Featured Article (May 2005)

Ten Great Places to Horse Around in Virginia

We all know Virginia is well known for great horse sports including fox hunting, steeplechasing, grand old horse shows, and horse racing. Here we have highlighted some unique horse related activities you may not know about and may want to sample. We’ve included ideas from all over the state so you can pick one near you or plan a day or overnight trip. We hope you enjoy.

1. Chincoteague Pony Swim

Since the book Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry first appeared in 1947, horse loving children everywhere have known about the pony swim. Ponies living wild on Chincoteague island are driven to the mainland once a year and young horses are auctioned off to keep the herd at the sustainable level of 150 head. But this is a practice older than the country itself. By the 1700’s it had become an annual event, complete with drinking, eating and plenty of revelry by the entire community. The earliest known description of Pony Penning was published in 1835.

In 1925 the town authorized the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department to hold a carnival during Pony Penning to raise funds. That year over 15 colts were sold to benefit the fire company, and the carnival was a huge success. Bolstered by the interest in the pony swim, visitors began arriving from across the country for the annual penning. The crowd in 1937 was estimated at 25,000. Thousands of people flock to the island the last Wednesday and Thursday of July to see the Pony Penning.

But if you’d rather not brave the traffic and crowds on Penning day, plan to visit the Chincoteague Pony Centre at another time. The Pony Centre is dedicated to the showcasing the beautiful Chincoteague Pony, both Misty family descendents and veterans of the swim. At the Centre you will find the largest herd of Misty family ponies on the island. In addition, outstanding Chincoteague ponies that have made the swim are at the Centre, allowing everyone to see just how versatile and talented this breed of pony is. The Pony Centre is both recreational and educational in nature, offering riding lessons and pony rides daily on Chincoteague Ponies as well as a Special Pony Show Monday through Saturday night at 8 p.m. Displays focusing on Misty, Marguerite Henry, the island itself, and various carriages add to the museum quality of the Centre. A special children’s corner rounds out the area. For more information visit www.chincoteague.com/pony/ponies.

2. Jousting is alive and well

The thrill of a rider and horse thundering down the track with the skill and precision to "pick off" three small rings is the present day sport of jousting! The origin of the sport is more than 160 years old in this country, Cecil Calvert, Lord Baltimore, of the "colonies" is reported to have been the first to introduce jousting here. There has been a recent revival in interest and participation in "The Sport of Kings." Jousting is the State Sport of Maryland and now includes clubs from Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Participants are from all backgrounds and all ages and compete in four different skill levels.

When most people think of jousting, they think of the medieval knights charging against one another for a fair maiden’s hand. What the King figured out early, was that he lost a lot of good knights to injury that way! Tournament jousting (just called "tournament" in the early days) was the result. Tournament was a way for knights to prove their combat skill and horsemanship, yet avoid unnecessary risk of injury.

Today, jousting ( or ring jousting) is a more recreational sport, yet the competitive spirit of the knights and maidens remains alive and well.

Riders of all ages from five states participate in several of the larger tournaments during a season that starts in April and culminates in State and National Championship Tournaments in October. Each state (and region) involved also have smaller, local tournaments throughout the summer. Local communities get in the act as well, some sponsoring local tournaments, craft fairs, bake sales and art shows as part of a community event!

Upcoming events are listed in our calendar. In addition to the May 14, Buckingham County Day Joust at Industrial Park in Dillwyn. Parade at 10, joust to follow. Jousting will also be a part of the Hunt Country Stable Tour.

Check the National Jousting association website for other dates and contact phone numbers. www.nationaljousting.com.

3. Mounted Police Exhibition

If jousting isn’t exciting enough for you, how about a horse obstacle course that includes walking on a teeter totter, and that’s considered one of the easy challenges!

In October, Virginia Beach will host the Annual Mounted Police Equestrian Event. The event draws approximately 120 horse and rider teams from about 40 mounted units from a geographic triangle formed by Canada, Texas and Florida. The competition is judged in three separate areas: uniform and mount judging, a traditional equitation class and the ever challenging obstacle course.

Each year the hosting unit designs and builds the obstacle course. There are ten separate challenges and all are related to experiences the horse and rider might have on the job. The obstacles range from the horse being required to stand quietly while the rider shoots paint balls at balloon targets to standing within a chalk outline box while a garbage truck raises and dumps a commercial trash container. Virginia Beach is known for their "Fleeing Felon" course. It is traditionally the tenth obstacle and simulates a chase for a felon through various imaginative street obstacles. It starts with a shot and then horse and rider race against the clock through the course.

The event will be Oct 1 and 2, in conjunction with the Neptune Festival, the ocean front celebration in Virginia Beach. It opens with a parade led by the Anheuser-Busch Clydesdale Hitch and is sponsored by the Friends of Virginia Beach Mounted Patrol. Camp Pendleton Military Reservation hosts the event, it is free and goes all day both days. The Virginia Beach Patrol traditionally places at the annual competitions and is entirely mounted on donated horses that include draft horses, Arabians and Thoroughbreds. For further information call 757-426-1985.

4. Polo

Polo, possibly the oldest team sport, is one of the fastest, roughest, and most dangerous sports played today. It is gaining increasing popularity as a premier spectator sport and can be an easy game for the first-time spectator to enjoy. Imagine the excitement of seeing players on horses bumping and jostling with each other as hockey on horseback, racing at top speeds down the field while striking a small ball with the precision of an experienced golfer.

Polo is played on a 10 acre grass field, which is the approximate area of ten football fields. There are six periods or "chukkers" in a match, each is seven minutes long. Only penalties or injuries may stop play as there are no time-outs or substitutions allowed, except for tack repair. A team is made up of four players, each wearing a jersey with numbers 1 to 4, which correspond to their assigned position. Number 1 is the most offensive, concentrating on opportunities for scoring. Number 4 is the defensive player, primarily responsible for defending his/her team’s goal.

Arena Games Played Every Friday night from Memorial Day to Labor Day - 6:30 pm & 8 pm-at the Charlottesville Polo Club. Practice Chukkers every Tuesday evening - 6:30 pm Rain or Shine. Grass Polo played on Friday afternoons at 5:30pm and on Sundays at 1pm - weather permitting. In addition, Piedmont Women’s Polo Club plays polo on Saturday nights from mid June through August. General Admission $4. Children under 12 admitted free. Call 434-977-7656. Club address is 1283 Tillman Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22901

Some days are rainy and un-rideable, for those days look at these selections:

5. Winmill Carriage Collection

Northern Virginia boasts several unique horse related Museums, and two are at Morven Park, former home of Governor Westmoreland and now an historic house Museum.

Take a trip into the past by visiting the Winmill Carriage Collection. You will see a wide variety of antique vehicles used between the mid 1800’s and the early 1900’s. These vehicles were donated by the late Voila Townsend Winmill of Warrenton, Virginia in 1967 and include many of the carriages she collected over a period of forty years.

In 1928 Robert Winmill surprised his wife Viola on her birthday by giving her a large coach pulled by four enormous bay horses. He arranged for her to take eight driving lessons, soon she was driving her coach, a four-in-hand, to hunt races, meets and to Sunday luncheon parties with guests as passengers.

Mrs. Winmill’s carriage collection grew to more than 120 vehicles. When traveling in the US or in Europe, she always came back with something: from Killarney, Irish Jaunting carts; from Sicily, a gaily-painted donkey cart; from Vienna, a stylish Russian-type sleigh; and a fine pony carriage from Spain, to mention a few. She acquired a horse-drawn fire engine in New England, a coach from New York, and on a visit to Houston the milk float of a local dairy. Gigs, Broughms and Brakes built by famous carriage makers such as Million and Guilet and Brewster, sleighs with delicate fluted and hand painted sides, farm passenger carts, wagons and others shared space with showcased displays of the liveries of her attendants and almost everything pertaining to horses.

By 1967 Viola’s waning energy prompted her to "…make sure I have an established place for the carriage collection when I die, so they aren’t loosed all over the country, and are kept in Virginia if possible." After much deliberation the Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation at Morven Park in Leesburg, Virginia was selected as the site for the collection. For more information visit www.morvenpark.org/carriage.htm.

6. Museum of Hounds & Hunting

Also at Morven Park and located in the north wing of the Mansion is the Museum of Hounds and Hunting. The Museum contains the art, artifacts and literature of this centuries-old pastime - a collection of paintings, bronzes, and photographs; displays of elegant hunting attire and tack; music, books and videos portraying famous hounds, huntsmen and Hunts in North America and England. Beagling and French staghunting artifacts are also on display. The Museum’s oldest foxhunting treasure is a gracefully curved 1731 hunting horn carried by Colonial Governor Samuel Ogle of Maryland.

Governor Westmoreland Davis was an avid foxhunter and served as the Master of the Loudoun Hunt in 1906. He was one of the founders the Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA) and the estate is now home to the MFHA and the Museum of Hounds and Hunting. For more information visit www.morvenpark.org/hounds.htm.

7. Horses Working Partners

While horses are largely a recreational pastime for us today, for centuries they were our hardworking partners. On June 4, The Virginia Draft Horse and Mule Association is holding its 2nd annual Youth Working Draft Horse Clinic to give young people a chance to not only see how draft animals work, but to actually take up the reins and work the draft horses in a controlled and safe environment. The clinic is designed for youth, but is open to those of all ages interested in learning about using or working with draft horses or mules. The members have graciously agreed to bring their horses, teams, wagons, sleds and plows to Fine Felt Farm in Orange and to share their knowledge and expertise. Each youth who wants to can personally handle and participate in one or all activities, depending on their interest or comfort level. Events include harnessing, obstacle driving, log skidding, plowing and driving a wagon team. Some fun competitions will also be offered in plowing and log skidding.

And the experience goes on. VDHMA members have offered to allow anyone ages 6-19 , who have participated in the Youth Day Clinic, the opportunity to actually compete at a Draft Show. The shows are held in Orange, Culpeper, Warrenton and the State fair throughout the year and VDHMA members supply the teams to young people who are interested. These generous VDHMA horsemen are committed to the continuation of the working draft horse into the future.

The Youth Day Clinic is free, and spectators are welcome. Step back in history and help the Virginia Draft Horse and Mule Association move these gentle giants into the future. For more information and directions to Fine Felt Farm www.VDHMA.org or phone 540-854-6081.

8. Cattle Drive Anyone?

Graves Mountain Lodge in Syria, Virginia is a family-owned and operated rustic mountain retreat with great home cooked food. It is nestled deep in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains near the end of the road in Syria, Virginia. The lodge offers hiking, fishing, tennis, swimming , horseback riding with your horse or theirs. Stalls are available for rent and overnight trailer camping (no hookups). The trails are beautiful, but make sure you have four shoes on your horse. The also offer a Working Cattle Package. While staying at Graves Mountain, the staff will pick you up after breakfast at the Lodge and transport you to a nearby cattle farm. (Return to the Lodge by late afternoon) There they will match you to your horse and give instructions for the day. Activities generally consist of:

• Round up and herding of cattle to a working area.
• Assisting with routine vaccinations and treatment of cattle.
• Riding and checking fence lines.

Learning the skills of team penning, cutting single calves out of the herd with assistance of your partners (team) and herding them to the pen for treatment.

Available Monday - Fridays Only: Must be scheduled by 5 P.M. a day in advance at the Stables or Lodge Office. Price: $75 per person. Minimum Age: 12 years old.

No experience necessary! For more information visit www.gravesmountain.com.

9. North American Young Riders Championships

Can’t make it to the Olympics, then try to attend the North American Young Riders’ Championships. Young equestrians from all across North America will get a taste of what it’s like to compete in the Olympic Games when they compete in the North American Young Riders’ Championships (NAYRC) at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, VA, July 26-31, 2005.

This will mark the first appearance in the mid-Atlantic region for the NAYRC, the premier equestrian competition in North America for Young Riders, age 16-21. Young equestrians come from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean Islands to vie for team and individual Championships in the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage, and eventing. The NAYRC is an official USA Junior Olympic-Equestrian event.

At the North American Young Riders’ Championships, approximately 200 riders will compete. The Championships’ eventing competition will be a CCI**, that will be run under the Olympic format. A CH-J* Championship for junior riders, age 14-18, will also be run under the Olympic format. In addition, there will be a CCI* J/Y for riders age 14-21, run under the traditional format with all four phases on endurance day.

For more information on the 2005 North American Young Riders’ Championships please visit www.youngriders.org, call (540) 348-1152 or email to vht@cfw.com.

10. Party with the Ponies

With spring finally here, isn’t it time your friends together for a fun day or night out away from the stress of every day life? A "Party With The Ponies" at Colonial Downs this summer or fall is your group’s ticket to food, fun, and who knows, possibly even riches!

Horse racing is clearly a hot sport now and Colonial Downs is moving into the major leagues with the addition of the $5 million Grand Slam of Grass and the ever increasing prestige of the $750,000 Virginia Derby. Horse racing is an incredibly rich sport that provides something for all kinds of people. Many enjoy the beauty and pageantry of exquisite athletes doing what they were born to do without wagering a penny. Many enjoy the intellectual challenge of picking winners or the simple fun of betting $2 on your favorite number. All kinds can enjoy a day at the races in a luxurious setting with great food and great company.

Live thoroughbred racing starts June 17th and continues every Friday through Tuesday until August 9th. First race on Friday, Monday and Tuesday is 5:00 PM, while Saturday and Sunday start times are at 1:00 PM.

The 5:00 PM weekday post times has been very popular with groups, either in a luxurious 4th floor Sky Suite or the 3rd floor Jockey Club Dining Room. For planning purposes, the "after work" race cards generally end around 9:00 PM. Your group of friends will spend their special day in luxury at the beautiful, three tiered, 600 seat dining room overlooking the track. Glassed on three sides, the Jockey Club provides climate-controlled comfort and breathtaking views. It also features two cocktail lounges, closed-circuit televisions and betting windows just steps away from your seat. Cheer on the horses as they cross the finish line!

Minimum of 20 people required. The average price is $25 per person and All Packages include dinner, admission, general parking, reserved seating, tax and gratuity, official race program and Tip Sheet and A Public Address Welcome Announcement

Whether small or large, Colonial Downs can work with your group to provide an exciting day at the races. To book a group outing at Colonial Downs, call Group Sales Department at : 804-966-7223, ext. 1022.