Business View Magazine | June 2022

174 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 6 Horse Center THE EQUESTRIAN CROWN JEWEL L ocation, location, location. It’s a buzz word for real estate. It’s a buzz word for business. And for the Virginia Horse Center (VHC) in Lexington, Virginia, it’s a buzz word for their venue. It certainly sets them apart and it’s been a big part of their growing success over the years. Located in the heart of the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains, the Virginia Horse Center is considered to be the crown jewel of Virginia’s $2 billion dollar equine industry. It all began nearly 40 years ago when the Governor, along with the Commission of the Industry of Agriculture, looked for ways to spark growth in Virginia’s economy. They commissioned a study on the horse industry, while dreaming, planning, and touring possible locations. They settled on a 600-acre plot of land along the Maury River, just 3 miles from downtown Lexington. The VHC officially came into being in March of 1985 and ground was broken for the facility a year and a half later. The Virginia Horse Center operated for 21