Representing the equestrian community’s interests, Loudoun County Equine Alliance president Kelly Foltman, vice president Emily Houston, and other equine business stakeholders, participated in the county zoning ZOAM on November 21, 2024  to discuss the current and proposed zoning changes that affect nearly all equine businesses in Loudoun.  Armed with the anonymous responses many of you provided to our recent equestrian property use survey, the Alliance clearly described to County officials the negative impact of the 2023 zoning ordinances on horse boarding and equine event venues that lie at the heart of the $180 million a year horse-related business in Loudoun County.

Recent changes to zoning regulations reclassified equine boarding and training facilities and equine event facilities from  “agricultural” to “agricultural support”  uses. Many current equine properties cannot meet, or are unable to expand under, the more restrictive maximum structure square footage, property line set backs, and hours of operation imposed on “agriculture support” businesses.  To remedy this, LCEA believes most facilities on which horses are kept should be reclassified from “agricultural support” back to “agricultural” with common sense zoning guidelines that will allow the equine industry to remain viable and profitable.

Become a member of the Loudoun County Equine Alliance.  Individual membership is free.

If you would still like to take the zoning impact survey for data collection purposes, please click here.