 10k sq. ft.) Building of the Year Award.

American Olympian Laura Kraut rides for St. Bride’s Farm and works with the owners to develop young horses from the breeding program. She campaigns several Grand Prix horses for SBF all over the world.

Bolinvar

With spacious grounds and an impressive 11-stall stable, Bolinvar is owned by Melanie and Lou Pai. It is home to four ponds, riding trails, and an old-fashioned courtyard barn, which offers 22 additional matted stalls, a loft, feed room, wash stall, and a large tack room with a fireplace. It even has one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments for staff or guests.

While both barns date back to the 1700s, the current stone barn was renovated in 2000 on top of the old structure. The white barn has gone through renovations over the years. It was believed that General Patton kept his horses in the white barn. Sprinkled throughout the property’s wooded area and large paddocks are well-built natural jumps.

Melanie’s horse Floriano went to the Olympics in 2004, ridden by Steffen Peters, the 2005 World Cup, and the 2006 WEG.

Stonehaven

Resting on 87 rolling acres in the heart of Middleburg Hunt territory, Stonehaven is owned by Chris and Andrea Winkle. The property’s featured barn was completed in 2017 by design-builder King Construction of New Holland, Pa.

The barn’s exterior features stone and Hardi Panelboard and batten siding, pentice roofs, timber-framed porches, a combination of standing seam and cedar shake shingle roofs, all topped off with a custom cupola. On the interior, there are four 12’x12’ King Sovereign Euro stalls with stall mattresses, automatic waterers, and a fly spray system, as well as a rubber paver system for the aisleway. There is a large tack room, feed room, restroom, laundry facility, and a heated wash/groom stall with built-in groom’s storage. This structure also houses a climate-controlled wine cellar and a tasting room/lounge on the main level.

An older, red barn used for their miniature horses was built in 2006. This was the original barn that houses three stalls and a tack room. Finally, the property features a 100′ by 200′ riding arena with Atwood footing for a comfortable and dust-free riding experience.