Maureen Hanley Celebrates 25 Years at The Middleburg Barn at Fox Chase Farm

Written by Bill Kent | Photos by Maddy Williams Photography

The only barn that calls itself THE Middleburg Barn didn’t exist when Joe Fargis, future Olympic show jumper and president of the Upperville Colt & Horse Show, first set foot on Fox Chase Farm. Back then, he says, “For a kid out of Vienna, Virginia, who loved horses,” he felt like he was on the equine equivalent of sacred ground. 

“I was in awe,” Fargis remembers. “I came with a friend. It was called the Colony Farm back then. It’s always been a landmark for me. Every time I visit, or just see it passing driving by, I’m always grateful that it’s still here.”

Located on the south side of Route 50 between Pots Mill Road and what is now Greenhill Vineyards, the farm has nurtured horses and equestrian activities since the early 19th century. At the time of Fargis’ initial visit, the farm had an airstrip with a hangar at one end. Fargis soon became a frequent visitor, as a competitor, and gave clinics there. 

Among the farm’s many visitors is the Academy Award-winning actor Robert Duvall. “I rode there often,” Duvall says. “The farm holds significant historical value, as it was once owned by Benny O’Meara, who was acquainted with my friend Kathy Kusner, a renowned show jumper.”

After Benny O’Meara died in a plane crash near Leesburg, the farm passed to other owners, including a syndicate with Commanders players and Secretariat trainer Lucien Laurin, as well as USA Today founder Allan Neuharth, who renamed the farm Paper Chase.

Maureen Hanley also visited in her youth. “I vividly remember my first trip to the barn around 1990, with a friend who was competing with her horse and invited me to tag along. I instantly fell in love with Middleburg. It reminded me of Ireland, where my family is from. Although many details have faded over time, I clearly recall the indoor arena and cheering for my friend during her competition.”

In the year 2000, during a clinic at what’s now called Fox Chase Farm, Fargis remembers his first meeting with Hanley shortly after her family acquired the equestrian landmark. “Maureen had a vision. She wanted to keep the farm as an important place for people who love horses. She wanted to honor the history and the high standards of the previous owners. But she also wanted to open it up, bring more people into our beautiful world.”

Not everyone understood her vision. “I remember hearing someone say we wouldn’t last a year here,” Hanley recalls. “We tackled everything from the cottages on the property to the stalls, electrical work, footing in the arenas, and a new watering system for three arenas, while also addressing overgrazed paddocks. The list seemed endless.”

Equestrian instructor Judi DeMichele watched the transition. “I had only been teaching there a month when the ownership changed. The farm had some of the most famous riders and horses come out of it. I couldn’t picture what else it could be.”

DeMichele says she is thrilled that Hanley maintained the farm as a centerpiece for Hunt Country equestrian events, with horse shows from jumpers to hunter riders, placing Fox Chase among the top 10 horse shows rated by the Virginia Horse Shows Association. It was also named Equine Business of the Year by the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce. Hanley continued clinics led by Fargis and fellow Olympian Kathy Kusner. Film wrangler Rex Peterson did demonstrations with horse actors from “Secretariat” and “Hidalgo” there, too. 

The cast and crew of season 8 of reality TV show “The Amazing Race” once mistook the farm, and a horse show on the grounds, for the Welbourne Inn. Hanley remembers “a convoy of vehicles” roaring past the front gate. “As the contestants and film crew jumped out of their cars, their sudden arrival startled the horses, creating a flurry of activity and a brief moment of chaos,” she says. “Riders fought to calm their mounts while the audience looked on in a blend of surprise and amusement. Once the misunderstanding was resolved and the cast and crew recognized their error, they hurriedly exited through the gates to continue their search.”

Now the farm hosts corporate retreats, summer camps, equine-oriented tours, and, with the opening of The Middleburg Barn, weddings. “Maureen transitioned the farm very slowly,” DeMichele adds. “What is amazing about it is that so much has been improved, but it still looks the same as it did 25 years ago. The difference is that Maureen has turned what was always a horsey place into a showcase.” The 10,000-square-foot event center represents the epitome of Hunt Country equestrian lifestyle.

“The entire process took four years from beginning to end,” Hanley says. In conceiving the barn, she “envisioned a space that would provide ample natural light, serve as a show office for our horse shows, act as an event venue, and accommodate a horse or two.” It operates independently from other barns on the property, complete with its own well, electrical system, and septic system. This independence was crucial, as it would allow the barn to sustain itself and support other barns during power outages.

She picked a light, yellow pine for the post-and-beam interior, harkening back to Middleburg’s agrarian roots, and topped it off with a pair of Swarovski chandeliers. “The lighting was a particular focus, utilizing state-of-the-art technology to beautifully illuminate the space. This involved collaborating with professionals who could bring both expertise and innovation to the project.” Hanley shares, “I always imagined that gorgeous crystal chandeliers would look stunning juxtaposed with the post-and-beam wood structure.”

Middleburg’s Nina Fout, an Olympic medalist and landscape architect, “added unique aesthetic value to the barn’s surroundings,” Hanley says. “Nina’s creativity and expertise helped transform the exterior into an inviting and harmonious environment, enhancing the barn’s design and overall appeal.”

“We call it the Gucci Barn!” says florist Rick Thompson, who has done the flowers for numerous events there. “What sets it apart is the grand space and soaring ceiling, and the amazing chandeliers that hover over the dance floor. The space has been very well thought out. There are places for ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. All in all, a marvelous facility.”

Hanley says that weddings represent only about 1% of the farm’s activities. While she won’t mention the names of some of those who have been to The Middleburg Barn, she does hint that on more than one occasion, Secret Service personnel have descended on the property. Musicians have also stayed in the farm’s cottages on off nights when touring the greater Washington, D.C., area.

This year, the only party at the barn open to the public will be the Middleburg Humane Foundation’s gala, returning for the fifth time in April. CEO Kim Zimmerman says previous galas raised as much as 30% of the foundation’s budget.

“The event barn plays a vital role in our operations, hosting a diverse range of functions,” Hanley adds. “[It] has become a central venue for memorable experiences. This facility has allowed us to maintain the horse aspect of the farm without needing to sustain the previously large number of horses.”

It has also allowed the farm to thrive in a new century where the viability of Middleburg’s agricultural and equine culture is under threat. 

“I’m grateful,” Robert Duvall concludes, “that Maureen and her family have continued to uphold Middleburg’s rich equestrian heritage while preserving the area’s iconic Hunt Country architecture.”

As for what can be expected next at Fox Chase Farm and The Middleburg Barn? Hanley urges supporters to “stay tuned.” ML

Published in the February 2025 issue of Middleburg Life.