Upperville Colt & Horse Show Presented by MARS Equestrian™ to Host Free Arbor Day Celebration Under the Oaks

Historic Grafton Farm showgrounds will open to the public on Friday, April 26.

UPPERVILLE, VA — The 2024 Upperville Colt & Horse Show, presented by MARS Equestrian™, will host a free Arbor Day celebration on the historic Grafton Farm showgrounds on Friday, April 26, from 10:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.

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 171st year on Monday, June 3, through Sunday, June 9. The Arbor Day celebration will take place on the same showgrounds the horse show has used since 1853. 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 showgrounds 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. The weeklong show culminates on June 9 with the excitement of the $226,000 Upperville Jumper Classic CSI4*, featuring top equestrians from across the nation and around the world.

Additional sponsors of the 2024 Upperville Horse Show include Ethel M. Chocolates, Lugano Diamonds, Salamander Collection, B&D Builders, Douglas Elliman, Markel Insurance, Delta, and Piedmont Equine Practice.

For more information, visit upperville.com.

Photos courtesy of Upperville Horse Show.

Posted on: April 9, 2024