Virginia Horse Country Virginia Horse Center Colonial Downs Horse Race Track

Welcome to Virginia Horse Country

Horse racing at Colonial Downs

Virginia is home to Triple Crown winner Secretariat, exquisite horse farms, top breeders, elite competitions, thrilling races, hunts, scenic trail rides and numerous attractions appealing to horse lovers.

Tour Virginia Horse Country – just a short drive from Dulles International Airport – and discover one of the top destinations in the United States for equine activities, events, history and hospitality.


Coming to the World Equestrian Games?
See Virginia before or after the Games!

World Equestrian Games

The United States hosts the World Equestrian Games for the first time ever in September 2010. Virginia invites all WEG fans to visit the Commonwealth either before or after the Games and tour Virginia Horse Country. Virginia Horse Country is known internationally for its beautiful horse farms, equestrian sites, exciting events and races as well as for famous champions such as Secretariat.

Washington Dulles International Airport, located in Virginia, serves as your gateway to the United States and is just a short drive from Virginia Horse Country. Click on the Horse Country Tour, and you’ll be on your way to a grand tour of Virginia’s equine attractions and a region rich with wineries, country inns, quaint small towns and lush scenery.

The World Equestrian Games are comprised of the world championships for eight equestrian sports- dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, jumping, para dressage, reining and vaulting. The Games are held every four years, two years prior to the Olympic Games, and are governed by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). The FEI is the international governing body of equestrian sport recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
Map of Virginia

Fly to Washington Dulles International Airport, tour Virginia Horse Country and then return to Dulles for daily flights to the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY.


Or, if driving to WEG from Washington  Dulles Airport, here are helpful facts:

~ 530 miles
~ 8 hours, 23 minutes driving time on Interstate highways the entire distance
~ If you follow the suggested Virginia Horse Country itineraries and visit Lexington, Virginia, then you are three hours closer to Lexington, Kentucky!
~ Driving time/distance from Lexington, VA to Lexington, KY:   356.76 miles (5 hours, 37 minutes)

Ride in Virginia from the Blue Ridge to the Atlantic Ocean

Virginia offers more than 285 public access horse riding trails across the state. Trails are located at a multitude of public locations including national and state parks, historic battlefields, rails-to-trails recreation paths and even city parks.

Trail riding at Primland

Several popular horseback-riding destinations that offer guided trail rides and horses include Shenandoah National Park and the Marriott Ranch near Washington Dulles International Airport. The Homestead Resort in Hot Springs and Primland Resort in Meadows of Dan offer trail rides to overnight guests. There are also outfitters in the Shenandoah Valley region that lead trails rides through beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains for day rides.

See more trail rides.

Tour Virginia Horse Country


Take a leisurely, self-guided driving tour of Virginia Horse Country and experience the richness of Virginia’s exquisite countryside, small towns and lush horse farms. For our international visitors, this tour will lead you to Virginia’s top equestrian sites once you land at Washington Dulles International Airport. At the end of your tour, you can either return to the airport or head to the World Equestrian Games, held in the United States for the first time, September 25 - October 10, 2010. 

For our friends in the United States, tour Virginia Horse Country and take the time to enjoy a trail ride or one of many steeplechase races and special events.

Take the tour!

Horses in the Shenandoah Valley
1 2 3 4 5

1 Middleburg
Known as the “Nation’s Horse and Hunt Capital,” Middleburg attracts distinguished visitors from around the world.

2 Leesburg
Experience gracious horse country, vineyards, scenic byways, and charming towns and villages steeped in history.

3 Fauquier County
Explore 20 wineries, farm tours and quaint towns and villages in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

4 Culpeper
Nestled in the Piedmont River Valley between the Rappahannock and Rapidan Rivers, the Culpeper area offers outstanding outdoor adventures.

5 Lexington
Home to the Virginia Horse Center, this college town is rich in Civil War history.

Virginia Horse Sense

Virginia Horse Industry BoardVirginia Horse Industry Board
The Board promotes the Virginia horse industry through activities and programs including free informational materials for children, trade shows and sponsorships through its grant program.

Virginia Horse CouncilVirginia Horse Council
The Council is a not-for-profit organization formed by horsemen for Virginia horsemen. The membership and Board of Directors represent all breeds. The purpose of the Virginia Horse Council is to promote and improve the horse industry in Virginia.

This site sponsored jointly by the Virginia Tourism Corporation and the VA Horse Industry Board.