Day One at Upperville: Preparation, Partnership & Plenty to Celebrate

The first day of the 2026 Upperville Colt & Horse Show is officially underway, and for Wheatland Equestrian, the theme of the day was simple: preparation.

Before the week’s ribbons, rounds, and celebrations could begin, the weekend was devoted to thoughtful planning for what promises to be a very special week ahead—particularly the upcoming Therapeutic Equine Celebration in the Parker Ring this Saturday, June 6.

On Sunday, Coaches Anthony Forrest and Muriel Forrest brought dressage horses Hero and Paddy to school through the magnificently decorated Parker Arena in preparation for the celebration. Both horses settled beautifully into the atmosphere, earning a few bemused glances from passing hunter riders as dressage movements quietly unfolded in one of the sport’s most iconic hunter venues. For Wheatland, it was a meaningful reminder of what makes Upperville so extraordinary: a place where many disciplines—and many kinds of riders—can belong.

Back at the farm Sunday evening, it was all hands on deck. Horses were thoroughly bathed and braided, tack was meticulously cleaned, trailers were packed, and final preparations were made ahead of an early Monday start.

Wheatland coaches gather for the start of UCHS 2026!

Anthony and Elmo take 4th and 7th out of 64 in their division!

Monday dawned bright and early, and by 10 a.m. Coach Anthony Forrest was already ringside with multiple horses as Wheatland coaches gathered to finalize plans for students and horses for the busy week ahead. There was early excitement when Janie Motion and her lovely Demandit captured an 8th-place ribbon in the Too Slow to Go Thoroughbred Hunter division—a wonderful way to begin the week.

There was little time to celebrate, however, as attention quickly shifted to the Take Two Thoroughbred Hunter classes featuring Joe Stroh’s Waylon Jennings Winter’s Dude (“Elmo”) and Nikita Hvozda’s Bettheover (“Freddy”). Both horses impressed. Freddy, stepping confidently into the 3’ division, performed beautifully both over fences and under saddle, while Elmo delivered standout performances to earn 4th and 7th place ribbons out of an impressive field of 64 horses in the over-fences division.

With a strong start behind them, the Wheatland team heads into Tuesday energized and grateful—ready for what will likely be the busiest competition day of the week. With horses competing across nearly every hunter division, it will be a full day of focus, teamwork, and plenty of miles walked between rings.

Most of all, we are grateful: for our wonderful horses, our generous owners and students, and the extraordinary staff and families who make all of this possible.

At Wheatland Equestrian, one of the greatest joys of this week is seeing riders with disabilities and riders without disabilities celebrated side by side as part of one shared team at Upperville—a rare and meaningful thing indeed.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s updates from UCHS 2026!