EQUESTRIAN CAMP VIRGINIA

Hosted by Nizar Zakka, ’85, recipient of Riverside’s 2019 President’s Award, Riverside cadets were offered a ten-day experience at Freedom Camp, located in Marshall, Virginia, to learn basic and advanced horsemanship along with studies of United States military history. During this trip, cadets learned the basics of caring for a horse, tacking, trotting, cantering, and riding in formation, which included a mounted color guard practice. Each day consisted of several hours of riding, equestrian care, and history.

The group also visited sites of historical significance such as Cedar Creek and Manassas (Bull Run) Battlefields where they observed a reenactment and experienced a trail ride with historians. The U.S. Army Museum and U.S. Army Caisson Platoon were included in the itinerary, which tied equestrian studies with military history topics. Concluding the camp were trips to two polo matches affording three cadets the opportunity to compete in the sport of kings.

Evan Schneider, a Riverside sophomore, said the trip’s most memorable part was visiting the U.S. Army Caisson Platoon. “It’s been a dream of mine to visit the Caisson Platoon since I was a little boy, so I was really glad to finally have the chance to see it,” said Schneider. He continued, “Even though I’ve grown up around horses, I was able to learn new skills, and the experience brought us as cadets closer together.”