It's a packed weekend across the state, with the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington hosting three shows at once and a rodeo rolling into the far southwest.
Weekend highlights
National Barrel Horse Association Colonial Nationals — Aug 14–16 at Virginia Horse Center, Lexington. Barrel racers from across the region converge on Lexington for one of the summer's biggest NBHA events.
Virginia Classic Paint Horse Show — Aug 14–16, also at Virginia Horse Center. A full weekend of Paint Horse competition in the show rings and coliseum.
Bristol Virginia Rodeo — Aug 15–16 at Bristol Virginia Arena. Bull riding, barrel racing, and Western sport in the state's far southwest corner.
Virginia Horse Center Starter Trials — Aug 15–16 at Virginia Horse Center. A friendly entry point into eventing, with cross-country, dressage, and show jumping for horses and riders new to the sport.
Silver Lining CHSA Show — Aug 15 at Deep Run Farm in Manakin-Sabot. Coastal Virginia Hunter Show Association hunter/jumper competition just outside Richmond.
Also running: the Keswick Hunt Club Foxhunting Clinic Aug 15–16, the Thoroughbred Heritage Horse Show at Virginia Horse Center on Aug 16, and a Dressage Clinic with Michael Alway at Great Meadow on Aug 15.
Looking ahead
The rest of August stays busy. The Prince William County Fair Horse Show runs Aug 18–19 in Manassas, followed by Virginia Classic Open Dressage at Virginia Horse Center Aug 19–20.
The Sallie B. Wheeler / Virginia Young Horse Show runs Aug 20–23 at Virginia Horse Center — a marquee young-horse hunter/jumper event. The USHJA Young Hunter Pony National Championship follows there on Aug 23.
Eventers should note the Windchase Cross-Country Derby Aug 22 in Orange, and hunter/jumper riders have back-to-back CVHS and CVSJA shows at Deep Run Farm on Aug 22 and Aug 30.
Closing out the month: the Virginia Quarter Horse Championship Show (Aug 28–30) and the House Mountain Horse Show (Aug 29–30), both at Virginia Horse Center, plus the Four Oaks Farm August Hunter Show on Aug 29 in Palmyra.
And don't forget the season-long favorites still running: Great Meadow's Sunday polo series, Roseland Polo at King Family Vineyards, and thoroughbred racing at Colonial Downs through early September.