96 SIDELINES APRIL 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
e
Colorado
By Courtney Zimmerman
Nestled in the Rocky Mountains, Fountain Valley School of
Colorado isaco-educational, collegepreparatory, boardingandday
school. While the scenery may be breathtaking, it is the equestrian
program that shines. Fountain Valley’s equestrian program started
small, but the team has proven that riders in the West can ride - as
the Fountain Valley School Interscholastic Equestrian Association
(IEA) Team won the National Championships in 2007 and 2009.
Established in 1930, the school has always had Western riding;
but it was not until 2003 that it developed an equitation and hunter/
jumper program. Ann Hanna came on as the coach 10 years ago
and has developed the program to what it is today.
The equitation program came from shaky beginnings - the small
riding arena was originally a hockey rink. Without any horses
for the new program, Ann had to take some from the Western
program; these fve horses were dubbed “Wenglish” because of
their new roles. Fortunately, they were great beginner horses and
Ann still uses them in the program, which has expanded to include
27 horses in the herd.
Two years into the program, Ann established an Interscholastic
Equestrian Association team at Fountain Valley School. The
shows were very small when it frst began; but they have since
grown. In 2006, FVS was Reserve Champion; in 2007 and 2009,
Fountain Valley School won the National Championship, which
was quite a shock for other teams because no one had ever heard
about the riding program at Fountain Valley School.
To help facilitate Fountain Valley School’s success, a graduate
from the equestrian program donated a new indoor riding facility,
which is the third largest in the state. In addition to that, her family
donated a horse and a stipend award to help students who cannot
afford to ride at a competitive level. The award helps fund a
student to attend four A-rated shows and two clinics for the year.
As a result of this assistance, every student who has received the
award has gone on to show in college, either in an NCAA or IHSA
program.
The equestrian program at Fountain Valley School is different
from typical high school riding programs because the kids are
expected to partake in every aspect of care for the horses that
they ride. The student can either bring a horse to the program
or is assigned a horse for the entire season - with the option of
participating in 3 seasons a year - in order to develop a bond
and establish some ownership for the student. Students can also
board their own horses for just $200 a month because at FVS they
are expected to care for their own horses. This attitude creates a
sense of responsibility and a good work ethic, something of which
Ann is very proud.
Ann Hanna seems to have found the recipe for success with the
riding program at FVS. Fountain Valley School’s riders continue
to excel in both the IEA ring and on the A circuit, in addition to
learning how to become good all-around horsemen. For more
information on Fountain Valley School of Colorado, visit www.fvs.
edu.
Fountain
Valley’s
Equestrian
Team Shines
Riders line up for an Interscholastic
Equestrian Association Show at the
Fountain Valley School of Colorado.
All photos courtesy of Fountain
Valley School of Colorado
A rider jumps to new heights at Fountain Valley School.