Red Gate Farm

"TLDR: if it is 31* outside and the rental you reserved is unheated when you arrive, just leave right then. Do not think that things will get better. What may have been a lovely experience for others at some time in the past was quite a disappointment for us. We arrived at 7pm to an indoor temperature of 55 because nobody had bothered to turn on the heat for our arrival. Cool. There were no instructions for the visibly filthy remote control to the main space heater (See picture) but upon request someone came by to ensure the heater was on and to show us how it works so that it only took another 5 hours to warm up (you know, at midnight). Both exterior doors remain unsealed when locked, so the space is more than a little drafty (See pictures). Maybe the temperature issue is also related to the flagstone flooring - which is *freezing cold* 24/7 because there are no area rugs anywhere. I guess the solution is to just wear your horse farm shoes and boots all over the rental? As we lay in the bed - wearing our winter coats under the single-quilt that was provided to us on a 31* night - trying not to accidentally reach overhead and give ourselves splinters (from the unfinished wood slatted wall), we looked up and noticed the mini-split’s many old drip marks and wished for our hypothermic death to hurry, please and thanks (see picture). There are no curtains & no rods on 2 of the 3 East-facing windows with a direct line of sight to the bed. The parking lot for public patrons and the farm workers is on one side of the rental, the horse paddocks are on the other side. *A feature that is not made obvious or mentioned in the property photos.* This means that strangers are wandering around outside, til well after dark. You can hear them but you can’t see them - but they can see you. (just like in horror movies). In context, the paper accordion window shade tacked up over the window in the bathroom is a charming touch. I won’t bother to post a photo of the broken toilet seat, as I think the mold & crusty old toothpaste on the cabinet shelves + gross baseboard heater tell you what you need to know. (See pictures) In the morning we discovered that the pipes inside the cabinet at the kitchenette have leaked … but they only sit over one of the cookware pots, so may the odds be ever in your favor! (See picture) The drawer under the oven - where the uncleaned single baking pan and casserole dish live… I’ve honestly run out of adjectives. You’ll just have to look at the picture to understand (See picture). We couldn’t get our food out of the fridge fast enough after seeing the mysterious frozen rag & dead bugs in the freezer (See picture). But I was actually forced to wait to do this because the bathroom’s barn door blocks access to the fridge door. I can objectively say that this rental has fantastic potential and that it is a shame that there is no current effort to maintain the space and provide basic necessities. We left after a single night and have requested a full refund, but have been told this won’t happen bc we should have to pay TWO cleaning fees (how’s that for irony?). This facility can’t even manage to be trusted with a vacuum cleaner, I certainly wouldn’t trust them with any animal or human hosting."

"Really nice space. Attended a kid’s bday party there and it’s the perfect size for them to run around, ride and feed a couple horses."

"Red Gate Farm is one of the best equestrian facilities in Loudoun. The horses receive exceptional care and the environment is supportive and friendly. The owners are very kind and easy going and so are the trainers, especially the head trainer Christie McKitrick.There are many opportunities for shows and clinics with world class riders, and the views and serenity of the property are the icing on top! Red Gate Farm is the perfect barn for riders of all levels and for hunter/jumpers and eventers alike!! :)"

"We love Red Gate! Looked for a barn for a long time before we found this one. The atmosphere is very friendly, the instructors are great, not to mention that it’s the nicest indoor arena. They seem to always have something interesting going on there: competitions, clinics, trail rides. If we lived closer, I can see us spending every single day there."