The Ethel Walker School
Winter Riding Program
The Ethel Walker School Winter Riding Program offers a comprehensive and enriching experience designed to support the development of Walker’s riders across a variety of settings. Through training in diverse environments, participation in competitive events such as WEF, WEC, and HITS, and instruction from top professionals in the equestrian field, students are provided with meaningful opportunities to advance their skills and deepen their passion for riding.
The program is intentionally structured to be accessible to students with varying levels of financial resources and time commitments, and includes opportunities at multiple destinations. Participation in the Winter Riding Program is carefully coordinated in partnership with our Dean of Curriculum and Academics to ensure that each student maintains strong academic performance while pursuing their equestrian goals. Our commitment is to support students in achieving excellence both in the classroom and in the ring.
Participation in Events
The following participation options are available for the 2026–2027 The Ethel Walker School Winter Riding Program. While some dates may vary annually based on the school calendar, others are determined by external horse show schedules.
External Events
| Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, Florida |
| World Equestrian Center (WEC) in Wilmington, Ohio |
| World Equestrian Center (WEC) in Ocala, Florida |
| HITS Ocala Winter Circuit (HITS) in Ocala, Florida |
| Local New England Shows |
School Breaks/Events
| Long Winter Weekend — February |
| Lacuna* — Early March |
| Spring Break — Mid-March |
*Lacuna is a school-wide learning opportunity to dive beyond typical classroom content. For our equestrians, this includes areas outside of our normal competition scope — vaulting, western, reining, cutting, polo, equine veterinary science, and so many other hands-on experiences that deepen their connection to the sport and spark new passions.
From Our Riders
It was the place that allowed me to compete alongside the best riders in the country, and my experiences there are a huge part in what landed me on Oklahoma State’s Division I Equestrian Team!
Walker's allowed me to feed both my love of academia and my passion for my sport without sacrificing one for the other.
Walker’s has supported me both in and out of the ring through guidance from my trainers and a supportive community that helps me grow as a rider and as a person.
