Long time, advanced horse owner checking in here (I have been riding/competitive since I was 4 years old, mainly in hunters and in California, my home state)! I looked long and hard to find a place to back/start my baby (coming up 2 year old Appendix, mare). I had raised this mare since 4 months of age when her mother unexpectedly passed on an acquaintances farm, she is my pride and joy and I refused anything but perfection every step of the way for her! I searched and debated for months! I almost bit the bullet and sent her to an eventing barn very far away in Northern Virginia, but stopped in my tracks when I found Betty and Chris! Being closer to my own farm was also a huge positive for me as well! To not see/check in on my youngster was almost an unbearable thought!
We are a military family with two small children and as we were also heading in to another large move, to a new farm... I simply found myself with zero time to finish out my mare. Quite frankly, I was heartbroken I couldn't do it myself! It was always the plan! I was convinced she would only need a couple months max, as I had already done so much work with her leading up to this. But I am now keeping her there an extra month as I am just overly impressed with this facility and Betty (I must also mention her daughter who is extremely talented in assisting Betty in the backing process)! What a team!
I have been able to come see my youngster every couple weeks and I rode her myself for the first time with Betty, just the other day. Man was I impressed with what they accomplished in 2 short months! Yes, I had already started the work myself, but that does NOT belittle what this team has done/accomplished! I was so happy with her progress I was so emotional, and I am RARELY overly joyful! I am a pretty big realist!
I don't know much about the facility in terms of a wedding venue, but I will say this... the facility is immaculate, orderly, and OCD clean! I verge on OCD cleanliness myself, so to see the care and extremes this team goes through for its horses, boarders, students and venue guests, means a lot! Side note as a venue... there may NOT be a more beautiful and enchanting facility for your venue, but you also need to have realistic expectations of a live/working farm/outdoor venue. In the wet/muddy season in Virginia, it's exactly that and although I cannot imagine this team being anything but accommodating, weather is HUGE reality on this island! So come to terms with that right now. I am also saddened to see the negative review from a few months ago, that's is VERY uncharacteristic of this team of women! I have never experienced that and being a monthly paying customer, who shows up repeatedly, one would think I'd be open game to stressful/triggered/emotional attitudes; I have not been. Just repeated kindness and utmost care!
But in all sincerity, an absolutely stunning facility! I would highly recommend Fair Winds Farm for anything horse, breeding, training, backing/gentling and yes, a wedding venue! read more