Upperville 2026: Hunters Shine While the Dressage Team Prepares for Saturday

The past two days at the 2026 Upperville Colt & Horse Show have been busy, exciting, and filled with memorable moments for the Wheatland Equestrian team.

Tuesday saw Coach Anthony Forrest and our hunter team hard at work across multiple divisions. Anthony piloted Big Joe in the 3'6 Green Conformation Hunter division before turning his attention to a talented group of client horses. "BetTheOver" (owned by Nikita Hvozda), "Bluegrass Bandit" (owned by April Jaworski), "Demandit" (owned by Jane Motion), and "Waylon Jennings" (owned by Joseph Stroh) all competed in the Thoroughbred Hunter Development classes, showcasing the quality and versatility of the Thoroughbred horse.

Later in the day, Freddy, Elmo, and Archer returned to the ring for the inaugural $25,000 Upperville Thoroughbred Hunter Derby. Elmo delivered an exceptional performance, earning a score of 76 and narrowly missing the second-round cutoff by just one point. With the cutoff score set at 77, it was a remarkable effort and one that left the team incredibly proud.

Freddy continues to make exciting progress, now confidently stepping up to the 3' divisions—a significant milestone in his development. Archer, meanwhile, was simply flawless, producing several beautiful rounds throughout the day and demonstrating the consistency and quality that have become his trademark.

On Wednesday, the action returned to the iconic Parker Ring with Quantum Leap Z, affectionately known as "Joe," competing in the 3'6 Green Conformation and Handy Hunter rounds. Like many talented young horses, Joe mixed moments of brilliance with a few youthful "baby moments," but his potential is undeniable. His athleticism, presence, and natural talent continue to impress, and we have no doubt he is developing into an exceptional equitation horse as he gains experience and miles in the show ring. Several of our students visited today to cheer Coach Anthony on. It was wonderful to welcome Kirby and sisters Maren and Amelia to watch the action and enjoy the atmosphere at their first Upperville Colt and Horse Show. We are pretty sure they'll be back soon! We are also so incredibly grateful to our whole team for assisting this week in getting all of the horses shining and ready for the ring, and to our team members back at the farm that continue to keep things running smoothly for our students and horses back at Belle Grey Farm. It has been an "all hands on deck" week so far!

While the hunters have been busy showcasing their talents, the dressage horses have been enjoying a slightly lighter schedule as they prepare for their own moment in the spotlight.

Hero, Chip, and Paddy are gearing up for Saturday's Therapeutic Equine Celebration in the historic Parker Ring. The trio will return to schooling at Belle Grey Farm tomorrow before making their way back to the showgrounds in preparation for Saturday's exhibition, where Wheatland Equestrian's therapeutic riding and para dressage students will once again have the opportunity to demonstrate the power of horses to change lives.

We hope you'll join us this Saturday at 12:45 p.m. in the Parker Ring at the Upperville Colt and Horse Show, for this special celebration of inclusion, horsemanship, and community.

Until then, keep checking back for more sights, sounds, stories, and behind-the-scenes moments from the 2026 Upperville Colt & Horse Show!