East Woodstock
by Sally L. Feuerberg
Farm
Stargazer Farm In a Quiet Corner
I
t’s easy to forget where you are when you visit Stargazer Farm in East Woodstock, Connecticut. You can quickly lose yourself in this little piece of paradise with its fields and hillsides that seem to go on forever. Some of those rolling hills fade into the horizon like a pastoral watercolor painting. Stretches of old stone walls accent some of these fields and look as if Nature itself placed them there. Wildlife abounds in these sur-
roundings with turkey, deer, fox, and the occasional chipmunk that calls the stone walls home. A pristine brook and lush woodland are part of this wonderland as well. What makes this place even more perfect? Horses, and yes, Stargazer Farm has those too. Virginia McMahon and her husband, Chris, have owned, managed, and lovingly cultivated Stargazer Farm since 2004. The meticulous care of the horses and property is evident everywhere you look, from a magnificent assortment of colorful and fragrant flowers to the grassy and wooded riding trails that meander through the farm’s 42 acres. Not too far from the McMahon’s house is Stargazer Farm’s main barn. “We wanted it located close enough to be able 24
Community Horse Fall/Winter 2022
to look out our windows to see it,” Virginia says. This impressive structure also looks like it was meant to be there, fitting seamlessly into this idyllic setting. So much thought and consideration were given to every detail of what Virginia and Chris wanted for their dream stable and homestead. Virginia shared some of the particulars about the farm and its origins, the barn, her love for horses and teaching, and how it all came together.
CH: Could you tell us a little about this magnificent barn? Virginia: We wanted a classically designed barn with an attached indoor arena. It’s a Morton building that was finished in December of 2020. We were very pleased with the Morton building people. They helped us with all the important layout details, including the choice of a shedrow style for the stalls and the placement of the aisles. They assisted us with all of our decision processes throughout the entire build. The barn has eighteen 10' x 12' stalls with rubber mats and we’ve installed individual fans above each stall. But in the summer, there’s almost always a gentle breeze blowing through the building, and in the winter, it’s been comfortably warm.
