Upperville Colt & Horse Show presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™ to host free Arbor Day Celebration Under the Oaks

The 2023 Upperville Colt & Horse Show, presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™ will host a free Arbor Day celebration on the historic Grafton Farm show grounds on Saturday, April 29, from noon until 3 p.m. Rain date is Sunday, April 30.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic and take a self-guided tour under the iconic tree canopy and explore the stream and wildlife habitat. Dogs are allowed but must be leashed and vaccinated.

As the oldest horse show in the U.S., the Upperville Colt & Horse Show will celebrate its 170^th year this June 5 through 11. The Arbor Day celebration will take place on the same show grounds the horse show has used for the past 170 years. The site is known for its iconic trees and was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2022. It is one of the most historically intact horse show grounds in the nation. Some of the oak tree canopy dates to the Revolutionary War era, and the grounds were witness to action during the Civil War.

Founded in 1853 as a one-day show to encourage better breeding and care of horses, the Upperville Colt & Horse Show has grown to a weeklong tradition with thousands of equestrian and equine pairs competing in a variety of competitive disciplines. Many of the continent’s top professional riders as well as amateurs, compete under the spectacular setting featuring the famous oaks at Grafton Farm.

The UCHS is an FEI CSI4* event that attracts hundreds of world-class equestrians year after year. The equine and human athletes compete in disciplines ranging from international-level show jumping, hunters, and equitation to local ponies, in-hand conformation classes, and women in traditional, elegant sidesaddle. In addition to its CSI4* designation, the competition boasts Premier and Jumper Rating Six classifications with US Equestrian, is sanctioned by the Virginia Horse Shows Association and the Maryland Horse Shows Association, and is a World Championship Hunter Rider recognized show. UCHS is also one of a handful of qualified Heritage Horse Shows across the United States.

The week-long show culminates on June 11 with the excitement of the $226,000 Upperville Jumper Classic CSI4* featuring top world-class equestrians. The day’s entertainment includes junior and amateur riders, a hat contest, and the Horses & Horsepower car show. Vendors throughout the show offer a variety of food as well as equestrian, sporting, and fashionable clothing, milliners, tack and leather goods, jewelry, art, and hand-crafted gifts. The venue is beautifully located in the heart of Virginia’s hunt country.

Sponsors of the 2023 Upperville Colt & Horse Show include MARS EQUESTRIAN™, Ethel M® Chocolate Brand, Buckeye Nutrition, Nutro Natural Choice, The Salamander Collection, Lugano Diamonds, B&D Builders, Delta, Markel, and Piedmont Equine Practice.

For more information, visit www.upperville.com.

About the Upperville Colt & Horse Show

The Upperville Colt & Horse Show, also known as the Upperville Horse Show and UCHS, is the oldest horse show in the U.S. Founded in 1853 as a one-day show to encourage better breeding and care of horses, the show has grown to a weeklong tradition with thousands of equestrian and equine pairs competing in a variety of competitive disciplines. Many of the continent’s top professional riders as well as amateurs, compete under the spectacular setting featuring the famous oaks at Grafton Farm—the same location as 1853. UCHS is a 501(c)3 charitable organization that raises funds for The Churches of Upperville Outreach Program and supports other area charities. For complete schedules and up-to-the-minute results, visit the website at www.upperville.com.