Fall show season is in full swing across Virginia this weekend, with a five-day hunter/jumper show wrapping in Upperville, three concurrent shows at the Virginia Horse Center, and polo fields busy on both sides of the state.
Maryland Horse & Pony Show, through Sun, September 13, at Grafton Farm in Upperville. Five days of hunter and jumper competition on one of Northern Virginia's best-known show grounds — the final weekend is the one to catch, with divisions running right through Sunday.
Virginia Paint Horse Show, Fri, September 11–Sun, September 13, at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington. Three days of American Paint Horse Association competition — a great weekend to see the breed's color and movement judged side by side.
House Mountain Horse Show, Sat, September 12–Sun, September 13, at the Virginia Horse Center. Hunter/jumper competition for local and regional riders.
Great Meadow Saturday Polo, Sat, September 12, at Great Meadow in The Plains. Bring a chair and settle in for an afternoon of fast, physical polo in Northern Virginia.
Roseland Polo Sunday Match, Sun, September 13, at King Family Vineyards in Crozet. A Central Virginia weekend tradition — polo on the lawn with the Blue Ridge as a backdrop.
There's plenty more on the calendar. The Rockbridge Regional Fair and Expo runs through Sunday at the Virginia Horse Center, the Bedford County Hunt Hunter Pace at Cedars in Goode goes out both Friday and Sunday, and the Shenandoah Mountain Trail Ride heads into the George Washington National Forest near Staunton on Saturday and Sunday. Hunter/jumper shows also fill out the weekend at Great Meadow, Deep Run Farm, Devaux Farm, and Whitestone Farm.
Looking ahead
The pace doesn't let up. Next week brings the Middleburg Classic Horse Show, also at Grafton Farm (Sep 16–20), and the following weekend the Virginia Horse Center hosts both the Virginia Dressage Festival and the VA State Barrel Show Finals (Sep 18–20), alongside the Roanoke Valley Horse Show at Salem Civic Center Arena (Sep 19–20).
Looking further out, the American Saddlebred Horse Association of Virginia Horse Show takes over the Horse Center Sep 23–26, and eventing fans can catch the Old Tavern Horse Trials at Great Meadow Sep 26–27.
For the full calendar, browse upcoming events or search by region.
Photo: the Maryland Horse & Pony Show at Grafton Farm, Upperville.