After 30 years as one of New Jersey’s best-known equestrian facilities, Duncraven will be going on the market this month.
The 75-acre farmland-protected property in Titusville, Mercer County, is continuing to host horse shows run by Claudine Libertore while it is still owned by Tim Fedor, but it basically shut down as a boarding operation in May.
An aerial view of Duncraven.
Explaining his reason for selling, Tim said, “I sat down with my wife, we’re empty nesters now, and we decided to move on and probably head south.” He would like to see Duncraven remain as a boarding stable and/or show facility. Thank goodness its farmland protected status means it can’t turn into a housing development, as too many of our horse farms have done.
Naturally, Tim has many memories as he looks back over his time at the property. But he noted, “The one thing that stands out the most is meeting all the people and some of the young kids who come in as boarders and how they develop and change.
Duncraven is still the scene of many horse shows. (Photo by Paws and Rewind)
“The horses teach them a lot of responsibility and give them a lot of self-confidence. I’ve seen some dramatic changes in young women who come in as shy and timid and leave very confident, grown-up people. I’ve had customers who have been with me over 10 years and I’ve seen them go from 9- or 10 years old until they go off to college. It’s a pretty neat process to watch.”
The property initially was purchased as an investment for potential development. It was envisioned “as an equestrian estates type of development,” Tim recalled.
“Then my family kind of took a 360 and was more into preserving things. We also owned 75 acres across the street, which we sold to the Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space Program nine or ten years ago.”
A closoe-up view of the barns.
Getting involved with Duncraven “was quite the learning curve,” said Tim, who had not even ridden a horse when he started.
Trainers who have leased stalls at Duncraven have included the late Gary Kunsman, eventer Buck Davidson and show jumper Kevin Babington. But one constant through the years has been the facility’s own head trainer, Nancy Wallis.
“She has been with me the entire time. She is the most incredible person there is. The most hard-working, generous; I can’t possibly say enough about her. I don’t think I would have made it 30 years without her,” he emphasized.
The Duncraven property is a scenic place for shows. (Photo by Paws and Rewind)
Nancy, who freelances and does a lot of course design, has more than a sentimental attachment to Duncraven.
“It’s like the end of an era,” she said.
“If we ever had a Duncraven reunion, there would be 500 people there: People who have been affected through that business, whether working there, as a student or attending horse shows. Maybe we’ll all be standing by the ingate next year– it will just be somebody else’s place.”
Duncraven is listed with K.L.Sotheby’s International Real Estate out of Bedminster homes@williamlandesman.com as well as Keller Williams Real Estate (connie@kingstonluxurygroup.com) in Clinton.
