The Ashford Farm eventing team headed down to Virginia for the 4th year in a row to compete in the Virginia Starter Horse Trials at the VA Horse Center. The event is hosted by Brian and Penny Ross, who also run many of the horse trials and combined trainings that we attend during the summer at camp! Despite a bit of cold weather, everybody had a great weekend! On Saturday, the crew headed to the horse center early in the morning to school the cross country course. Megan took Galen along so that she could help the girls school on horseback! Lucky her! After schooling, the group headed back to New Meadow for a dressage clinic with Aude to prep for the next day.
Kaleigh & Spud and Natalie & Molloy competed in the Novice horse trial. Sarah & Guinness and Claudia & Oliver competed in the Beginner Novice horse trial. And Alexa & Rollo competed in the Elementary combined test, but had the chance to school cross country on Saturday with the other girls!
Sunday morning, New Meadow woke up with snow on the ground! It was a very early morning at the horse center for Alexa, Claudia, and Sarah. They were finished with the competition by 10:00 am! Kaleigh and Natalie competed a little later on and did very well, despite a bit of a run-in on the cross country course, which if you know them you can ask them about!
All in all, it was another successful Springtime event at the VA Horse Trials. It’s a great warm-up for all the spring events closer to home in the Philadelphia area.
Until next time!
-Jessica
Claudia schooling Oliver Cross Country
Kaleigh showing us her old lady "hunt seat"
That's more like it Kaleigh! 
Natalie & Molloy jumping a trakehner jump cross country
The Whole Crew after schooling day!
Getting ready for the dressage ring! Alexa & Rollo, Sarah & Guinness, Claudia & Oliver (from left).
Claudia taking a bit of a big spot.... yes, she made it!
Sarah & Guinness jumping around in Stadium!
Natalie & Kaleigh all ready for dressage, it was crazy pants day!
Natalie & Molloy say "Whew! The hard part is over!"
There's trouble! Jane & Megan Canavan!
