Highland Senior in Point-to-Point Winner’s Circle

Highland Senior in Point-to-Point Winner’s Circle

At the Blue Ridge point-to-point, Chloe Hannum knows exactly where’s she’s going.

Photo by Doug Gehlsen Middleburg Photo

By Linda Roberts

The sign at the entrance to Adlestrop Hill, the Hannum family farm near

Delaplane, proudly announces “Chloe Hannum, Congratulations, Class of 2021.” She recently graduated from Highland School in Warrenton with honor roll recognitions behind her. And, her senior year could be termed a wild ride.

Several achievements other than her academic pursuits have made her bubble over with happiness. A lifelong equestrian, the 18-year-old piloted her Kentuckybred bay horse, Cocodimama, to several wins on the point-to-point race meet schedule and had four victories in all by Memorial Day.

“He tried his little heart out,” Chloe said of her star performer.“He’s the best horse I’ve ever had.”

Her first win this season was at the Piedmont Point-to-Point in a ladies timber race, followed by another win at the Old Dominion races. Then came a third place finish at the Blue Ridge races in an open timber event where she competed against male riders. Chloe shrugs off any difference in riding against “the guys” as no big deal.

Not content to race only over timber fences, Chloe also piloted her sister Flora’s grey horse, Paddy’s Crown, to victory at both the Piedmont and Warrenton pointto-points.

She was raised in an equine-oriented family. Her mother, Emily, a native of Great Britain, grew up riding and is an enthusiastic participant in the hunt field. Her father, Jeb, is executive director of the Virginia Equine Alliance which promotes horse racing in Virginia. He’s also also Jt. Master of Foxhounds for Orange County Hounds.

Chloe doesn’t remember ever not riding.“It was just what I did growing up,” she said matter-of-factly.“I never thought of not riding.”

Chloe credits her parents with her love of riding, and now racing, and her sister who allows her to race Paddy’s Crown. “I am so grateful to my parents and to so many people who have helped me with my riding,” she said. “My parents are the driving force behind it all; I am so fortunate.”

Riding and caring for the family’s six horses and working with horses for several area farms will keep Chloe busy this summer.

This fall she will enter George Washington University (GWU) where she plans to major in biology. With an eye turned toward eventually becoming a veterinarian, Chloe also plans on enrolling in GWU’s leadership program.

With classes not all that far away in D.C., she’s looking forward to finding time to come home to Delaplane to hunt with her parents and keep Cocodimama in racing shape for the racing season that starts again early next year.