<p>I am interested in anybodies experiences/ thoughts on boarding schools offering intensive riding programs? I currently am a competitive horseback riding (in hunters/equitation) and riding is my passion! However I also am an eager student, and love maths and sciences. Due to this I attend a private day school with a fairly good academic programs. The only problem is my school is over an hour away and includes mandatory extra-curriculars, greatly impeding on my ability to ride and compete, as well as leaving little time for completing my homework. </p>
<p>For those reasons I am looking at making the switch to an equestrian boarding school, one where I can still have strong academics (obviously I won't find Andover or Exeter quality, rather ones that offer lot's of AP selection) and will allow for my riding. So does anybody have any suggestions? Schools that offer merit scholarships or decent financial aid is preferred! </p>
<p>This was one of my issues and it’s been difficult my first term to work it in, since my school doesn’t offer it. Stoneleigh Burnham has a great riding program for competitive riders (nice xcountry course) and Ethel Walker also has one but IMO probably the facilities are better at SB. Culver in Indiana has horsemanship in many disciplines for both boys and girls and brand new barns, really nice campus if you don’t mind Indiana winters. Then there is Thacher on the West Coast where all freshmen get their own horse to care for. I think they are more western though. Check Boarding school review for more schools with riding. It’s definitely offered. Some southern girls’ schools like Foxcroft and Madeira also are worth a look. Most will let you keep a horse their and they also have school horses. Grier in PA is another one, I know they do pretty well in competitions.</p>
<p>Check out Chatham Hall in Chatham, VA. It’s all girls and has a fantastic riding program and stables. They will let you bring your own horse and have plenty of land adjacent to the school for riding. In terms of scholarships, check out their Nielson Scholars program. Full scholarships based on academic merit(although equestrian would definitely help.) It is better academically than say Foxcroft and also has better financial aid.</p>
<p>Thacher is an excellent school and offers a riding program. Kent, Taft, and Miss Porters also have equestrian offerings. I’m not sure if they offer riding in your areas of interest, but I would certainly give them a look.</p>
<p>Miss Porters, Madeira, Dana Hall, Chatham Hall. Thacher has a great horse program, but it’s mostly Western…they do have an English team that competes.</p>
<p>Madeira and Foxcroft both come to mind. They’re both in Virginia and they offer competitive riding programs and horse boarding, but they’re vastly different schools. Foxcroft is a place where you could dedicate all of your time and passion to riding, and they would support you in that, but it doesn’t offer much else besides a stellar riding program. Madeira offers fewer opportunities for advanced riders and competitions but seems to be a more well-rounded school. Look them up, they both seem great!</p>
<p>Thanks for all replies! I am looking mostly at Chatham Hall and Foxcroft because of their scholarships, but am also looking at the others! Has anybody heard of anything about Linden Hall? They offer equestrian as well, but I haven’t heard anything much about the school in general!</p>
<p>Stick to Chatham Hall and Foxcroft. Linden Hall, especially in recent years, has… not been as good as it was. It has done a lot of recruiting in foreign countries, namely China, for students, because less and less people in the States want to apply there. They have done this to such an extent that they have to enforce a “Only English is allowed in the dorms” rule, which isn’t really followed. A quick search of the name on CC will lead you to some people talking more about it. </p>
<p>My friend, an avid rider, goes to Chatham Hall, and she says she likes it.</p>
<p>One of my friends went to Linden Hall for a summer program. I don’t think it is very big but is supposed to be in a cute town. There are better riding schools though if you are looking for x country and show teams.
Foreign boarders seem pretty exclusive but they are all nice and probably just more comfortable speaking their own language. Definitely take a look through yearbooks while you wait for your tour if you want a picture of a school’s diversity (or lack thereof).</p>