Farm History, People
and Names....
Many
people visit Middleburg for its small town atmosphere, quaint shops
and way of life. But most people visit and move here for the
area's most well known residents; the horses. Many types of
riders call this area home: racing, polo, dressage, hunters,
three-day eventing and, show jumping.
Mr. and Mrs. Timothy C. Hanley purchased this farm in September
2000. Mrs. Hanley, originally from Co. Limerick, Ireland
always had a love of country; she passed that love on to her
children. The Hanley Family's focus is to educate those
interested in horses and offer a facility that is unique to the
area, as well as support a community rich in
horse sports.
Maureen
Hanley is the Director of Operations of Fox Chase Farm,
LLC. She manages all the horse shows, 
clinics, riding camps, media events, and all
activities at Fox Chase Farm. Ms. Hanley is also a consultant
to the horse community specializing in all equine related
business.
Ms. Hanley formed the
Timothy C. Hanley Fox Chase Horse Show Series,
named in honor of her late father. The series was awarded 'Top
10 Horse Show' by the Virginia Horse Show association in 2006 and
2007.
Fox Chase Farm was also awarded
the 2007 Equine Business of the Year Award by the Loudoun
Chamber of Commerce. (This is the first time nomination and
win
for this prestigious award!)
As well as running one of the most
famous horse farms in Middleburg, VA, Ms. Hanley is a producer for
television and radio. She is Executive
Producer of
Hear The Angel Voices, the debut
solo recording of world-renowned
American tenor, Carl Tanner.
Before her involvement with Fox Chase
Farm, Ms. Hanley was an award-winning producer at
National Public
Radio, Public Radio International, and Washington, DC's WETA-FM.
Growing up in Connecticut and Virginia, Ms. Hanley has been riding
horses most of her life. She serves on the Special Events
Committee for the
Virginia Horse Show Association,
is on the board of
directors of Horses in the
Hood, a Los Angeles based non-profit public benefit
corporation.
And for six years, Ms. Hanley served on the board
of directors of the Washington International Horse Show.
WHAT'S IN A NAME? A BRIEF HISTORY
....
This
farm goes by so many names. After years of being Fox Chase
Farm, we are still referred to so many other names. Here is a
brief history of this farm on Route 50 between Middleburg and Aldie.
Paper
Chase Farm? No... they are the former owners and our
neighbors. Their company still exists, but they are not
affiliated with this farm anymore.
The Stallion Station? Virginia Station? No, that was when
a few Redskins owned it.
What about Colony Farms? Now, that's
an interesting story... More on that in a minute....
There
have been interesting characters that have passed through our gates:
country music
singer Shania Twain, actor William Shatner, members of the U.S. Olympic team,
even the chef d'equip of the Olympic team. We have even been
featured in a reality TV show! In
September 2003, The Learning Channel (TLC) asked Fox Chase Farm to
participate in "Perfect Proposal."
Then there was the time when the Amazing Race contestants just drove
in... a parade of cars, camera crew, etc. It was a sight!
Even NBC's West Wing wanted to film and do auditions here.
But,
let's go back to that interesting local character ... the man who
made it so well
known. The name we ALWAYS HEAR....
No matter who has owned this farm or sat upon a horse
here, the name
that this farm will always be associated with is that of an
Irish-American
named Ben O'Meara and Colony Farms. Boy,
if the stalls could talk!
We've heard many interesting stories: Mr. O'Meara used to line up his staff so he
could jump his horse over
Benny
O'Meara (circa 1960's)
them…or the one about how he used aim his
horse to jump over trucks and cars in the indoor arena. We've heard
more than once that "...the jumps were so high, we thought for sure
he'd hit the ceiling." Whatever the story, many experts confirm that
Mr. O’Meara was without a doubt a one-of-a-kind, a real natural and
probably one of the best riders in US history.
B
Mr. O'Meara produced many show
jumping winners including Silver Lining, Grey Lady and The Hood,
aboard whom he won the Jumper Championship at the National Horse
Show. Tragically, Mr. O’Meara was killed in a plane crash in 1966 at
the age of 30. Later that year, his horse Gone Flying won the
National Horse Show Jumper Championship with Barney Ward in the
irons.
After O'Meara's death, the farm
was bought and sold a few times over 30 years.
In 2000 another Irish-American family
bought it back, the Hanley family, and they christened it
Fox Chase Farm.
The name is an acknowledgement to this area’s reputation as the best
foxhunting territory in the United States ... Hunt Country,
Middleburg, Virginia.
Fox
Chase Farm
Middleburg, VA 20118
Phone: 540-687-5255
Being
around horses can be dangerous. Your decision to participate in any
horse activity gives you the responsibility.
- Virginia Equine Activity Stature 3.1-796.130 et seq.
