A recently published question-and-answer with Fountain Valley School alumna Annabel Voorhees ‘09 provides a nice insight into the ‘hows’ and the ‘ways’ that boarding school riders can take their sport and skills to college.
For instance, this novice had no idea that you didn’t need to have your own horse. The varied types of equestrian competitions and teams were also new to me.
“They actually have quite a few teams. There is an Intercollegiate Horse Show Association team, which is the same thing as IEA (Interscholastic Equestrian Association), but for colleges. There is also a Fall Field Team, a Hunter Show Team, a Jumper Show Team, and an American National Riding Commission and Old Dominion Athletic Conference team. “(FVS)
Vorhees, though, returned to classic boarding school themes and advantages in this exchange. She captures the balance of opportunities and rigorous preparation that make boarding schools special places to live and learn.
“Q: Did FVS prepare you for Sweet Briar (riding and academics)?
A: I definitely think FVS did a great job of preparing me for Sweet Briar. In terms of riding, I think Mrs. Hanna (director of riding at FVS) is an amazing teacher, and I learned pretty much everything that I know from her. She did a good job of teaching us to work toward our goals and continue to excel. Academically, the courses at FVS were challenging and I felt ready when I got to Sweet Briar. I haven’t had trouble in my classes, and I learned how to prioritize and organize my time well at FVS.”(FVS)
