Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 1 · column 1 of 4 · from the scan, no model involved
By Betsy Parker
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
RAPIDAN — There’s a bunch of ways to make a buck in Virginia’s billion-dollar horse business.
Exercise rider to equine dentist, feed vendor to farrier, insurance agent to instructor, working horsemen and related commerce drive the state’s equestrian economy.
Warrenton’s Matt van der Woude has carved a niche at the very heart of the horse industry. He’s discovered along the way what makes horses tick, what keeps them happy, by catering to the most basic of equine needs.
He builds horse houses.
The custom bam contractor traded his skillsaw for the reins at Saturday’s Rappahannock Hunt Point-toPoint, pairing with Lone Mountain for victory in the foxhunters’ timber race, a first for both horse and rider.
“He was super today,” said van der Woude of the 11year-old, Maryland-bred son of Strawberry Road. “He just dug in for me. My first ride on him was just last week at Casanova (they finished second.) It was a real confidence-builder for us both.”
Owned by his in-laws’ Felton Lea Farm, Lone Mountain rated kindly off the pace set by Casanova winner Rear View Mirror. Van der Woude launched a sustained stretch drive at the far end of the Brandywine
94.1%