Foxcroft Riding Show Season Begins with Back-to-Back Weeks in Upperville, VA

Our first outings of the season took place right in our backyard in Upperville, VA, at the Salem Showgrounds. Over the course of two weeks, ten riders and their horses participated in the Middleburg Classic from September 17-21 and then the Piedmont Jumper Classic from September 24-28. 

Our first adventure was to the Middleburg Classic, an event focused solely on hunters that attracts high-caliber horses and riders from near and far. Sammie M. ’27 and Eleanor C. ’29 represented Foxcroft in classes ranging from 2’3” to 2’6”. They each demonstrated a thoughtful plan that included a consistent rhythm and smooth track, earning them admirable prizes in large, competitive classes. Sammie took home a win in the 2’3” Middleburg Hunters early in the week, and then continued to add several more accolades to the banner in the 2’6” Low Children’s Hunters division. As Eleanor’s second horse show with her new horse Festivus and her first rated horse show, Middleburg Classic was all about getting her feet wet in the show ring and practicing riding a plan from start to finish. She rose right to the challenge and improved with each day of the show. The cherry on top of a great first experience was earning ribbons in large classes, which was a great benchmark for her progress and helped motivate her for the following week. 

Sammie and Eleanor were joined by eight of their peers at the Piedmont Jumper Classic, a venue that has historically focused only on jumpers. This year, the show administrators decided to add hunter classes to their prizelist, and we were excited to take advantage of the added opportunities for our Foxcroft riders. With many new students and many new partnerships, this horse show was all about getting to know the playbook for each horse/rider combination, which made for a ton of learning over the course of only five days! Ninth graders Ava B. and Grace O. had fun learning their new horses in the jumper ring. With each day, they smoothed out their tracks and felt more confident in riding at a good pace. Seniors Maddie K. and Julia L. are no strangers to the jumper ring, but this was their first jumper show with their new partners — two honest but sassy mares who were excited to put all the practice at home to the test in the show ring. All of our jumper riders added ribbons to the banner, and Pablo, owned by Foxcroft alumna Irene Boehm ’24 and leased by Grace O. ’29, took home the Reserve Champion honors in the 0.65m Jumpers with Assistant Trainer Casey Vidalon in the irons. 

Over in the hunter ring, Sammie was back at it after a stellar week at Middleburg Classic. She moved up confidently from the 2’6” to the 2’9” hunters and finished out the week with two wins and the Division Championship in the 2’9” Intermediate Equitation division. Senior Anneliese C. demonstrated decisive and calm but confident piloting skills on Foxcroft’s “Legend” and was rewarded with the Reserve Championship in the Low Children’s Hunters. Fiona J. ’27 and Eleanor C. ’29 practiced goal setting and the power of positive thinking to take on the Green Rider Hunters and Equitation. Slick riding over twisty equitation courses earned them the Champion and Reserve Champion rosettes, respectively, in the Green Rider Equitation Division on Saturday morning. New ninth grader Sienna F. brought her new partner, Artistry, to play in the hunter ring with Assistant Trainer Casey to help us get to know him in a horse show setting. Ren was great, and Sienna is excited to be in the saddle at our next horse show!

Special shoutout to our returning riders who set an awesome example for all of our new students, and to all of the Foxcroft riders for working hard behind the scenes and supporting one another.

Our next activity will be at home at our first In-House Horse Show of the 2025-2026 Series on Saturday, October 11. Guest Judge Katie Petronelli will join us to kick off another great year of showing at home. 

Full Student Results for Middleburg Classic and Piedmont Jumper Classic below.

Middleburg Classic, September 16-20

• Sammie M. ’27 & Everlasting — Middleburg Hunters 2’3”: 1st; USHJA Middleburg Hunters 2’6”: 3rd; Low Child/Adult Hunters: 5th, 7th, 8th
• Eleanor C. ’29 & Festivus — Middleburg Hunters 2’3”: 3rd, 4th, 5th

Piedmont Jumper Classic, September 24-28

• Fiona J. ’27 & Pourdire — USHJA 2’3” Hunters: 6th; Piedmont Jr/Am 2’3” Hunters: 2nd, 3rd, 3rd; Green Rider Hunters: 3rd, 6th, 7th; Green Rider Equitation: 1st, 2nd GREEN RIDER EQUITATION CHAMPION
• Ava B. ’29 & Intac Del Maset — 0.75m Schooling Jumpers: 7th
• Anneliese C. ’26 & Legend — USHJA Hunters 2’6”: 5th, 6th; Low Children’s Equitation: 2nd, 2nd, 3rd; Low Children’s Hunters: 2nd, 2nd, 2nd LOW CHILDREN’S EQUITATION RESERVE CHAMPION
• Maddie K. ’26 & Lacidin — 0.75m Schooling Jumpers: 4th, 2nd in the Classic
• Julia L. ’26 & Miss Steak — 0.65m Schooling Jumpers: 7th
• Isabela D. ’28 & Pinecroft Excalibur — 0.80m Schooling Jumper: 1st; 0.85m Piedmont Child/Adult Classic: 7th; 0.90m Piedmont Jr/Am Jumpers: 7th
• Eleanor C. ’29 & Festivus — USHJA 2’3” Hunters: 7th, 8th: Piedmont Jr/Am 2’3” Hunters: 2nd, 4th; Green Rider Hunters: 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 6th; Green Rider Equitation: 1st, 4th GREEN RIDER EQUITATION RESERVE CHAMPION
• Sammie M. ’27 & Everlasting — USHJA Hunters 2’9”: 1st, 3rd, 3rd, 3rd; Intermediate Equitation 2’9”: 1st, 1st, 2nd INTERMEDIATE EQUITATION 2’9”CHAMPION
• Grace O. ’29 & Pablo — 0.75m Schooling Jumpers: 6th; 8th