Sweet Briar celebrates 91st Annual Horse Show

Sweet Briar College will celebrate its 91st Annual Horse Show on Saturday, April 14. The event is recognized by the Southwest Virginia Hunter Jumper Association and is open to the public. Admission for spectators is free and concessions will be available.

The 2018 event will kick off at 8:30 a.m. at the 130-acre Harriet Howell Rogers Riding Center on campus. As is tradition, individual riders will compete in a variety of hunter and equitation classes at heights from 2 feet to 3 feet, 6 inches. Riders in equitation classes will be judged on position and accuracy, as well as the effectiveness of the partnership between horse and rider. Hunter over-fences classes will be judged on the performance of the horse.

The 91st Annual Horse Show will feature several special trophies and awards, including the Fayette-Brown Challenge Trophy, awarded since 1950 to the Sweet Briar rider who demonstrates the best horsemanship and sportsmanship throughout the show. A panel of judges, among them show judge E. Sue Bopp, will select the winner.

Another historically important award, given since 1968 to the show’s Adult Hunter Division champion, is the Harriet Howell Rogers Challenge Trophy. Last year, Olivia Fabian Slocum ’18 and Sweet Briar’s Lord of the Dance were awarded the trophy.

A new prize this year is the Preston R. Brown Horsemanship Award, which recognizes students who exemplify the qualities of horse care, kindness and attention to detail that the late Preston Brown shared with the Sweet Briar College riding program for more than 30 years.

A plaque with the names of the recipients will be posted at the riding center.

“This show is one of the highlights of the year for Sweet Briar,” says Mimi Wroten ’93, director of the College’s riding program and ODAC Coach of the Year in 2012, 2015 and 2016. “It is a wonderful way to celebrate our student-riders and our program.”

Outside competitors may view the prize list online or request it from Sweet Briar’s riding program by calling 434-381-6116.

For more information, email Pam Self at pself@sbc.edu.