Riding Program Jumps Right into the Spring Show Season

Riders at home in Virginia spent the winter season doing their “homework” using exercises to fine-tune positioning, track, and balance by utilizing gymnastics, raised cavaletti, and flatwork, as the show season slowed down due to the inclement winter weather. 

Meanwhile, riders in Foxcroft’s Exceptional Proficiency (EP) program at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) became fully immersed in their training programs using similar exercises to improve the small details of their technique and put that work to the test in the show ring throughout the WEF show season. 

All of our Foxcroft riders entered the spring season ready to take on their next challenge and the show calendar has been full with two weeks of competition in Lexington, VA, for the Lexington Spring Premiere and Encore, and then another long weekend in Leesburg, VA, at the Morven Park International Equestrian Center for the first show of their summer series. 

Lexington Spring Premiere

Riders kicked off our spring show season with the Lexington Spring Premiere from April 22-27 at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA. Foxcroft was represented by nine students and ten horses in both the hunters and the jumpers. Jumper riders Isabela D. ’28 and Maddie K. ’26 took on the 0.75-0.85m jumper divisions and navigated the large Dee Dee Arena with ease. Both riders collected clear round blue ribbons in the schooling classes and ribboned in the Low 0.85m Junior/Amateur Jumper division. P-Sky M. ’27, Isla M. ’28, and Valeska F. ’26 competed in the Medium 1.0m Junior/Amateur Jumper division on their own horses — each rider is getting to know a new mount and working on smoothing out their rides as they learn within their new partnerships. Valeska, despite catching a germ on the last day of the show, pulled out the win in the 1.0m Classic and took home the Reserve Champion honors. Seniors Cierra C. and Grace N. competed in the 1.20m and 1.10m Junior/Amateur divisions, respectively, on their horses, Generosa MK and Kukulcan Duceat. The ability to navigate tracks built at a stout 1.10-1.20m is no simple feat, and Cierra and Grace had to tap into the work they did in Florida this winter to be smooth between the jumps and try to keep the rails up. 

Hunter riders Sammie M. ’27 and Julia L. ’26 took on the 2’6” Low Children’s/Adult Hunters and Equitation divisions, collecting impressive accolades. Sammie worked to smooth out her courses and ride with a plan, and her efforts were rewarded with the Reserve Champion ribbon in the Low Children’s Equitation division and a second-place finish in the Low Children’s Classic with scores of 87 and 80. Julia and her new mount, Miss Steak aka “Ruth,” got their feet wet at their first horse show together, and learned a lot about finding a consistent pace and using their ring space to make their rounds smooth and organized. 

Lexington Spring Encore

Our roster of students shifted slightly for the following week at Lexington Spring Encore, April 29-May 4, with seven students returning and two additions, totalling nine riders with 10 horses yet again. Minnie B. ’27 and her beloved pony, Luv-Luv, earned the Champion honors in the Special Children’s Hunters, and Charlotte N. ’26 worked to perfect her rides over the 0.85-0.90m jumper tracks in anticipation of moving up to the 1.0m jumpers at the next horse show. All the returning riders worked to improve their performance from the week before, and Sammie M. ’27 was able to add two additional tricolors to the banner in both the Low Children’s Equitation and Low Children’s Hunters divisions. Another highlight was the fast and fun to watch “Kalu” with Grace N. ’25 aboard, taking home the win in the 1.10m Adult Amateur Classic on Sunday. 

Morven Park Summer Show Series I

After two weeks to rest and reset, the Riding Program was back in action at Morven Park for the Summer Show Series I. Ten horse/rider combinations attended in classes ranging from the Long Stirrup Hunters to the 1.10m jumpers. Morven is a lovely, large venue with a lot to offer on their prize list, so it’s a great place to take students of all levels to practice putting their skills to work in a competitive setting or take steps towards moving into new divisions. 

Riders Sammie M. ’27, Julia L. ’26, Claire M. ’25, and Ella H. ’28 enjoyed the large Main Hunter Arena and competed in divisions in the 2’6”-3’ hunters over the weekend. Sammie continued with fantastic momentum from Lexington and ribboned in every class, including earning the Championship in the Low Hunters on Sunday. Julia and her horse Ruth hit their stride with personal bests and added some solid top-three ribbons to the banner. Ella and her own Segway enjoyed all of the Derby offerings and made easy work of the Handy rounds, picking up a 3rd place finish in the Total Equine Open Derby on Saturday. Claire partnered with Moonwalk, owned and graciously loaned to Foxcroft by alumna Madison Burget ’24, and took home impressive ribbons in large and competitive classes, including a second-place hack prize in the Children’s Hunters. Over in Hunter Arena 3, Savannah S. ’28 and Josephine K. ’27 showcased the work they’ve put in at our In-House Show Series and dominated the Long Stirrup Hunters. Both girls placed in every class, and Josephine took home the top honors in two classes, earning her the Championship ribbon. It was rewarding to see them both execute a well-thought-out plan despite the addition of some understandable show nerves!

Jumper riders Valeska F. ’26, Grace N. ’25, Isabela D. ’28, and Charlotte N. ’26 took advantage of another show opportunity to continue building on their work from Lexington. Valeska and her leased horse “Hank” worked toward having a smooth rhythm on course from start to finish and successfully moved from the 1.0m to the 1.10m jumpers with this very cool, young horse. Charlotte also moved up a division, taking on the 1.0m for the first time with her horse Bunny. A long day and a late class were an extra challenge for Charlotte and Bunny, but the wait was worth it, and she learned a lot about how important her body control is at the bigger jump height. The cherry on top of her first 1.0m division was the Championship in the Child/Adult Jumpers on Sunday. Isabela and Grace smoothed out their rounds, adding a few top-three finishes to the Foxcroft banner, including a win for Isabela in the 0.85 jumpers Sunday afternoon. 

The Foxcroft Riding Program will be back in action at Upperville’s Jump 4 Fun Horse Show on May 31 & June 1 in Upperville, VA.

Full Results

Lexington Spring Premiere

• A total of 12 clear round blue ribbons were earned by the jumper riders in their prep classes: Isabela D. ’28, P-Sky M. ’27, Isla M. ’28, Valeska F. ’26, Grace N. ’25 
• Sammie M. ’27 & Handsome — Low Children’s Hunter: 2nd, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 2nd in the Classic; Low Children’s Equitation: 1st, 4th, 7th  LOW CHILDREN’S EQUITATION RESERVE CHAMPION
• Julia L. ’26 & Miss Steak — Low Adult Hunter: 3rd, 6th, 7th, 7th; Low Adult Equitation: 3rd, 4th
• Isabela D. ’28 & Pinecroft Excalibur — .85m JR/AM Jumpers: 8th, 9th, 9th
• Maddie K. ’26 & Caspian 4 — .85 JR/AM Jumpers: 3rd, 4th, 6th
• P-Sky M. ’27 & DC — .85m JR/AM Jumpers: 9th
• P-Sky M. ’27 & Fontanel Van T&L — .85 JR/AM Jumpers: 8th
• Valeska F. ’26 & One for the Road — 1.0m JR/AM Jumpers: 7th, 1st in the Classic 1.0M JUNIOR JUMPER RESERVE CHAMPION
• Cierra C. ’25 & Generosa MK — 1.15m Training Jumpers: 3rd
• Grace N. ’25 & Kukulcan Ducaet — 1.10m JR/AM Jumpers: 5th, 7th, 8th in the Classic

Lexington Spring Encore

• A total of 10 clear round blue ribbons were earned by the jumper riders in their prep classes: Isabela D. ’28, P-Sky M. ’27, Isla M. ’28, Valeska F. ’26, Grace N. ’25, Maddie K. ’26, Charlotte N. ’26
• Sammie M ’27 & Handsome — Low Children’s Hunter: 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, and 8th, 5th in the Classic; Low Children’s Equitation: 1st, 2nd, 7th; LOW CHILDREN’S HUNTER RESERVE CHAMPION; LOW CHILDREN’S EQUITATION CHAMPION
• Minnie B. ’27 & Lonesome Dove’s Good Hearted Woman — Special Children’s Hunter: 1st, 1st, 2nd; Special Children’s Equitation: 2nd, 2nd; Schooling Pony Hunter: 3rd, 5th, 8th; Novice Equitation: 1st, 1st, 2nd; SPECIAL CHILDREN’S HUNTER CHAMPION
• Maddie K. ’26 & Caspian 4 — .85m JR/AM Jumpers: 3rd, 7th
• Isabela D. ’28 & Pinecroft Excalibur —.85m JR/AM Jumpers: 5th
• Charlotte N. ’26 & Fernhill Kannan Cruis — .85m JR/AM Jumpers: 4th, 7th in the Classic
• Valeska F. ’26 & One for the Road — 1.0m JR/AM Jumpers: 5th, 7th
• Grace N. ’25 & Kukulcan Ducaet — 1.10m Training Jumpers: 4th; 1.10m JR/AM Jumpers: 7th, 7th, 1st in the Classic

Morven Park Summer Show I

• Sammie M. ’27 & Handsome — Schooling Hunters: 4th, 6th; Low Hunters: 1st, 1st; LOW HUNTER CHAMPION
• Julia L. ’26 & Miss Steak — Low Hunters: 2nd, 3rd
• Josephine K. ’27 & Dapper Dan — Long Stirrup Hunters: 1st, 1st, 5th; LONG STIRRUP CHAMPION
• Savannah S. ’28 & Cooley Grand Finale — Long Stirrup Hunter: 3rd, 4th, 6th
• Claire M. ’25 & Moonwalk — Schooling Hunters: 4th; Low Hunters: 3rd, 4th, 5th; Children’s Hunters: 2nd, 5th
• Ella H. ’28 & Segway — Low Working Hunter: 5th; Total Equine Open Hunter Derby: 3rd
• Isabela D. ’28 & Pinecroft Excalibur — Hopeful Jumper: 1st, 5th, 6th, 6th
• Charlotte N. ’26 & Fernhill Kannan Cruis — Low Jumper: 1st; Child/Adult Jumper: 2nd, 2nd, 3rd; CHILD/ADULT JUMPER CHAMPION
• Valeska F. ’26 & One for the Road — Child/Adult Jumper: 1st; Modified Jumper: 1st, 5th MODIFIED JUMPER RESERVE CHAMPION
• Grace N. ’26 & Kukulcan Ducaet — Modified Jumpers: 2nd, 3rd, 4th