Rustburg, Va. -- After all these years, they finally have a home to call their own.
University of Lynchburg's equestrian program, director of athletics Jon Waters, and director of riding Phillip Williamson are thrilled to announce the University's long-term agreement with Patrick Henry Family Services Farm as the new home of the Hornets equestrian program. The team will move into the facility in June of 2022.
The property is 181 acres along U.S. Route 501 in Campbell County, two miles south of Rustburg and about 14 miles from University of Lynchburg's campus. It features two existing barns, a show ring, and a significant tract of pastureland. Lynchburg plans to improve the property with a 120-foot by 250-foot covered arena and barn with more stalls to increase capacity to 35 or more horses, and trails traversing the back part of the property.
"We have been blessed over the years to have incredible students come through our riding program," Waters said, "and they have navigated all of the twists and turns in our facilitation of the program with great resilience. Our new relationship provides stability for decades to come and will allow our program to operate in an even more student-centered way relative to ring access, horse availability, and dynamic team experiences."
Lynchburg equestrian will move from its current home at the Liberty Mountain Equestrian Center at the conclusion of this academic year. The Hornets have called the Liberty facility home since the fall of 2020.
It will be the first time in the 40-year history of the Lynchburg equestrian program that the Hornets will have a barn of their own. Upon the completion of the farm's upgrades, both Lynchburg's National Collegiate Equestrian Association and Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association teams will practice and compete at the facility.
"I have been very grateful to Suzanne Flaig and her staff at Liberty for their ability to provide Lynchburg equestrian a home since 2020," Williamson said. "We have seen significant growth in the last year of the program, and I am excited that we are able to continue to grow in a space that allows us to build on our success moving forward. The support that the University is putting behind our equestrian team is remarkable, and it will allow us to continue to serve our student-athletes at the highest level and provide opportunities for us to support the local equestrian community as well."
Another exciting element of the agreement is the strengthening of University of Lynchburg's relationship with Patrick Henry Family Services, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families in need of care, counseling, and community resources. The University plans to continue its relationship with PHFS through community service initiatives.
The timing of the move also bodes well for the current Hornet riders. Lynchburg's NCEA team posted a 3-5 record this past fall against some of the toughest competition in the country and is ranked No. 2 in the latest single-discipline national rankings. The Hornets' IHSA team currently sits second in the Zone 4 Region 2 standings.
"I am thrilled for our current and future student-athletes," Williamson said. "This transition will give Lynchburg the opportunity to increase the riding opportunities and establish ourselves as a top choice for the college-bound competitive equestrian students of all levels."
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