<p>Okay. This post is probably proof of my insanity, but here goes :</p>
<p>D ( high honors student) will be applying to schools this coming fall for 9th grade (09/10) and having spent a big part of her life so far sitting on a horse ( Mom is in the business) would like, if possible, to continue riding while at school. Caveat : the reason for applying to BS is for the opportunity to get a superior education, and no amount of horsey stuff can take the place of that! Also, our public school is excellent, better than some BS's I know of. </p>
<p>In previous thread ( arts concentration ) we had decided against riding schools - mainly because we need substantial FA. </p>
<p>Does anyone know which riding schools are 1) academically considered top schools and 2) would not necessarily exclude some serious riding with FA ? Maybe she could bring her own beasty and donate it to the program when she leaves......???</p>
<p>Wow. Thanks Jonathan. Just visited the website. What a cool place. Unfortunately this is not the school for my D. I cant send her so far ( we are in NE) and she wants to continue with the English style of riding.
Still thanks for the tip.</p>
<p>You might want to look at Linden Hall, the oldest girls school in the country which is located in a small town in Pennsylvania Dutch country Linden</a> Hall - Lititz, PA
I think I posted on your other thread about George School, a quaker school in Bucks County, PA that recently received a huge gift over $100M and are increasing their FA. They told us (I think) that FA was also available for riding. George</a> School | Home
George School has an IB program, which is quite demanding.</p>
<p>Equestrian and FA are usually not mentioned in the same sentence, as most horse people have the money to be full-pay and on top of that most equestrian programs at boarding schools are additional cost items. May be a tough call.</p>
<p>Not familiar with the best of the NE schools, so I probably cannot make a good recommendation there. If geography were not a concern, I'd say Culver Academy in NW Indiana probably has the best indoor riding facility in the country and has top rate academics. They are well-endowed and have been known to be reasonably generous in FA, but I don't know about equestrian and FA.</p>
<p>Thanks, Goalie Dad, for reiterating my point. By the way, Culver, an excellent school, is too far, we want to be closer to the east coast - any where from Vermont to Virginia. I think she will have to go back to plan B which is ride in the summers! </p>
<p>Still if anyone knows of anyone who has found an opportunity to ride while on FA, please let me know. I remain open minded! </p>
<p>Huskem, are you very familiar with Walker's? I am especially interested in knowing how they " measure up" academically. </p>
<p>Cross Country - MPS is also excellent but somehow I don't think FA and riding would mix there.</p>
<p>Starrynight, are you familiar with the academics at Foxcroft and how they compare to say Miss Porters, Madeira or Dana Hall ? Foxcroft has the equestrian and arts programs we love! Maybe we could move to Virginia and I could offer to muck stalls for them (JUST KIDDING)</p>
<p>Grejuni - thank you. Linden Hall looks very interesting, and nice barn! I have just sent for the view book. George School, while being Quaker is not a problem, looks dismal in the photos and the barn depressing. I've no doubt it is a good school, and pretty is as pretty does, etc, but we still want pretty! </p>
<p>Sullivan, I didn't know the Canterbury School had riding?
Burb , thanks, I hadn't thought of Taft.
Anyone familiar with Stoneleigh Burnham?</p>
<p>Stoneleigh Burnham (girls' school in Greenfield, MA) has a terrific riding program and I believe has a fairly close relationship with Mount Holyoke College, so if your D isn't opposed to an all female student body, it's another school to consider.</p>
<p>Thanks Smile Dog! Didn't know that about Mt. Holyoke. All girls is a Good thing! Any way who has time for boys when you have a horse ? Stoneleigh Burnham seems to have a good music program, and the riding is great there. Think we may visit and have a closer look.</p>
<p>hmmh... by rough estimation, i would say foxcroft is on par to Maderia and Dana Hall. However, i think that miss porter's may be superior academically. i do believe foxcroft has a better horse program, though.</p>
<p>I would say George School most closely resembles Swarthmore College if you have been there. I think the same people were involved in building both places. Anyway, I couldn't speak for the everyone's tastes, but I think the campus is nice and pretty with an extremely friendly, casual atmosphere with a sort of eclectic arty student body. I didn't check the barn out myself, although you can see it from the main building.
A short walk from campus is the cute, safe town of Newtown. The scenery of the campus is winding paths with rhododendrons and tall trees, various architectural styles from Georgian on up. Perhaps the website pictures don't do it justice: we pennsylvanians consider Bucks County one of the most scenic parts of the state. :)</p>