By MARLEY LIEN-GONZALEZ
Equestrian activity thrives at the heart of a sprawling 320-acre elite boarding school campus, where top junior riders receive a world-class education while horse showing at the most prestigious venues and in the highest levels of hunters, jumpers, equitation, dressage, and western.
The Grier School, an all-girls institute now offering boarding and day enrollment from the fifth to twelfth grades, located in Birmingham, PA, has spent years developing its riding team into an enterprise that surpasses even the most successful collegiate athletic programs. It’s the largest boarding school equestrian program in the U.S. with over 70 school-owned and student-ridden and shown horses currently, including high-performance equine athletes at a combined value of over $25 million.
On Grier horsepower, riders representing the school have attended–or have qualified and are heading to this year–the Capital Challenge Horse Show, Pennsylvania National Horse Show, Washington International Horse Show, Devon Horse Show, USEF Pony Finals, and Junior Hunter Finals.
A Program Built on Excellence
The school’s commitment to its equestrian program is evident in both its investment and results. Over the past five years, Grier has dramatically expanded its stables, supporting the school’s acquisition of seven Grand Prix horses that students can use for Junior Jumper competitions at the 1.20 m height and above.
Lindsay Shaw, Admissions and Marketing Associate at Grier and an alumna of the riding program, reflects, “Our horses when I was a student were amazing and definitely took riders to the next level; yet the horses that we now have supersede not only our program from five years ago, but other high school-level programs and most of the collegiate teams.”
The results speak for themselves. Two years ago, Grier became the first school in the history of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) to sweep all three national championships–Hunt Seat, Western, and Dressage–in a single year. Undefined by that singular achievement, the school has won at least one national championship every year for the past decade.
Grier has been a powerhouse in the IEA ranks, and its gradual transition to attending more open-rated horse shows across the country has led student riders to find success against a wide range of competitors outside of the inter-scholastic realm.
“We’re going to continue to pour our resources, our strength, and our commitment into this pillar of the school. We are all committed to that northstar purpose,” says Geoffrey Grier, Director of Grier School. Over half of the student population at Grier School participates in the equestrian program in some capacity–whether that be pleasure and trail riding or competing actively on the Varsity and Junior Varsity riding teams.
“Our commitment to the program is going to remain very strong,” Grier says, “From our continued buildout of infrastructure, we’re committed to the instructors, students, and the horses. We’re going to focus our collective energy on creating career riders, and what that means is taking the skills of riding and making them last a lifetime.”
Building Character Outside of Competition
What sets Grier’s equestrian program apart from other boarding schools is its initiative to foster long-lasting success in students, whether they continue on the path of riding or not.
At the barn, the value of fellowship is strengthened. “Riding brings the opportunity for athletic achievement, but also builds leadership qualities, responsibility, and sisterhood,” says Maureen Cleary, Grier’s Director of Admissions. “The students care for their classmates, their horses, and the facilities at the barn.”
Currently, six Grier equestrian graduates have returned to the school in a professional capacity to work at the stable–some part-time as they pursue higher education goals. They form the backdrop of a barn environment where the student riders are expected to handle all aspects of horse care under the watchful eye of the knowledgeable and supportive riding program staff.
With responsibility over the care of an animal comes valuable experiences that can’t be attained strictly through classroom settings. The Grier School Equestrian Program is devoted to an immersive, hands-on approach for developing well-rounded students.
“Our motto translated from Latin is ‘A Sound Mind in a Sound Body,’ and I see this come to fruition with our riding students, who grow inside the classroom as well as through their daily practice and travel,” Cleary says. “The riding program at Grier nurtures future female leaders who will always have a skill set that is transferable to the classroom and beyond.”
Academic Integration and Support
Grier students are held to a high standard of academic excellence; a fact that perseveres in spite of the significant time consumption and travel required for competitive riding.
The Grier School pioneered an innovative solution to help their equestrian athletes stay on track while going from competition to competition. A recent hire, an academic riding coordinator, ensures that academic progress continues even during busy competition seasons.
“When you have these competitive athletes, you really need to be able to look at them as a whole child and say, ‘Okay, they’re really passionate and they’re this amazing athlete, but they still need to balance that academic schedule.’ That can be a challenge they need guidance navigating,” says Kara Lawler, Head of School.
Another Grier advantage is the school’s boarding environment, which eliminates logistical challenges like commuting to distant barns. Students walk just two minutes from their dormitories to the Grier School Stables, allowing them to keep pursuing their equestrian goals just steps from where their social, academic, and domestic activities take place.
“Here on campus, the girls can finish classes, get to the barn, ride, come back for dinner, and get to study hall all in the same day,” Lawler says.
A Model For Success
The Grier School’s exemplary program has produced students who make the riding team shine.
“At every single horse show we’ve attended for the past few years, I always hear how Grier girls are so lovely, respectful, and helpful,” says Director of Riding, Chrystal Wood. “To me, that is more important than any riding aspect of it.”
With resources and an environment that readily prepares students for college and more, Grier gives young equestrians greater access than any other academic institution in the country to a high level of competition without sacrificing a comprehensive education and the unparalleled in-person learning experience.
Grier’s investment in its riding program, dedicated instructors, and focus on building the leaders of tomorrow illustrates that their riders are ready to tackle not only the major horse show stops they’ve marked down on this year’s calendar, but also their whole lives ahead.
