Equestrian Adventure

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Equestrian team explored campus trails this week.

As the first signs of autumn begin to sprinkle the trees with orange and red colors on campus, MSA’s fall sports saddle up for competition. Over the past decade, MSA’s Equestrian team has tested its riding skills with a challenging campus trails ride.

In addition to navigating new terrain, the team is able to display their equestrian skills in front of their peers and ride through central campus.

Led by Equestrian coach Daniel Gidick, the team ventured onto campus on Tuesday. Accompanied by their instructors Caleb Marden and Abby Hirschi from Rock Branch Horse and Cattle, the team rode through the meadows, trails, and then under the portico of Old Main.

MSA’s equestrian team has both experienced and novice members. The team typically practices at Rock Branch Horse and Cattle Farm just down the road from campus. This ride is the first of two trail rides on campus.

On Thursday, the Farmington Hunt Club was on campus for its September hunt. Experienced MSA Equestrian team members joined the Hunt Club for an exciting day in the saddle.

For the students, it was a great experience to see the hounds in action, to hear their voices as they chased the fox and to experience some high speed riding through the extensive MSA trail system. For the day, the hunt covered almost eight miles of the MSA campus and bordering properties.

The Farmington Hunt kennels and clubhouse are located in northwestern Albemarle County near Free Union. Its territory encompasses the rolling hills and fields at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where it has followed hounds since 1929, and reaches into historic southern Albemarle along the Hardware and James rivers.