<p>hey! im new here! I decided this year that i needed a more challenging academic program and a great equestrian program so i have been looking into a few boarding schools near me. My rents don't want me to far away so i ve been looking in northern VA and MD. Anybody know anything bout Garrison Forest, Foxcroft, or Oldfields?</p>
<p>I do know about those schools and all I know is that they've got a pretty limited student body. Although I guess it can be seen as both an advantage and a disadvantage, right?</p>
<p>The Madeira School has an equestrian program as well and is located in northern VA. If you go to boardingschoolreview.com you can search schools in your preferred states that have an equestrian program. Hope this helps!</p>
<p>If you do a search of this board for Foxcroft, I think you will find some information on it from a poster called something like "naomi." She used to post and had some good information about the school. You should do a search for all your schools, and you should find more information.</p>
<p>thanks yall! i know they r pretty small Hotchkiss and it would be a huge change cause my current school has about 200 kids in my grade. I can't imagine if it was just 200 kids in the school! Cross country, i looked at madeira and it seemed really wonderful but the equestrian program specialized in the a different horse sport than i do. THanks for the website! what do u mean search of this board Burb? Sorry technologically challenged</p>
<p>Actually her screen name was naoka and she graduated from Chatham Hall. You didn't mention this school, but I think it is in VA. Anyway, here is a search result by searching her name <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/search.php?searchid=9307227&pp=15&page=2%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/search.php?searchid=9307227&pp=15&page=2</a> In the blue line on top that starts with "My Control Panel," you will find the search function. Look up your schools to see what others have said in the past.</p>
<p>Thanks! My friend goes to chatam hall but i don't know much about it. I will definately check it out</p>
<p>What kind of riding do you do? I know you said your parents won't let you go far, but if they let you Stoneleigh-Burnham in Massachusetts has a really, really great riding program. It's a small school (~30 kids per grade) and the faculty there is awesome, they really care about you. :-)</p>
<p>I don't know much about Garrison Forest, Oldfields, or Foxcroft...a friend of mine from my school went to Foxcroft for her freshman year, I'm not really sure why she transferred. Garrison Forest has an excellent riding program..their interscholastic team did really well at Nationals last year (second, maybe?).</p>
<p>I do eventing and that narrows the field considerably. Many schools have a good riding program but only for hunters. Haven't heard of Stoneleigh-Burnham but i will check it out. Thanks!</p>
<p>Yeah, hunters is the main focus for most schools. SBS has a gorgeous cross country course and is well known for it's riding program and great facilities. They host an event on campus in the fall, a schooling event in the spring, and a couple of jumper shows in the winter as well as hunter/eq shows. There are definitely more hunters than eventers, but I think you'd probably find that at most schools.</p>
<p>I graduated from Chatham Hall, and am a big fan of the school. Their equestrian program is very strong, and (like most places) mainly hunt seat. However, my junior year roommate was into eventing and was able to find good local instructors while boarding her horse in the school's stables. If you PM me, I can try emailing her to see who she worked with. </p>
<p>Anyway, it's worth a trip down to look at the excellent equestrian facilities, not to mention all the other great things about the school--impressive, involved faculty, the leaders-in-residence program, and a tight alum network, to name a few.</p>
<p>Madeira, Foxcroft, Chatham, and Oldfields are all great schools with very different personalities. If you live in the DC area and are considering all of them, make sure to visit and spend the night at each one to get a feel for the place.</p>