In and Out of the Arena: How Ella H. ’28 is Mastering the Art of Riding

Ella recently shared some of her accomplishments, her thoughts on the value of Foxcroft’s Exceptional Proficiency (EP) program, and her goals.

How long have you been riding?

I have been riding for 10 years, or since I was 5 years old. 

Tell us a bit about your recent accomplishments.

With the help of my mom and my trainers, I have helped one of our horses, Spike, learn how to use his body correctly after years of incorrect training and ignored pain. While his journey is not nearly complete, we have taken a huge step in the right direction in the past few months, and I can’t wait to spend more time getting to know him.

I recently switched from competing in the hunter and equitation rings to the jumper ring because of the horses I have access to. I am currently riding my horse Armus in the .90 jumpers and am having a blast learning how to handle a much different ride than I’m used to. In our first show together, we walked out of the ring with multiple blue ribbons and a smile on my face.

Over the summer, I attended the summer seminar at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and participated in the riding workshop, where I rode top-level ISHJA horses and worked with their coaches, learning about their program and improving my technique while preparing to show at the college level. 

In June, I traveled by myself to Canada to help groom horses for my trainer who was competing her top horses at Spruce Meadows. While I did not compete myself, I learned a ton about the technique and how to prepare a horse for the show ring. This includes screwing studs in their shoes for when they’re jumping on the grass, braiding their manes, and making sure they look their best because their turnout is a representation of how much you care.

How has Foxcroft's EP Program supported your journey?

Having the flexibility to do what I love while getting the education I want has been an incredible experience and was one of the main reasons I chose Foxcroft as my school. I am eternally grateful for the opportunities this has given me and the support I have had through it all.

What has been your proudest moment (or moments) so far? 

While the feeling of winning a class is always a cherished moment, the moments I remember the most are the days when my young horses finally understand what I’m asking, the horse that has struggled with pain their whole life finally feels good, or when I can see that my older horses feel young again. My proudest moments are when I connect with my horses on a new level, and they feel their best.   

What's next?

As Armus and I rebuild our fitness and prepare to show again, we plan on showing with Foxcroft in September, and I will come back down to Florida during the winter show season and continue to ride my own and other horses in a variety of different classes.