I’m looking for a boarding school that mainly focuses on horses as it’s main sport. I’ve heard some mixed things about Foxcroft, but besides that I’m interested in them since I’ve heard they focus on riding. Academics are a huge part too! Any boarding schools like this?
There was a girl who used to ride at our barn in the Summer who attended Linden Hall near Lancaster, PA. She seemed to like it there, but I don’t know much about the academics.
Why do you want school with main focus on equestrian sports? I know a lot of junior riders and IMO it’s best to strive for a well rounded academic and social life. Riding takes up so much time it can become very insular.
I want good academics, but I’m just talking about somewhere where they have a good riding program and that focuses on it. I want to work in equine science so it’s important to me. I agree with you, I just want somewhere that can fit horses in with academics.
@wildflower2019: Correct me if i’m wrong @CaliMex , but at Thacher in California you have to take care of a horse freshman year. It seems like every morning you have to muck the stall and do other horse maintenance like that! From other threads on here it seemed like you were dead set on Exeter, why the change?
Culver Academies has an equine program. https://www.culver.org/culver-life/unique-opportunities/horsemanship/horsemanship-honor-organizations
George School has a barn on campus and a good program. Grier traditionally has been good for riders (but I am a little out of touch on their current program.) Kent is very good but 3-day focused.
If you really want riding to be a priority, your best path is to do the circuit and use one of the tutoring programs offered on the showgrounds.
@wildflower2019 What year of high school will you be in September?
@gardenstategal is correct - many of the most serious riders are privately tutored and on the circuit. My kids did a modified version of this for 3 years (regular public school, then independent/tutors for 10-12 weeks while they were in Florida. It was a great experience and taught them how to work independently, but they did look forward to returning to their friends at the end of it. Some kids love it, but it takes effort to meet friends and enjoy traditional high school experiences.
Check the IEA website for a list of schools with equestrian teams, but you can certainly study Equine Science in college without an intense high school equestrian experience.
Ethel Walker in CT.
Loomis Chaffee has a good IEA team (varsity) as well as club riding program for all levels.
Here’s a comprehensive list of boarding schools with equestrian programs.
https://www.boardingschoolreview.com/equestrian-boarding-school-sports
They have different focuses and some are all-girls so you’ll need to do further research from here. Thacher is well known for its equestrian programs; it’s definitely worth a look.
I don’t think anyone has mentioned Dana Hall:
https://whttps://www.boardingschoolreview.com/equestrian-boarding-school-sportsww.danahall.org/athletics/the-karen-stives-68-equestrian-center
Madeira in VA
Kent School (website above) offers a wonderful balance of strong academics and a very competitive riding program. They do not primarily focus on 3 day as mentioned above, but instead have a very well rounded program with particular emphasis on hunter / jumper / eq as part of the equestrian team. Additionally, they have an IEA program, but riders are not required to participate (as is true with some other schools). In researching equestrian programs, I learned a great deal about many of the offerings in the NE, so please feel free to PM me if you would like more detailed information about Kent or any of the other programs already mentioned.
Everyone at Thacher rides freshman year and is assigned a horse to take care of. Most of the riding is Western style, but there are also kids who ride English style and compete. It is a small, tightly-knit school of 260 kids and approximately 120 horses. There are several horsecamping trips into the Sierras each year and Gymkhana, cowboy style races and contests in the Spring. Admission to Thacher is extremely competitive, however. If riding is a must-have for you, consider some of the all girls schools that are known for riding (Ethel Walker, Foxcroft, Stoneleigh Burnham, Chatham Hall, Grier, Linden Hall, etc).
We know girls on the competitive circuit from Ethel Walker - the school has personalized their program for the competition season. Also, check out Stoneleigh Burnham. There are also schools in FL who can accommodate your academic schedule if your focus is the winter season. PM me for more info.
Thanks for the shout-out to Linden Hall! I work in Admissions there and ride on campus as well. OP, feel free to pop us an email at our main office email account. We know a lot of the riding schools and we’re pretty friendly with each other, so we’re happy to fill you in on our program (killer academics and strong h/j, dressage, and cross country) or refer you to some of our fabulous peer institutions if they might be a better fit.
Culver Academies is known for its prestigious Black Horse Troop. The military academy has a long history for their amazing program and academics and location (on lake Max) are incredible