Nokesville riding school holds first event of the year

Ah,  Virginia, the middle of Horse Country ... so many events, so many kids, so many horses.

It was a beautiful yet very hot day April 26 for South Run Riding School's first horse show of the season.

Children from all over Prince William County and beyond came to compete in the Virginia Horse Shows Associa-tion and Battlefield Horse Show Association Associate Member Show at the Nokesville school.

The youngest riders showed first, many in competition for the first time. Pigtails and bows were everywhere as nervous children showed off their equitation on patient school ponies.

The festivities continued with pony hunters, pleasure horse and children's and adult hunters.

Judge Clyde Poarch pinned the last winner at 6 p.m.

South Run caters to youngsters from 5 to 18 who want to ride, groom, tack, compete or just plain enjoy and learn all they can about horses.

"I've always been amazed by the friends I meet through my children, and this has been especially true with riding at South Run," said Coleen Hawrysko, a parent of one of the riders.  "It's so much more than a lesson each week:  It's a family of people with a myriad of backgrounds drawn together by a love of horses."

The April 26 show was one in a series at South Run. Events also will be held May 24, June 21, July 19, Aug. 23, Sept. 20 and Oct. 11.

Each class and division has ribbon winners, and points are accumulated throughout the show season.

At the end of the Show Series, a banquet is held, and prizes are awarded to the season's high point riders.