Riding Program Newsletter Summer 2026
Dear Foxcroft Community, I was thrilled to join the team at the Jean duPont McConnell Stables in March as the Director of the Equestrian Center. Riding has been at the heart of Foxcroft since Miss Charlotte founded the School in 1914, and it is truly an honor to become part of that legacy. One of the most meaningful experiences for me so far was Reunion Weekend. Meeting so many alumnae and hearing your stories about the horses, the barn, and the riding program was incredibly touching. What stayed with me most was how deeply those experiences still matter to you — not just as riders, but as young women finding confidence, friendship, responsibility, and joy during such formative years of your lives. It quickly became clear to me that the barn has always been much more than a place to ride; it has been a place where lasting memories and lifelong connections are made. That spirit is something I care deeply about preserving and strengthening for the next generation of Foxcroft riders. I am passionate about mentoring our girls into becoming not only skilled riders, but thoughtful horsewomen and strong advocates for themselves and their horses. I feel fortunate to work alongside an exceptional team in the barn whose horsemanship, dedication, and care for both students and horses are evident every day. Our Director of Instructional Riding, Kate Worsham, has also been an incredible source of support as I transition into this role. As I look toward the future of the Riding Program, I am excited about continuing to grow and enhance what makes Foxcroft so special while honoring the traditions and values that have meant so much to generations of alumnae. I look forward to connecting with many of you — whether on campus, at horse shows, or through the Foxcroft community. Thank you for welcoming me so warmly into the Foxcroft family. I already feel the incredible heart behind this program, and I am excited for what lies ahead. Warmly,
Merrily Quincoces Director of the Equestrian Center P.S. We welcome your insight and feedback during this exciting time for the Riding Program at Foxcroft. If you are looking for ways to get involved and support our horses and riders, you’ll find a few options later in this newsletter.
Get to know the Foxcroft horses! Our school horses are the center of our Riding Program. Every level of rider at Foxcroft, from those learning to sit the trot to those jumping courses on Big Track, forms partnerships and learns invaluable skills from our donated horses. Every horsewoman knows that a good lesson horse is worth their weight in gold (and then some!), and that is certainly true at Foxcroft! Meet a few of the very special equine residents of the Jean duPont McConnell Stables. These horses were all donated by generous supporters of Foxcroft.
Splash “Splash is my favorite school horse; she is so gentle and kind, and helps me be a better rider. She helped me step into a canter and have a steady seat so easily and smoothly, and I just would not be here now without her. Splash is also the thing that makes my day 10x better when I am riding her. Throughout the day, I could not be more excited to see her!” -Sophia P. ’29 Splash is a 26-year-old North American Sport Pony who was donated to Foxcroft in 2018 by a member of the Middleburg community. She has years of experience doing Dressage, Eventing, and participating in Pony Club Rallies. At Foxcroft, she has been a consistent presence in Fox/Hound Riding and has taught countless riders to pick up the correct canter lead. Splash helps our riders grow in their confidence and skills, and makes sure their legs are plenty strong!
Caspian Caspian is a 17-year-old Holsteiner who was donated to Foxcroft in 2019 by a friend of the School. He has a plethora of show experience, including in the USEF Hunter Seat Medal, 3’6” Performance Hunters, and the Children’s Jumpers. He now serves as a reliable 2’6” mount, doing everything from the Hunter Derby at the in-house horse show to the jumper course at Fox/Hound Riding. Caspian is well known for his steady canter, which is best set to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round.” Caspian has helped many of our riders gain confidence over fences, and his favorite color is blue!
Kitty Kitty is a 25-year-old Saxon German Warmblood who was donated to Foxcroft in 2016 by an alumna’s parent. She has experience in the Children’s Hunters and National Derbies. These days, she spends her time teaching our students the importance of flat work and happily goes around in her hackamore. She has wonderfully smooth gaits and all the “fancy buttons.” She is certainly a barn favorite both on the ground and in the ring and is best described as “a perfect princess.” Kitty is also always a top contender in the Fox/Hound Riding lead-line class and loves going for walks on Big Track.
“While there are many horses that were essential to my riding journey, I never thought I'd ride one as important as Legend. The opportunity to ride Legend has allowed me to become the rider I always aspired to be, but never thought I could be. He has been kind to me at my lows, supported me at my highs, and taken me out of my comfort zone. Whether he is enjoying a good curry in his stall or taking me through a hard exercise, he never fails to make me smile. What he has taught me will stick with me for the rest of my life, and I am forever grateful for him!” - Anneliese C. ’26
Legend Legend is a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood who was donated to Foxcroft in 2023 by an alumna and her family. He has experience in the 3’6” Performance Hunters and the Large Junior Hunters. He has been a wonderful addition to our program, continuing his career in the hunter ring. A fun fact about Legend is that he loves having the inside of his ears scratched!
What’s happening at the barn?
In-House Horse Shows This past school year, Foxcroft hosted three in-house horse shows, which allowed our students a chance to practice show courses in a familiar environment. These shows are a wonderful learning experience for our beginner riders and serve as practice before bigger shows for our intermediate riders. Local professionals served as judges, as our girls competed in hunter and equitation divisions ranging from walk-trot to 2’9”. The shows took advantage of our beautiful outdoor ring, and in the spring even featured a derby course where riders walked out onto Big Track and then did a trot jump back into the ring.
Clinic with Gordon Reistrup Our riders had the opportunity to clinic with professional show jumper Gordon Reistrup both in the fall and the spring. Reistrup is a Virginia Horse Shows Association Hall of Fame 2024 Inductee and the retired coach of the Washington and Lee University Equestrian Team. He worked with riders in small groups to focus on effective riding and pace, position, and path. His spring clinic was an “ask the judge” format, where he reviewed riders' rounds from the previous day's in-house horse show, which he had judged. This was a wonderful opportunity for our girls to ask questions, receive direct feedback from a judge’s perspective, and work on improving their show ring performance.
Fall “A” Shows Our riders had success in both the hunter and jumper rings this fall, representing Foxcroft well in Upperville at the Middleburg Classic and the Piedmont Jumper Classic, and in Littlestown, PA, at Swan Lake’s November Harvest Classic.
Spring “A” Shows Our riders showed off their talent and horsemanship in the jumper ring this spring at the Morven Park Summer Show Series in Leesburg and at Jump 4 Fun and Loudon Benefit in Upperville.
Looking Ahead In addition to our regular show schedule and in-house horse shows, coming this fall, we have two exciting opportunities for our riders!
October 2026: Polo Clinic at Great Meadow Polo Club November 2026: Two-Day Foxhunting Clinic with Olympian Juliet Graham ’72
Exceptional Proficiency (EP) Program Highlights In 1991, Foxcroft School established the EP Program to allow students to pursue high levels of training, performance, and competition in a chosen area of interest, while simultaneously maintaining high academic standards. Many of our EP Riders spent the winter in Florida competing in Wellington at WEF and in Ocala at WEC and HITS.
Middleburg Life caught up with three of Foxcroft’s EP Riders in Wellington this winter, including Harper P. ’26, who trains with Foxcroft alumna Sloane Coles ’07. Read the full article here! (page 32-33) https://issuu.com/middleburglife6/docs/april_2026
Isla M. ’28 moved up to the 1.20 jumpers this winter at WEF and has her eyes set on doing the NAYC Young Riders next year. When asked about Foxcroft’s EP program, she said it, “has supported my journey tremendously, whether it’s letting me go to WEF for three months out of the school year, Lexington, KY, or other away shows that I ride in.”
Aradeal H. ’26 competes in Polocross, a team sport combining polo and lacrosse. Last summer, she was chosen for a U19 team and competed in England. She credits the EP Program as well as her teachers and advisors at Foxcroft for helping her balance riding and school.
Want to support Foxcroft‘s Riding Program? Here are a few ways to help!
1) Horse Donation We are always looking for horses to add to our herd! Do you or someone you know have a horse looking for an excellent home and a new career as a school horse? Our school horses are the heart of our program and are cherished by our girls and staff. Our horses serve as teachers, athletes, and best friends for our riders. Currently, the average age of our school horses is 19. Foxcroft accepts tax-deductible horse donations (subject to eligibility) at the discretion of the Director of the Equestrian Center and the Director of Instructional Riding. Want more information on donating a horse? Please contact Merrily Quincoces at merrily.quincoces@foxcroft.org.
2) Support our Retired Horses Top care for our horses throughout their careers is our utmost priority at Foxcroft, and we are committed to providing our horses with the luxurious retirement they deserve. Take home one of our precious horses who have spent their careers growing Foxcroft girls! If you or someone you know is looking for a companion horse or is interested in providing a good retirement home for a beloved member of our herd, please contact Merrily Quincoces at merrily.quincoces@foxcroft.org.
3) Support the Indoor Riding Ring and other barn maintenance! Our indoor ring gets daily use, particularly in the cold Virginia winter or on rainy spring days. It is also utilized to ensure multiple lessons can happen at the same time, without overcrowding the rings. The footing in the indoor was last updated in the 2000's thanks to a group of very generous supporters. Due to the crucial nature of this space to our Riding Program and its heavy use, it is time to give our indoor a muchdeserved update! This exciting upgrade will include new footing and new kickboards to ensure the utmost safety of our horses and riders. In addition to this project, there is also always ongoing maintenance needed to upkeep our facility. All improvements and maintenance to the barn prioritize functionality and horse and rider safety and well-being. To discuss supporting the Riding Program financially, please contact Abigail Hanson in the Office of Institutional Advancement at abigail.hanson@foxcroft.org or 540.687.4512. Gifts can be made online at: www.foxcroft.org/give-barn
Questions? Please contact The Office of Institutional Advancement advancement@foxcroft.org | 540.687.4510