“Walker’s is [what] strengthened my passion and devotion for community service.”
Combined Training
The equestrian sport of Eventing or Combined Training is one of the fastest growing horse sports in the United States today and is well represented in the Riding Program at The Ethel Walker School.
Besides coaching our students at top venues all over the east coast, Walker’s hosts two on-campus USEA recognized competitions: a Spring Combined Test and a Fall Horse Trials. For the last four years, our Fall Horse Trials has hosted one of the major area championships.
Walker’s event riders have been starting their season with a Spring Break trip to Southern Pines, NC for the past eleven years. These "traveling clinics" allow our riders the chance to work with some of the nation’s top trainers such as Lauren and David O’Brien, Robert Costello, and Denny Emerson, as well as to compete at some of the top events on the US calendar at the spectacular Carolina Horse Park. Upon returning to New England, horses and riders are primed for a successful season at home.
In spring 2009, Ann Guptill joined the Walker's Equestrian Program when the girls return from the Southern Pines trip. Ann Guptill is the 1987 USET Pan Am Games team Silver Medalist and is also a U.S. Dressage Federation Certified Instructor. Ann conducts training clinics throughout the country for both dressage and musical freestyle at the Training through Grand Prix levels and she also holds her USDF "L" judge certification.
Walker’s riders have been garnering top awards for years. Fanny Lee '99 has twice been Intermediate Adult Amateur Rider of the Year, while Sarah Hansel '99 has been a top professional competitor and recently qualified for and competed in Rolex 2008. Kristen Wesoly '02 was Reserve National Champion Training Rider in 2007. Alexi Wikstrom '03 was individual Gold Medalist at the North America Young Riders Championship in 2003 and this year Ellie van Gemeren '09 is the Junior training rider of the year for Area I.
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Walker's Centennial
– Friya, ‘11
