After a long winter, Waterford resident Stephanie Alvord was ready for a bit of horseback riding Saturday during the public trail ride offered for the first time by the Morven Park Equestrian Center and United States Trail Ride (USTR), Inc.
"It was nice to chat with other riders who were tired of being snowed in," said Alvord, who took her 9-year-old daughter Adriane with her. "Everybody had a lot of fun. It didn't rain on us, even though it wanted to."
Twenty-two people participated in the two-hour trail ride across the grounds of Morven Park, the 1,200-acre historic landmark estate of Virginia Gov. Westmoreland Davis, north of Leesburg. Davis was governor from 1918-22.
"It's such a beautiful place to ride," said Bluemont resident Meredith Hilt, trail coordinator for USTR — which promotes trail preservation and camaraderie on horseback — and Morven Park's web master. Hilt provided tour information about Morven Park and her husband Chris Hilt lead the ride. "It's a wonderful, wonderful place that many people aren't aware of. It has so many neat things."
Hilt mentioned the equestrian center and three museums that are at the park. "I don't think people are aware of this historic treasure right in their own backyard," she said. "It's not just the mansion and the museums, almost every weekend there is something neat going on."
Alvord said the best part of the ride for her and her daughter was riding past the 19th century Greek Revival-style Governor's Mansion. "We got to go in some woods, ... up and down hills and across streams. Getting out with the horses after all this snow is nice," she said. "We're planning on going there again."
Three other trail rides are scheduled at Morven Park on June 8, Aug. 10 and Oct. 18. Pre-registration is required, and riders are expected to supply their own horses and equipment.