Equestrians Migrate South for the Winter
Riders train and compete in Florida, South Carolina, and Mississippi with Foxcroft and others
The Foxcroft Riding Program has started 2019 with a full schedule of lessons and activities at home (see Riding News for recent Riding Team results) while a contingent of riders are representing the School at alternate venues thanks to the Exceptional Proficiency program. About a dozen girls are or will be training and competing in Florida, Mississippi, and South Carolina this winter.
The Foxcroft Riding Program has started 2019 with a full schedule of lessons and activities at home (see Riding News for recent Riding Team results) while a contingent of riders are representing the School at alternate venues thanks to the Exceptional Proficiency program. About a dozen girls are or will be training and competing in Florida, Mississippi, and South Carolina this winter.
Foxcroft Riding is excited to be working with five riders for up to nine weeks at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL. Seniors Lizzie S. and Mackenzie H., junior Elena B., sophomore Siena W., and freshman Gigi G. will be under the supervision of Director of Riding Kate Worsham, and will train and compete out of the Foxcroft rental barn for up to eight weeks between the first week of January and beginning of March. Most of the girls will spend the entire period in Wellington, working with tutors to keep up with their schoolwork in addition to the hours of training and caring for their mounts. Several will fly south for shorter periods of time.
In addition to the girls participating in Foxcroft’s WEF Program, six riders are working with other trainers at various winter circuits. Sophomores Emma P. and Claire H. have been competing at WEF under the Skyland Farm and New Hope Farm flags, respectively. They both commute back and forth from Foxcroft for long weekends and will spend Wintermission and Spring Break in Florida.
Senior Matty H. also spent January at WEF, training with Alison Spivey and competing in dressage, and junior Olivia D. trains and competes in eventing under the expert guidance of her father, former Olympian Phillip Dutton. She spent January at WEF but will also train in Aiken, SC — where freshman Caroline B. will spend Wintermission competing in eventing and jumpers.
Juniors Riley K. and Ellie P. are also taking off this weekend. Riley will explore the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, OH, and then attend a winter circuit in Gulfport, MS, competing on her own horses in the hunters, jumpers, and equitation rings under the guidance of Vineyard Haven Farm. Ellie will train with Pine Hollow Farm in Boca Raton and Wellington.
With several new horses and riders participating in the Foxcroft program this winter, some extra time is being spent getting acclimated to the showgrounds and the class offerings. Those who have competed so far, Ms. Kate reports, have had great results!
In the jumper rings, Mackenzie and her new mount, C'est La Vie, aka Chico, have earned ribbons in the Low Adult Jumpers, including a second place in the Classic Week One. Siena and her newly leased horse, Airwalk, started strong by bringing home a 10th place finish in the Low Children's Jumper Classic during Week Two. We are excited to help these partnerships continue to develop as the season moves forward.
Elena has been riding beautifully and has performed well against some very stiff company in the Older Large Junior Hunters with her mare, Socialite, aka Emi. Elena is looking forward to trying some different rings this season and perhaps spending some time in the jumper ring as well as the hunter ring.
New to the WEF Program this year, Lizzie and Gigi are learning the ropes quickly and making progress with their new hunters, Casanova 513, aka Lion, and Casalino, aka Casper. Having just started riding these horses late in the fall season, the girls are developing a rapport with their mounts as they simultaneously learn the rhythm of training and competing in Wellington. With ribbons in the USHJA hunter divisions as well as in the Low Children's hunter classes, they are certainly headed in the right direction.
We look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of all of the riders as the winter season continues. Stay tuned to future newsletters for results and accolades.
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An all-girls boarding and day school in Northern Virginia, Foxcroft prepares young women in grades 9-12 for success in college and in life. Our outstanding academic program offers challenging courses, including Advanced Placement classes and an innovative STEM program. Our premiere equestrian program is nationally recognized, and our athletic teams have won conference and state championships. Experience the best in girls' boarding schools: visit Foxcroft.
