Halifax County Horse Council

The Halifax County Horse Council (a 501(c)3 organization) exists to represent and further the common interest of horse enthusiasts in Halifax County and surrounding regions. The Council also promotes solidarity during unforeseeable issues in the county that may affect horse owners.

In conjunction with Halifax County Cooperative Extension, the primary objective of the Council is to promote animal husbandry by offering quality educational and recreational activities which provide enjoyment and learning opportunities for the community. We are a member of the North Carolina Horse Council.

Stay legal. Stay safe. Protect your horses. Are you certain your rig requires a CDL or USDOT number? In North Carolina, hauling horses for “business” versus “pleasure” can significantly affect licensing, weight limits, documentation, and compliance requirements.

Join us for an informative evening with representatives from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol as they clarify:

Towing weight thresholds
CDL and USDOT requirements
Required documentation
Safety standards and enforcement

We are also honored to welcome Trooper Robert Rhodes of the North Carolina Troopers Association Caisson Unit. The Caisson Unit pays tribute to fallen heroes with its distinguished horse-drawn team.

This is a free event, but registration is required for meal planning.
Register by March 16 at: https://go.ncsu.edu/halifaxhorse

Join the HCHC

Ride with Us

The HCHC exists to represent and further the common interest of horse enthusiasts in Halifax County and surrounding regions. You have the option of paying your Membership Dues by check or online.

Individual membership is $20
Youth membership (17 and under) is $10
Family membership is $50

Your membership in the HCHC provides you with the following benefits:

Our membership base gives us a voice for equine-related issues.
Access to horse-related activities (fun days, etc) and educational events.
Reduced cost Coggins & Vaccination Clinics to keep your horses healthy with affordable equine care.
Open Arenas to gather at the complex to eat good food, ride, and socialize with other horse enthusiasts - even if you don’t own a horse!

History of the HCHC

In the 1980’s, the Halifax County Commissioners assigned the abandoned County Old Folks Home/Farm and TB Sanitarium to the Halifax County Cooperative Extension to develop a 4-H Rural Life Center. Under the guidance of the Extension Director, the Halifax County 4-H Horse & Livestock Council was organized on September 25, 1989.

Council members included representatives from the Halifax Cattlemen’s Association, Roanoke Valley Saddle Club, 4-H Horse Club leaders, County Commissioners, and the Extension’s 4-H agent. With generous donations from local businesses and volunteer help from the Cattlemen, Horse Owners, and a 4-H Horse Club, the first ring was built by the Fall of 1990.

From sandy cropland to today’s green fields, the 4-H Rural Life Center and Horse Complex have developed into a multi-use county facility with a 16 stall barn, concession stand, bathrooms, two lighted riding rings, camping facilities, wooded trails, basketball courts, and frisbee golf.

The Council continues to make improvements to the facility to benefit horse owners of Halifax County and surrounding areas. We also host horse shows, clinics, trail rides, and educational seminars throughout the year to help fellow horse owners enjoy their horses.

The HCHC Trail Riding Program is designed exclusively for trail riding — no arena riding or training miles may be counted.

HCHC members will be recognized with awards upon reaching 25, 50, 75, and 100 trail miles. After achieving 100 miles, riders may begin accumulating miles again toward a new award cycle.

The program is free to participate in. Riders will operate on the honor system when reporting their trail miles. We encourage participants to use a mapping or tracking app so they can share and showcase the trails and locations they explore.