The Darlington School Three-Day Eventing Academy is well underway for the 2004-05 school year. Darlington has joined forces with the Carl M. Bouckaert Foundation in order to offer a world-class instructional program.
“Combined with the stellar academic program that Darlington has offered for the past 100 years, the Three-Day Eventing Academy is a truly unique educational opportunity,” said Danielle Ezell, assistant director of admission for eventing. “The Academy is definitely geared toward the serious rider wanting to progress and move up through the levels.”
The Academy is currently home to three full-time Darlington students, from Michigan, Colorado and Tennessee, although the maximum capacity for the program is 12.
The horses are housed on 6,000 acres at Kingston Downs, a location that also hosts the Shamrock Hounds and Atlanta Steeplechase. The barn is a brand new state-of-the-art facility that has all of the amenities that horse and rider could possibly desire.
“The facilities are astounding,” said senior Academy participant Lauren Nethery. “The miles of trail and abundant cross country fences are splendid for conditioning. The stalls are roomy, the barn is gorgeous and the ring is very well-designed to withstand the elements.”
According to Ezell, the Three-Day Eventing Academy is in addition to the regular academic work and schooling required by Darlington, thus its $18,000 fee is in addition to the School’s regular tuition and fees. This fee includes board, instruction and training.
Instruction in dressage is offered by Suzanne King, USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold medallist. King, also of Teamwork Dressage in Alpharetta, Ga., serves as program director and lives on site at Kingston Downs.
Jumping instruction is offered by Nathalie Bouckaert and Michael Pollard, both Advanced-level event riders. Bouckaert was short-listed for the 2004 Athens Olympic Team and was No. 8 at the 2003 Pan-American Games. She is the daughter of Belgian Olympic rider and Academy supporter, Carl Bouckaert.
Pollard has an impressive resume as well, winning the Markham trophy in 1999 as the highest placed young rider in the Rolex Kentucky CCI*** and again in 2001 at the Fair Hill International CCI ***. Michael was also short-listed for the Pan-American Games in 1999, and is currently listed in the top 20 U.S. Riders.
“The quality of instruction is amazing,” said Nethery. “Our dressage trainer has brought me and my horse to an entirely new level of communication, and one of our jumping instructors, Michael Pollard, is by far the most articulate instructor I’ve been taught by thus far.”
Darlington Three-Day Eventing participants work on their dressage three times a week, with jumping instruction an average of twice per week. Additional riding and training is at the discretion of the program director and instructors as needed.
“The first show of the season, The Kentucky Classic at the Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., was not only successful but a great learning experience and gauge of where our riders are and in what direction they need to progress,” said Ezell.
Instructor Nathalie Bouckaert placed first and second in the International Open Intermediate CIC** on her horses West Farthing and Everest, respectively.
Darlington junior Megan Schoenmaker competed her horse, Fujiyama, in the Open Training division, finishing No. 9 overall. Nethery, riding her new horse, Magnificantly, was able to rebound in the Open Novice A after a tense dressage test, to finish No. 15 on her dressage score.
Darlington’s third Academy participant, junior Carly Crispell, was unable to compete because her horse, Gryffindor, was shipped in from Colorado only a few days before the competition.
“We look forward to all of the girls competing at the upcoming Poplar Place Horse Trials in Hamilton, Ga., on Sept. 25-26,” said Ezell. “Please look for us there for more information and to meet our team.”
For more information on Darlington School Three-Day Eventing, please visit
www.darlingtonschool.org or contact Ezell at
dezell@darlingtonschool.org.
