When I first looked at Firefly Farm in 1985 its 13 acres were overgrown with broom sage, vicious blackberries, and two foot tall cedars. I had walked it, carefully avoiding rusty barb wire fencing, truck parts, rows of abandoned dog houses and a three sided barn that was home to a very skinny holstein cow. The back pasture was a wide swale of about eight acres with a spring at the bottom of it and when I squinted my eyes enough I could imagine my horses grazing peacefully on its lush green pasture. It had a 1920’s asbestos sided farmhouse with no central heat, an old hand dug well and a two seater out house in the back yard. I was single, a wet behind the ears Realtor with five horses, a dog and a cat. This place looked perfect. A property I had just sold had a tractor I could buy. It was a 1953 Ferguson TO35 and came with a bush-hog, a blade and a boom. I got everything for $2500 and proudly drove it down Route 20 from Stony Point to Barboursville.
The first job for “Fergie” and I was with the boom. The boom attaches to the three point hitch and you can raise and lower it with your hydraulics. By attaching a good chain you can pull a fence post straight out of the ground and you can drag great loads out to a burn pile. Ours was over the out house hole. The boom is a simple implement and one of the most useful. After weeks of clearing old fence lines and pulling out what debris I could find among the three foot high broom sage it was time for the Bush-hog.
The Bush-Hog is a brand name that is used for just about any rotary cutter. It attaches to the three point hitch at the rear of the tractor and has a shaft that attaches to the PTO (power take off), which powers the bush-hog or any other implement that requires mechanical power. My bush hog was five feet wide with two heavy blades capable of cutting everything from grass to baby cedar trees and even occasional rock outcroppings. I still had no idea what my fields looked like under all the scrub so I carefully ventured forth with the bush hog in a fairly high position. I marveled as I glanced behind me to see clean pasture emerging pass by pass as Fergie chugged along in second gear. Finishing that back field was one of the most rewarding moments of my life as I gazed at the neat mowed rows with nary a blemish. No rocks, no unwieldy ditches, hardly even a bump as this hidden gem showed itself once more. I patted Fergie on her cowling as I would a horse after a good ride and marveled at my luck.
I lived at Firefly Farm for thirty years and raised two great kids in our old farmhouse which also cleaned up nicely. It really was perfect for that time in my life. One year I forgot to put antifreeze in Fergie’s radiator and a hard freeze cracked the block. I felt guilty for being a poor steward for this hard working tractor but she was done for. A neighboring mechanic took her for parts. On my 50th birthday, (2003), I gave myself a brand new Kubota L3400 (34 horse power). It’s a mid sized diesel tractor and came with a front end loader and a new bush-hog. Unlike Fergie, this Kubota is tinker free and now twenty years later still serves as well as when it was new. The front end loader is indispensable now and I could not imagine getting a tractor without one. I guess I’ve never named this “new” tractor but I have given it many pats on the neck after a good work out.
Today, Gaby and I live at lovely Somerview Farm just 10 minutes from dear Firefly Farm. We’ve just two horses now and grown, well settled kids and our first grandson. I still have pasture to maintain and firewood to cut and move and fences to take care of. Of all my passions and hobbies, those moments of working on our land, man and machine, with my tractor are a favorite.
I did not mean to tell a story but really just wanted to offer advice to anyone contemplating their first tractor. It means much more than just buying a tool. It means a new lifestyle. Congratulations if that’s you!
Is Virginia’s Piedmont horse country? You bet! With five active hunts, Olympic caliber trainers, some of the best equine vets in the country and all the assets any breeder, trainer or hobbyist could ask for, this is natural horse country.
It’s no wonder that the Charlottesville countryside is well known throughout the world as one of the finest places to raise horses. The fertile fields and healthy climate have been home to generations of fat ponies and Derby winners. That said, all land is not equal when it comes to keeping horses. It is possible to find land in the Charlottesville area that is absolutely perfect for horses. It would consist of a nice deep soil with few if any rocks. It would be gently rolling and well drained and it would already be in good grass, your horse’s favorite food.
This is horse country and a horse can thrive here and live entirely off the land for most of the year. It’s not all horse country though so do your homework. Up close to the mountains the pasture will be rockier and harder on your horse’s feet. That beautiful flat bottomland along the creek looks great when dry but will often be a wet soil that can be unhealthy for hooves. Clearing woodland to make pasture can be done but it takes years to build up the grass to compare with established pasture.
If you want to breed horses you’ll want to look at the type of grass growing in your fields. The fescue grass found in much of this area needs to managed if broodmares are grazing on it. Finding a place that is already fenced and has existing stabling is usually the best buy and finding a place that allows riding off the property can be a huge benefit in how you can enjoy your horses without trailering.
I’d actually be a pretty good person to ask. I’ve lived in Orange County since 1983. I was a transplant from Sonoma County CA and never imagined I’d live here the rest of my life. But, here I am 40 years later having raised a family, grown a career and roots in one of America’s most beautiful terroirs. Horses are what brought me here. (Want a horse.docx) and a love and understanding of the land is what is what made me stay and be successful in country property brokerage in this area.
Orange county was settled early in America’s history (1734) due to the high quality of the soils for agriculture, the amenable climate and overall beauty of the this rich land in the piedmont of the Blue Ridge mountains. In the 1820’s Orange County was home to President James Madison at Montpelier, Supreme Court Justice Phillip Barbour at Frascati, Virginia Governor James Barbour at his home designed by Thomas Jefferson (https://www.monticello.org/ research-education/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia/barboursville/) who along with James Monroe lived just 20 miles distant in Albemarle County. It is likely that each of these statesmen would have enjoyed each other’s company at Frascati, a remarkable home in Somerset which is listed for sale for the first time in 45 years. Frascati (Somerset, Virginia) – Wikipedia.pdf.zip)
Orange County also played a pivotal role in the Civil War with the full armies of both the north and south encamped in Gordonsville and Rapidan then culminating in the terrible battle at Wilderness. Artifact hunting for civil war relics with metal detectors is a popular past time here. It is said that any large shade tree extant during the Civil War in the vicinity between Somerset and Gordonsville was a confederate encampment and and old horseshoes, buckles and bullets are still found regularly.
Today Orange County is much quieter but still sublime with a character that draws those looking for a simpler, small town lifestyle. There are two small towns in Orange County, Orange, the county, seat with a population of around 5000 and Gordonsville with around 1500 residents. There are groceries, pharmacies and fast food if you are just passing through and a cornucopia of antique shops, taverns and fabulous old neighborhoods if you slow down and have a real look.
I live in Somerset just 15 minutes from either Orange or Gordonsville and we do most of our shopping locally. We can expect to see folks we know at the grocery store and walking down Main Street. It feels friendly and inclusive. It’s also nice to know that Charlottesville and all it offers; UVA, two major hospitals, hundreds of amazing restaurants and entertainment venues is less than 30 minutes away.
For us, the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful, affordable life in the country and the small town experience or Orange and Gordonsville coupled with access to one of the most exciting university towns in America is the best of both worlds.
United States history pretty much begins in Virginia with the founding of Jamestown in 1607. As the colonization of Virginia moved westward, the Piedmont Valley, bounded by the Blue Ridge mountains to the west and sloping eastward to the Tidewater became recognized for its fine soils for agriculture, a “delicious” climate with four distinct seasons and an abundance of natural resources. Thus, were many fine plantations created in the early 19th century including the homes of three of our first five presidents within an easy carriage ride of Charlottesville.
Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, James Madison’s Montpelier and James Monroe’s Ashlawn are all historic landmarks near Charlottesville and open to the public. Virginia’s piedmont is also home to many private properties that date from the late 18th century through the early 20th century some of which occasionally come up for sale. Lovers of old homes appreciate the history that took place within those walls and love the patina of the old floors, the worn thresholds, horsehair plaster walls and timber peg joinery.
Great care is taken to preserve theold hand blown glass window panes, hinges and hardware that make maintaining such a homea lifestyle choice rather than merely shelter. Despite the inevitable inefficiency and compromises one makes in caring for a classic old home, aficionados are many as evidenced by the scores of publications, clubs and social media groups dedicated to owning, restoring and living in historic properties:
Orange County, Virginia located just north of Charlottesville is drenched in American history from its founding in 1734 with important sites from the revolutionary war and as a hub of the confederacy during the Civil War. Many significant homes still exist from that period with at least 175 antebellum homes and buildings listed in Ann Miller’s fine book, Antebellum Orange.
Among the finest examples of Jeffersonian inspired architecture would be Frascati, c. 1823, built for Phillip Barbour, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court by John Perry known for his work Thomas Jefferson on the University of Virginia. Frascati is in good company in Orange County with several prominent estates owned at that time by Virginia’s statesmen including Governor Barbour and President James Madison each within a pleasant hour’s ride.
Another way to enjoy the rich character of an old home is the increasingly popular practice of repurposing old materials, often logs, floors and doors from a disassembled home are used in the construction of an otherwise newer home. A great example is Dutchmont, also in Orange County that was built using materials from an old mill in the Shenandoah Valley. One feels like they are walking into an 1850’s log home with wide plank flooring, hand hewn beams and timber peg joinery while enjoying a fabulous chef’s kitchen, luxurious baths and geothermal HVAC.
Dutchmont is currently offered for sale on 100 acres in Orange County https://forsale. charlottesvillecountry.com/idx/featured Whether and old clapboard farmhouse on a gravel road, a fanciful Victorian in town or a National Landmark like Frascati, if the idea of an older home tugs at your heart.
Historic Somerset: A Rare Opportunity to Own a Piece of HistoryWhen Frascati was completed in 1823 in Orange County, Virginia for Phillip Barbour who had just retired as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, Somerset was already a pretty good...
A rare opportunity to acquire a significant historic estate in a superb location just 30 minutes from Charlottesville and the University of Virginia. The house is described in the Virginia andmarks Registry as well as in the National Register of Historic Places...
Dutchmont: 100 Acre Estate Situated in the Heart of the Keswick Hunt in Orange County, VAHow private is private? A private back yard might be nice, a private wooded lot with some space between houses might be perfect or even a little acreage with where you can be away...
An extraordinary offering in the heart of the Keswick Hunt Just prior to the year 2000, three 100 acre parcels were created from the stunning 18th century plantation known as Windholme in southern Orange County, Virginia. A carefully conceived conservation easement...
For anyone who has been waiting patiently for the perfect property to come on the market, it’s been worth the wait! Stilwin with 183 acres, nestled in a private valley less than 20 minutes from Charlottesville is available for...
Gaby and I are thrilled to present Maple Crest as a delightful short term rental less than 15 minutes from five wineries, great antiquing in Orange and Gordonsville and just 30 minutes from Charlottesville and UVA. We would love to host you for a weekend or a week....
Before we talk about your dream horse farm, I want to give you a bit of insight into my own personal journey and experiences with horses and horse farms.
In my younger days I managed horse farms in Northern California, Southern California and deep east Texas. My vagabond days ended when I took a job as trainer for a superb Egyptian Arabian breeding farm in Afton, Virginia about 25 minutes west of Charlottesville, Virginia. I remember arriving for my first day in 1982. It was my birthday, May 21 and the soft green fields smelled earthy and rich. There were dogwood trees blooming at the edge of the woods. The morning air was cool and moist. The horses in their pastures all had their heads down grazing on the new grass. What a contrast from the dry, pipe fenced paddocks of Santa Barbara and the shallow, rocky soils of the Texas piney woods. Here was country made for horses with deep rich soils, ideal forage and a history and culture where fine horses have always played a central role.
It wasn’t long before I knew I had found my home. I opened my own training stable at Waverley Farm in Orange County and got my real estate license in 1983. In 1985 I decided to dedicate all of my energies toward real estate and my horses happily moved to hobby status where they remain even today. I have specialized in all types of country property for nearly forty years but particularly enjoy working with horse owners helping them find that ideal horse property in the seven county area surrounding Charlottesville, Virginia.
What does your dream horse farm look like? Whether you are looking for a professional, turn-key operation with an indoor arena, such as Ridge View Ranch or just a little place in the country where you can enjoy a couple of pleasure horses, you’ll appreciate working with a Realtor who knows what makes a horse property viable. We can also put you in touch with some great equine vets, farriers, trainers and coaches or introduce you fox hunters to the Keswick Hunt and Farmington Hunt.
If you would like to see some current offerings of Horse farms for Sale in Charlottesville Virginia
Historic Somerset: A Rare Opportunity to Own a Piece of HistoryWhen Frascati was completed in 1823 in Orange County, Virginia for Phillip Barbour who had just retired as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, Somerset was already a pretty good...
A rare opportunity to acquire a significant historic estate in a superb location just 30 minutes from Charlottesville and the University of Virginia. The house is described in the Virginia andmarks Registry as well as in the National Register of Historic Places...
Dutchmont: 100 Acre Estate Situated in the Heart of the Keswick Hunt in Orange County, VAHow private is private? A private back yard might be nice, a private wooded lot with some space between houses might be perfect or even a little acreage with where you can be away...
An extraordinary offering in the heart of the Keswick Hunt Just prior to the year 2000, three 100 acre parcels were created from the stunning 18th century plantation known as Windholme in southern Orange County, Virginia. A carefully conceived conservation easement...
For anyone who has been waiting patiently for the perfect property to come on the market, it’s been worth the wait! Stilwin with 183 acres, nestled in a private valley less than 20 minutes from Charlottesville is available for...
Gaby and I are thrilled to present Maple Crest as a delightful short term rental less than 15 minutes from five wineries, great antiquing in Orange and Gordonsville and just 30 minutes from Charlottesville and UVA. We would love to host you for a weekend or a week....
Gaby and I are thrilled to present Maple Crest as a delightful short term rental less than 15 minutes from five wineries, great antiquing in Orange and Gordonsville and just 30 minutes from Charlottesville and UVA. We would love to host you for a weekend or a week. Have a look and let us know how we can help you have a memorable experience here in the heart of beautiful Orange County.
The C’Ville Expert is authored by John Ince, of Charlottesville Country Properties,
John Ince – Listing Agent in Charlottesville VA
specializing in the sale and marketing of farms, estates, and country residences within 50 miles of Charlottesville, Virginia. Apart from his 35-year career in Charlottesville real estate, John enjoys being an ambassador for one of the best places to live in America. For anyone who places a priority on “quality of life”, Charlottesville and its surroundings must be on your shortlist of where to spend the rest of your life. The town of Charlottesville is remarkable, a true melting pot with cultural venues not found in cities ten times the size. The countryside is breathtaking and just scant minutes from downtown with lush farmland and historic estates many tracing back to original land grants. The Blue Ridge Mountains rise to the west moderating our weather and providing endless recreational activities with hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and fly fishing for native trout all within 20 minutes of downtown. We hope you’ll enjoy some personal insights into the lifestyle one can enjoy here from these posts and that you will refer to Charlottesvillecountry.com for more information on real estate in this wonderful area.
