Fall is settling in across the state, and this weekend's calendar is packed to match — a breed championship, cross-country eventing, polo on two different lawns, and a beach trail ride are all on tap.
American Saddlebred Horse Association of Virginia Horse Show wraps up its run at Virginia Horse Center in Lexington on Saturday, capping several days of breed competition in the Shenandoah Valley.
Eastern Shore Beach Trail Ride takes riders along the sand at Chincoteague Island Saturday and Sunday — a rare chance to trade the ring for the surf.
Old Tavern Horse Trials brings a full weekend of eventing to Great Meadow in The Plains, with dressage, cross-country, and show jumping running Saturday and Sunday.
Polo fans have two stops: Great Meadow Saturday Polo in The Plains kicks off Saturday afternoon, and Roseland Polo at King Family Vineyards in Crozet closes out the weekend Sunday, with matches set against the Blue Ridge.
Hunter/jumper and dressage riders have plenty of local options as well, with schooling shows at Deep Run Farm, Southern Heritage Farm, Whippoorwill Farm, and Silver Eagle Stable, plus an eventing clinic at TuckerBerry Farm.
Looking ahead
The next two weeks bring some of the fall season's biggest draws. The Virginia Dressage Association Show runs October 1–4 at Virginia Horse Center. Foxfield Fall Races brings steeplechase back to Foxfield Racing Association in Charlottesville on October 4. The following weekend, Morven Park Fall Horse Trials takes over Morven Park International Equestrian Center in Leesburg October 7–11, while the Friesian Grand Nationals bring the state's Friesian community to Virginia Horse Center October 8–10. And on October 10, Virginia Fall Races run at Glenwood Park in Middleburg.
Whatever your discipline, there's a ring, a course, or a field worth visiting somewhere in the state this weekend.
Photo: King Family Vineyards, Crozet.