5 things I learned at my first Equine Trail Sports competition

Last weekend, I rode in my very first Equine Trail Sports (ETS) obstacle trail competition at Green Hill Park Equestrian Center in Salem, Virginia — and wow, what an experience! I showed up not knowing exactly what to expect, but I left with new friends, new skills to work on, and a lot of respect for this sport.

If you’ve ever thought about trying ETS, here are five things I learned that might help you get started:

1. The community is incredibly welcoming.

The organization touts it’s a friendly group, and they weren’t kidding. From the organizers to the competitors, everyone I met was friendly and encouraging. I didn’t come with any riding buddies, but that wasn’t a problem — they found me a group, and by the end of the day I had a whole new circle of horse friends. All along the trail and back in camp, everyone was quick to say hello and chat, and offer support.

The event begins and ends with a riders meeting where riders enthusiastically applaud their fellow competitors and their accomplishments as well as the judges who give their time to make the event possible. Obstacle shout outs from each judge even give some recognition to riders who really impressed the judge, not because of their score, but because of their horsemanship.

2. You choose your own challenge level at each obstacle.

One of the best things about ETS is that you decide what level to ride — right there, at each obstacle. Maybe your horse is relaxed and focused, so you tackle an Advanced challenge. Or maybe nerves are creeping in, and you dial it back to Level 1. Nobody judges you for your choice. It’s all about building confidence for you and your horse.

I started my day tackling a “Water the Flowers” obstacle as a Level 1 (Novice). That called for leading your horse up to a barrel with flowers sitting on top, picking up a watering can, and “watering” the flowers before setting the watering can back down and standing for 3 seconds before walking away. Pretty elementary, right? But the next level up called for ground tying your horse and walking away. I knew my horse, particularly at the very first obstacle, was going to try to follow me. I loved that I wasn’t forced to have her do something I knew she was about to fail at.

However, later along the trail, an obstacle came up that was similar to a horsemanship pattern you might see in a horse show. Having some experience in that, we rode as a Level 3.

That flexibility was priceless along the trail to set yourself up for success each and every time and building confidence in your horse along the way.

All disciplines and styles of riding our welcome!

3. Core skills come up again and again.

At this competition, the big three were:

  • Yielding the hind quarters or pivoting on the forehand.
  • Sidepassing.
  • Steering

For example, one obstacle required us to ride to a cone, yield the hindquarters 90 degrees and sidepass 5 steps. Another required the rider to place the horse’s front feet at the center of 3 poles arranged in a pinwheel pattern, then yield the hindquarters either to the first pole, or all the way around.

Several obstacles also required very tight turns, sometimes stepping over poles and sometimes going around cones in a figure-eight pattern.

4. Expect lots of poles — and tight setups.

You’ll ride over poles forward and sideways, sometimes in quick succession. The obstacles are designed so that maneuvers are close together. Your horse needs to be sharp and responsive to your aids. One “slingshot” obstacle tested that perfectly: you had to back your horse five steps, then immediately pick up a rising trot for exactly the same distance, before stopping again at the cone — and repeating the sequence.

A woman sits on a bay horse in a Western saddle while reading a paper printout.
Reading the list of obstacles before hitting the trail.

5. Your memory and coordination will be tested, too.

This isn’t just about your horse’s skills — you’ll be challenged, too! At one obstacle, riders had to jog their horse in-hand while swinging a pool noodle over their head. (Level 3) I sure hope that no one got any video of that particular maneuver as I am positive it was not graceful on my part!

Riders get a printout with instructions for each obstacle, but the patterns sometimes are hard to comprehend until you see the obstacle in person. Thankfully, the judge also explains everything before you start each obstacle, which really helps.

For my horse and me, the hardest obstacle was the pedestal in which the horse was required to put their front feet up on about a 3’x3′ wooden box, which I’d guess was about 18 inches high (Level 1), placed in the arena. Level 2 required the rider to go over the box completely. And Level 3 required the rider to stop with the hind feet still on the box.

My favorite obstacle was a circle of six cones that required the rider to ride in a figure-eight pattern. I loved it because it gave my horse a little extended time to focus and get in a rhythm and show off her training for more than a step or two.

Interested? Another Equine Trail Sports event will be held Oct. 4 at Twin J in Bedford to complete the 2025 Blue Ridge Buckle Series.

The ride wound through the cross-country course at Green Hill Park in Salem, Virginia. It took about 2 hours to complete the entire course.

Emergency large animal vet added to Virginia Tech’s Vet-Med team

Horse owners in Southwest Virginia and adjacent states have faced the same nightmare: Their animal colicking at midnight with nowhere to turn or calling their regular vet only to learn they’re already handling another emergency two counties away.

Without dedicated emergency coverage, faculty veterinarians have been pulling double duty — handling scheduled appointments during the day and then working through the night when emergencies arise. By morning, they’re exhausted and still have a full day of teaching and regular cases ahead.

“It’s been difficult for the faculty to absorb that need while maintaining the daytime services, the teaching services, and the research enterprise,” said Byron.

The human cost is real, but so is the suffering of animals. Every delay means more pain for horses with colic, more risk for mares having difficult births, and more anxiety for owners watching their animals in distress.

Carla Enriquez has become the cornerstone of a new dedicated emergency service to fill a gap for Southwest Virginia’s large animal community.

She earned her veterinary degree from Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecudor, where she grew up, in 2019. Enriquez then headed to the U.S. for advanced training — first an internship at the University of Tennessee, then a large animal internal medicine residency at New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania.

After finishing her residency, Enriquez was looking for more. ‘As a resident, I always wanted to be a fellow and gain that extra knowledge,’ she said.

She pursued an emergency and critical care fellowship — two additional years of specialized training that’s still uncommon in veterinary medicine. Most veterinarians stop after pursuing one specialty due to the time, physical, and financial demands involved. Think of it as becoming a specialist within a specialty.

“The fellowship was basically like an emergency surgery residency for me,” she explained. “Coming from an internal medicine background, my goal was training in soft tissue emergency surgery and critical care by a team  of double boarded specialists in a busy emergency service .”

The result? She can handle the complex medical puzzles, infectious diseases, neonate care, ophthalmic emergencies and the surgical emergencies that walk through the door at 2 a.m. Whether it’s colic surgery, a C-section, or severe laceration, she brings both the internal medicine knowledge and surgical skills that emergencies demand.

In 2024, she became board-certified in large animal internal medicine. This August, she’ll sit for her emergency and critical care boards. Success would make her one of the few veterinarians nationwide with expertise in both areas — the perfect match for round-the-clock emergency work that demands both diagnostic depth and surgical speed.

According to available data from veterinary specialty boards, there are over 1,000 diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC) in the United States, and several hundred board-certified large animal internal medicine specialists in North America. Holding board certification in both of these specialties is extremely uncommon, and it is widely considered to be rare, with only a small number of veterinarians likely to hold both credentials, and very few specializing in large animal species.

Enriquez isn’t starting from scratch. A veterinary college hospital in Northern Virginia has already demonstrated that this model is effective.

In 2023, the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg introduced a dedicated emergency and critical care team that’s changing lives for Northern Virginia horse owners. Colic cases that once might have been lost to time delays now get immediate surgical intervention. Foaling emergencies get expert attention within the critical first hour.

The model is simple yet revolutionary: dedicated emergency veterinarians who have chosen this specialty are available when a crisis strikes — no more interrupting scheduled appointments. No more asking daytime clinicians to work all night, then show up the next morning.

Now, that same life-saving approach is coming to Blacksburg.

Enriquez will begin providing emergency services this fall as part of the college’s new program, starting with nights, weekends, and holidays — the times when emergencies can’t wait until morning. A second emergency clinician will also be joining the team this fall, allowing the service to launch fully staffed. “My goal is to help establish the emergency service here, which is down the line, going to act like a 24-hour service,” she said. “So, if you as a client or referring veterinarian have an emergency, you call the front desk, and they will direct you to one of the emergency clinicians.”

The plan mirrors what’s working in Leesburg. Eventually, students and residents will rotate through the emergency service, learning from veterinarians who chose this specialty. Details on referral protocols and service access will be announced as the launch date approaches.

Enriquez’s position exists because of a generous donation by animal advocates Karen Waldron and Shawn Ricci.

Their $4 million gift to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital is making two emergency positions possible — one for large animals, one for small animals.

“The ability to begin our emergency service with two dedicated faculty changes everything for large animal care because that allows us to position a dedicated service focused exclusively on emergency and critical care,” Byron explains. “Having dedicated emergency coverage means our other faculty can focus on their scheduled cases, teaching, and research without the constant worry of being called away for emergencies. It’s going to dramatically improve both the quality of our services and our faculty’s work-life balance.”

Cool weather, warm spirits at the Roanoke Valley Horseman’s Association Community Horse Show

The Roanoke Valley Horseman’s Association held its annual Community Horse Show on Aug. 2, 2025, and despite a few puddles, it was an absolutely lovely day at Green Hill Park Equestrian Center in Salem.

The weather was unseasonably, wonderfully cool for August — sitting comfortably in the 70s — which made for a refreshing change from the usual midsummer swelter. While light rain made a brief appearance, no one seemed to mind dodging a few raindrops in exchange for the mild temperatures.

This year’s show was bustling with activity, featuring a wide variety of classes across disciplines: Ranch, Pleasure, Hunter, Trail, Saddle Seat, Harness, Games, and more. With at least two arenas in use throughout the day, the show moved efficiently and wrapped up by 3 p.m. — a bonus for riders and horses alike.

Several classes boasted double-digit entries, showing strong support from the local equestrian community. First-place winners went home with special prizes, and division champions and reserves were recognized for their standout performances as well.

Congratulations to all the competitors, volunteers, and organizers who made the event such a success. Scroll through the photos below to catch a glimpse of the day’s highlights — muddy boots, smiling riders, and all.

Book Review: ‘In the Middle Are the Horsemen’ takes an honest look at horsemen and horsemanship across disciplines

By Diane Deffenbaugh

As someone who has spent years riding and showing in both English and Western disciplines, I’m always intrigued by riders who are open-minded enough to explore outside their own “arena.” That’s what first drew me to Tik Maynard’s memoir, “In the Middle Are the Horsemen.” Part travelogue, part coming-of-age story, and part horsemanship journal, the book follows Maynard’s journey as a working student for top riders across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. His goal? To learn from the best, no matter the discipline.

And that’s what I admired most about this book: his willingness to immerse himself fully in each experience, whether mucking stalls in Germany or trying his hand at working cattle. Few riders are willing to put ego aside and learn from styles outside their comfort zone — and even fewer can do it with the kind of curiosity and humility that Maynard brings to the barn aisle.

The behind-the-scenes look at the life of a working student was fascinating, especially for those of us who’ve spent our own share of time stacking hay bales or cooling out sweaty horses at shows. Maynard’s chapters about his time with legends like Anne Kursinski and Johann Hinnemann — and cameos like George Morris being, well, George Morris — offer valuable insight into the intensity, discipline, and sometimes chaos of high-level barns.

That said, the book isn’t without its flaws. Structurally, it jumps around at times in ways that made it hard to follow, at least in the audio format that I used during my commute to Blacksburg each day. And while Maynard’s open-mindedness is often his strength a horse psychic brought in to uncover the reason behind a trailering incident — and the reason she uncovers — was maybe one step too far for me.

One thing I couldn’t ignore is the level of privilege that made this journey possible. Most of the riders featured in the book are not first-generation horsemen, and neither is Maynard. The ability to work for weeks or months unpaid, to travel internationally to ride with elite trainers, and to take the time for such an extended apprenticeship is out of reach for many aspiring horsemen and horsewomen. It’s important to recognize that while the grit and sweat were real, so were the resources that made it all feasible. And while Maynard deals with a lot of criticism about his riding ability along the way, no one gets into those barns as a working student without being a dang good rider already.

But I do acknowledge that his journey for knowledge paid off big. Maynard has built his own very successful training business based in Citra, Florida, and just recently won Road to the Horse for the second time. While he may have gotten there anyway as a talented rider, his experiences detailed in this book certainly made his more well-rounded and self-aware of not only his strengths but his weaknesses.

“In the Middle Are the Horsemen” isn’t polished literature, but it’s an honest and thoughtful account of one rider’s search for meaning through horses. If you’re curious about different approaches to horsemanship and enjoy a good barn story, this book offers plenty to chew on.

Roanoke Valley Pony Club holds Spring Fun Frolic

The first weekend of April was an equestrian’s dream — great weather and plenty of events to get the season started.

The Roanoke Valley Pony Club Spring Frolic brought horses and riders to Green Hill Park Equestrian Center in Salem for dressage, jumping, and working equitation. Horse and rider combinations rode courses throughout the day, with the last rider hitting the final course at 3 p.m.

Tracey Smith-Oliver and Elizabeth Barker served as judges at the show, offering lots of priceless suggestions for ways riders could improve their performances as the season continues.

Roanoke Valley Pony Club is affiliated with United States Pony Clubs and serves the Roanoke and New River valleys. RVPC hosts two Fun Frolic Series: the Spring Frolic in April and Fall Frolic in September. All shows are held at Green Hill Park.

Working Equitation
Dressage
Working Equitation

Also happening around the region over the past weekend, as seen on social media:

Horse Judging Competition.
Patrick Henry Saddle Club
Horse Sale
Spring Thaw Dressage Show

Great American Ranch and Trail Horse Sale highlights thriving market for well-broke horses

The Coliseum was once again packed this year for the annual Great American Ranch and Trail Horse Sale, held April 3-5 at the Virginia Horse Center. The sale, which has been held each spring for decades, continues to draw a loyal following of both horse sellers and buyers, and this year was no exception.

But times do change, and this year saw the growing influence of internet marketing in the horse world. The top-sellers not only were nice horses with good pedigrees and a history of being safe, but they also had good marketing well before the sale. Around the arena, beautiful photo ads were posted of some of the sale horses. Others already had strong social media followings.

With the world grappling with higher prices from groceries to trucks to hay, I wondered as the auction began how those concerns would affect sale prices. There were still plenty of high prices. Pretty similar to the past few years, the high-seller brought $78,000. Joes Last Tiger, a 6-year-old black quarter horse gelding, also was reserve champion in the sale’s trail horse competition.

High-seller brought $78,000

$7,500
$30,000
$22,000
$38,000
$17,000
$8,700
$8,750
$11,000
$14,500
$11,000
Golden Silverado, AQHA 5-year-old gelding, $35,000

But there seemed to be more instances than in the past of “no sales.” Buyers willingness to spend did not always align with what buyers were hoping to get. The bidding often stopped well before the reserve. Conversely, however, there were many horses that sold well below their value.

Of course, the Great American Ranch and Trail Horse Sale includes a Ranch Horse Competition and a Trail Horse Competition as well where consigners can win some cash, a saddle, and bragging rights before the sale. The competition also gives buyers a chance to see the horses in action and under pressure.

The Ranch Horse Competition was won by Mr. Smart Sioux, a 10-year-old buckskin quarter horse consigned by Thornton Quarter Horses of Alabama. The Shining Spark grandson brought $24,000 during the auction. His consigner, however, was seeking at least $30,000.

Photo courtesy GARTHS

After a sale horse demonstration that included a running chainsaw earlier in the week, a Spotted Halflinger gelding, Tigers Sweet Gentry, took the trophy in the Trail Horse Competition and then sold for $19,000.

Top 10 High-Sellers

Hip #48 – $78,000 – Pleasant Valley Equine
Hip #38 – $67,000 – Pleasant Valley Equine
Hip #26 – $38,000 – Buckeye Acre Farm
Hip #10 – $35,000 – For His Glory Farms
Hip #21 – $33,000 – Buckeye Acre Farm
Hip #19 – $30,000 – Pleasant Valley Equine
Hip #34 – $30,000 – Kristin White
Hip #18 – $25,000 – Country Hills Stable
Hip #33 – $25,000 – Circle C Stables
Hip #83 – $25,000 – Nicole Inglassia

AQHA-IEA Outstanding Leader Scholarship applications due April 1, Virginia Horse Center to host Zone 3 Finals on March 14-16

Scholarship Opportunity! Interscholastic Equestrian Association youth riders who are also American Quarter Horse Youth Association members can now apply for the 𝗔𝗤𝗛𝗔-𝗜𝗘𝗔 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽.

The scholarship recognizes riders who have shown outstanding leadership qualities and a committment to participation in one or both organizations. Applications are submitted via this Google Form. Apply today, applications are due 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟭!

Qualifications/Requirements:

  • Current member of IEA.
  • Current member of AQHYA.
  • 10th-12th grade.
  • Active member of IEA for at least two seasons.
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA or higher.

View PDF of full list of requirements.

IEA is a national organization dedicated to introducing and promoting equestrian athletics. Riders are not required to own their own horse or tack to participate, instead a draw-based team competition format provides greater affordability and access to the sport. There are nearly 15,000 members nationwide in three disciplines — Hunt Seat, Western, and Dressage.

Virginia is in Hunt Seat Zone 3, which will hold its finals March 14-16, 2025 at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington. The National Finals will be held this year April 24-27, 2025, in Missouri.

Teams hosted near Roanoke include:

  • Breezy Rock Stables in Troutville
  • AP Equestrian in Troutville
  • Virginia Tech in Blacksburg

Click here to see the full list of teams.

Virginia Tech’s hall of fame farrier takes on dual role as veterinary hospital administrator

By Virginia Tech

A horseshoe forged by Travis Burns in the farrier shop at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine will soon be placed at the Kentucky Derby Museum, marking his induction into the International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame.

Yet even as this honor celebrates Burns’ acclaim and skill as a craftsman, he is already forging a new path as the administrator of the college’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. 

“I’ve had the opportunity to serve in some leadership capacities within the college, as president of the Faculty Association, serving on the executive committee, and it really opened my eyes that there’s a lot more than my little farrier shop,” Burns said. “There’s a lot more going on here and a lot of things happening, and I really think I can help and participate. It’s another way that I can give back to the to the college.”

“Travis Burns’ reputation for excellence precedes him, both as a farrier and as a leader,” said Tanya LeRoith, director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. “We are delighted to welcome him into this new dual role, where his vision, skill, and commitment to both education and equine care will help drive the Veterinary Teaching Hospital toward an exciting future.”

Keeping a foot in farrier work

After a transition period over the next few months, Burns will focus 80 percent of his work duties on his new role aligning the spreadsheets and helping organize the future of a teaching hospital currently in the process of developing plans for a proposed major expansion and renovation. The remaining 20 percent will keep a foot in the farrier shop, handling some particularly difficult cases and mentoring the farriers following him.

Having received his certificate of farriery in 2003 and a bachelor’s degree in animal science from North Carolina State University in 2006, Burns joined the veterinary college in 2010 as college farrier. Later earning a master’s degree in veterinary education from the Royal Veterinary College in London in 2020 and currently pursuing an MBA at Virginia Tech, Burns has been chief of farrier services at Virginia Tech since 2010 and has steadily progressed in the academic ranks to lecturer from 2011-16), assistant professor of practice in 2017, and associate professor of practice in 2018. 

The International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame was not an expected career destination for Burns. 

“It’s not really a goal I ever set out for in in my career, but it’s certainly a very nice achievement,” Burns said. “It’s very humbling to get an award like that. I’ll admit it made me a little uncomfortable to have that much recognition, but it’s a great thing for the college, and for me personally. I think it’s a true testament to the team that I’ve been surrounded by, from the farriers that helped me get started, to the farriers that I’ve been able to work with here, to the veterinarians that I’ve been able to work with in my career.” 

Work ethic, love for learning

Burns credits his mother for instilling the values of hard work and never-ending education into him. Burns’ mother was a high school dropout who obtained a GED, associate’s degree, and bachelor’s degree while rising from a front-desk employee to general manager of a country club and inn in western North Carolina. 

“My work ethic, without a doubt, comes from my mother,” Burns said. “I was raised by a single mother who worked two jobs when I was young and went to school. When I went to kindergarten, she enrolled in night classes to get her GED. And so I would get done with school, I would go to work with her for a couple hours, and then we would go to her school. I sat in the classroom with them.

“We didn’t take holidays off. We didn’t take weekends off. She just worked hard, climbed her way up and was willing to do anything. I see that in my personality, like, here, just now going to help a surgery resident find a place for cadaver limbs to go. I still pick up trash as I walk through the parking lot. I’ll clean up the horse poop in the middle of the barn aisle. There’s no doubt that was just ingrained in me at a young age. “

Family also plays a big role in Burns’ decision to take the administrator role. His wife, Lauren Trager-Burns, is a clinical assistant professor in equine sports medicine and rehabilitation at the veterinary college. They have two young daughters, Maddie and Margot. 
 
“Having kids has changed my perspective on life, and I do want to be physically able to do all the things with them as they grow up,” Burns said. “As much as I love the farrier profession, it takes a toll on your body, but I also saw an opportunity to have a more flexible job to allow me to have more time with the family and kids.”

His farrier skills have long garnered respect and admiration. The American Farriers Journal, which oversees the Hall of Fame nominations, described Burns as among the most influential people in the horseshoeing industry over the last two decades.

A boost from the brand

Burns credits men by the name of Goodness and Pleasant for playing big roles in mentoring him as a farrier and veterinary leader.

Paul Goodness, the official U.S. Equestrian Team farrier between 1992-96, including at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, developed a highly successful Loudoun County sport horse and corrective shoeing practice. Burns interned and served as an associate farrier with Goodness and Forging Ahead Farrier Associates from 2007-10. 

Goodness is the namesake of the Paul Goodness Podiatry Center at the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, Virginia Tech’s 24/7 equine emergency center and teaching hospital in Leesburg. Goodness collaborated with the equine medical center for several years, and through that relationship, Burns learned of the veterinary college at Virginia Tech and its opening for a farrier.

Once at Virginia Tech, Burns worked under the leadership of R. Scott Pleasant, professor emeritus of equine surgery and podiatry at Virginia Tech, whose leadership and vision were integral in the success of the equine podiatry program at the teaching hospital. 

Burns said the Virginia Tech connection has bolstered his career through his access to researchers and clinicians at the veterinary college and instructors in various fields across the university, as well as the extra recognition associated with being part of Virginia Tech.

“I may have still been successful, but there’s always more attention that comes with the Virginia Tech brand and the Virginia-Maryland veterinary college,” Burns said. “If I was just me with the same skill set back home in western North Carolina, shoeing horses, helping horses, I may never have got the kind of recognition that it takes to get into the hall of fame. There are many farriers all over the world doing great things for horses that may never get the recognition they deserve.”

Written by Kevin Myatt for Virginia Tech.

Related:

Video: Farrier Quick Takes (Travis Burns): New Shop at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine

Story: Award-winning farrier blends art, science in equine hoof care at veterinary college

Story: Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine farrier participates in World Equestrian Games

US Eventing Association to launch youth mentorship program at 2025 intercollegiate championship in May

The USEA Youth Mentorship Program is coming to the 2025 USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships for the first time, May 2-4 at Stable View Equestrian in Aiken, South Carolina.

Why it matters: This program gives collegiate eventers an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at how championship-level competitions run.

What’s in it for you:

  • Shadow top eventing officials throughout the event.
  • Sit in on briefings and decision-making sessions.
  • Learn scoring, rule enforcement, and competition management.
  • Get one-on-one mentorship from industry leaders.

How to apply:

Only USEA members on an active collegiate team roster are eligible to participate. If your school hasn’t renewed its membership, encourage them to do so ASAP.

  • Eligibility: Must be 18-25 years old and a member of a current Intercollegiate Eventing Program Team or Area Young Rider Program.
  • Contact your Designated Collegiate Representative or Area Young Rider Coordinator to express interest.
  • Complete the Intercollegiate Eventing Championship Mentorship Program Application (link provided by your Collegiate Rep or YR Coordinator).
  • Submit applications to USEA Mentorship Coordinators by Tuesday, April 1.
  • Selections announced by Tuesday, April 15.

The bottom line: It’s an immersive, hands-on experience that’s intense, fun, and could change the way you see the sport.

Virginia Tech field days to include equine pasture management, hunt country tours

Each year, Virginia Tech’s 11 Agricultural Research and Extension Centers invite the public in for an in-depth look at the discoveries and practices propelling the future of agriculture, Virginia’s largest private industry.

An Equine Pasture Management Field Day will be held April 17 at the Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center. This walking tour will showcase pasture management systems, including continuous stocking, rotational grazing, track system, and dry lot with composting set up. Educational stations will include soil pit, small pasture management equipment demonstrations, small scale sprayer calibration, and forage/weed identification. Contact Tait Golightly at tgolight@vt.edu for more information.

Also in Middleburg, a Hunt Country Stable Tour will be held May 24-25, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., when the public is invited to tour the Middleburg AREC and learn about its programs as part of a self-driven tour of horse farms and facilities in Upperville, Middleburg, and The Plains. Visit trinityupperville.org/hunt-country-stable-tour or contact Tait Golightly at tgolight@vt.edu for more information.

Spread throughout the commonwealth, the Agricultural Research and Extension Centers (AREC) bring the expertise of Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences researchers directly into the communities they serve. Researchers partner with farmers, government agencies, and industry leaders to tackle problems in the lab and on the field – and deliver research-based solutions through Virginia Cooperative Extension agents to help Virginia agriculture thrive.

Anyone is welcome to join AREC field days, open houses, and other events planned for 2025. Mark your calendars for the following dates and check the 2025 field days calendar for updates, locations, and registration details as they are added throughout the year.