Foxcroft Riding Springs Back into the Show Season after a Productive Winter Season

This thoughtful and repetitive process of skill building helped riders head into the spring show season feeling prepared for all the questions the course designers challenge them with in both the hunter and the jumper rings. The first installation of the May Morven Park Summer Series was the perfect platform for riders of varying levels to showcase their progress and help set new goals for the coming summer season. 

Morven Park Summer Show Series I

Represented by nine horse/rider combinations and countless other current students, young alumnae, and parents there to show support, Foxcroft Riding competed in seven divisions ranging from the 2’ Hopeful Hunters to the 0.85m jumpers. The well-rounded prizelist, opportunities for schooling ahead of time, and spacious arenas made for a fun outing for both our seasoned competitors and our riders making their horse show debut. 

The weekend began on a high note in the Main Hunter Arena first thing Saturday morning as Josephine K. ’27 took on her very first 2'6" track at a horse show on Foxcroft’s “Dapper Dan,” donated by Emma D. ’20. Josephine stayed cool under pressure and delivered two smooth and consistent rounds, making her trainers proud. Sammie M. ’27 competed in the same division on her leased horse, “Everlasting,” and secured a fifth-place finish in the second round against tough competitors, including many professionals. Sammie went on to demonstrate slick and well-executed rounds in the 2’6” Children’s Hunters and earned the third-place honors in the Child/Adult Hunter Derby on Sunday. Bold, confident riding in the handy round was what helped her secure a top-three finish and celebrate her partnership with AJ with a special victory gallop!

Over in Hunter Arena 3, Addy E. ’29, Jessie L. ’26, and Josephine competed in the 2’3” Low Hunter Division. With a huge field of more than 40 riders, Josephine earned a fifth-place finish in her second round. Addy took home a WIN in the first round on Foxcroft’s “Caspian 4.” Jessie’s positive and fully-focused attitude in her off-campus horse show debut on Madison B. ’24’s “Moonwalk” was a great example to her peers. She learned a lot from her first show experience.

The large Grand Prix Jumper Arena set the scene for our jumper riders competing in the 0.75m, 0.80m, and 0.85m classes throughout the weekend. Senior riders Julia L. and Maddie K. as well as junior Mimi K. moved successfully from the 0.80m to the 0.85m, and each took home respectable prizes in large classes. This was Mimi’s first horse show with her own mare, “Ever So Clever,” and she capped off the weekend with the Championship ribbon in the 0.85m after winning both the Jump Off class and the Speed round. Julia L. also earned the top spot in the Power and Speed class in her first 0.85m track with her leased mare, “Miss Steak.” Maddie K. had a blast piloting her new donation horse, “Ralph,” at his first show with Foxcroft, and gave him a thoughtful and confident experience as we continue to get to know him for future Foxcroft riders. Isabela D. ’28 and her own “Pinecroft Excalibur” dusted off the cobwebs after a hiatus from horse showing and dominated the 0.85m divisions on Saturday and Sunday, placing in four of five classes and earning the Reserve Champion honors on Saturday with back-to-back second-place finishes. 

Felicia K. ’27 and Addy took advantage of opportunities on both sides of the hill and competed in the hunters and the jumpers over the weekend. Felicia conquered some first horse show butterflies on Foxcroft’s “Lucylle” and cruised around the Power and Speed class for the 0.75m, earning third place out of more than 20 entries. She went on to the hunter ring in the 2’ Hopeful Hunters with the goal of smoothing things out and feeling confident with her track, and placed sixth in both hunter classes out of another large group of riders. Feeling confident from her win in the 2’3” hunters on Saturday, Addy tried her hand in the jumper ring with Caspian and proved that riding with a plan is the name of the game, no matter which ring you’re in, and earned ribbons in two of the three 0.75m classes.

The teamwork, gracious support of one another, and demonstration of consistent, solid riding skills were the perfect example of what Foxcroft Riding is all about — good sportsmanship, stellar horsemanship, kindness, and humility. We’ll be back in the show ring May 30-31 at Upperville Jump 4 Fun and again June 17-21 at the Loudoun Benefit Horse Show in Upperville, VA. 

Full Results

Morven Park Summer Series I

• Josephine K. ’27 & Dapper Dan – Low Hunters: 5th
• Addy E. ’29 & Caspian 4 – Low Hunters: 1st; 0.75m Puddle Jumpers: 4th, 4th
• Felicia K. ’27 & Lucylle – 0.75m Puddle Jumpers: 3rd; Hopeful Hunters: 6th, 6th
• Sammie M. ’27 & Everlasting – Schooling Hunters: 5th; Child/Adult Derby: 3rd
• Julia L. ’26 & Miss Steak – 0.80m Mini Jumpers: 3rd, 3rd; 0.85m Hopeful Jumpers: 1st, 6th
• Maddie K. ’26 & Ralph – 0.80m Mini Jumpers: 6th; 0.85m Hopeful Jumpers: 5th
• Isabela D. ’28 & Pinecroft Excalibur – 0.85m Hopeful Jumpers: 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 4th RESERVE CHAMPION 0.85M HOPEFUL JUMPERS
• Mimi K. ’27 & Ever So Clever – 0.85m Hopeful Jumpers: 1st, 1st CHAMPION 0.85M HOPEFUL JUMPERS