Equestrian: Worsham Takes Reigns of Foxcroft's Fabled Program

Special to VivaLoudoun

Middleburg (Oct. 28, 2011) – Kate Worsham, who spent the past seven years as riding director at Oldfields School in Maryland, became Director of Riding at Foxcroft School, effective in July. A graduate of Washington and Lee University, she brings 20-plus years of competitive riding and training experience and an extensive teaching career to Foxcroft’s historic riding program.

Worsham succeeds Nelly Sheehan, who received the School’s highest honor – the Anne Kane McGuire Award – in April in recognition of her outstanding service and dedication during 20+ years as director.


At Oldfields, Worsham ran a thriving hunter/jumper-based instruction program, served as coach of the school’s Interscholastic Equestrian Association team, and was head trainer for a show program that accommodated riders competing at local through “AA” rated competitions. Her riders have earned champion and reserve honors at “AA” rated shows in a variety of divisions and excelled in equitation classes sanctioned by the U.S. Equestrian Federation, Maryland and Virginia Horse Show Associations, and Southwest Virginia Horse Show Association.

Worsham and her students have also earned many Championship honors at “AA” rated competitions in divisions such as Low, Pre-Green, Children’s and Junior Hunters as well as in the Children’s/ Adult Jumper divisions.

As testament to her professionalism, she was awarded Exhibitor of the Week awards at the Lexington Spring Premiere AA Horse Show in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Worsham takes over a program whose history and tradition date back to Foxcroft’s beginnings and today offers a well-rounded riding education to students of varying abilities, from beginner to advanced, based on the tenets of hunter seat equitation and structured to each rider’s needs and abilities. Worsham and riding teacher Laurie Feickert together with guest instructors and clinicians provide complete instruction for riders interested in competing in equitation, hunters, jumpers, combined training, and dressage.

In addition, a long-standing relationship with the Middleburg Hunt gives advanced riders a chance to ride to the hounds and the School presents occasional international riding options.

Competitive experiences ranging from local to rated venues are offered in all disciplines along with the opportunity to compete with the Foxcroft Riding Team in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association. An Exceptional Proficiency Program enables a few students each year to train and compete at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida.

The Riding Program supports and works well with non-Foxcroft trainers with whom riders may be working, seeking to complement and enhance each rider’s personal equestrian education.

Foxcroft’s excellent riding facilities include the 60-stall Jean DuPont McConnell Stable with two tack rooms, four wash stalls, and farrier and grooming stations; a 100' by 200' indoor arena with viewing gallery, overhead watering system, and state-of-the-art footing; separate outdoor grass arena and sand arenas, novice and training level cross-country courses; miles of well-maintained trails; and numerous paddocks. The stable houses 25 to 30 Foxcroft-owned horses that range in level from beginner through advanced and are of the quality and soundness to be used for lessons, local and rated competitions, and fox hunting. Students may also board private horses.