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Knox Equestrian Program

Students of all riding abilities enhance their equestrian skills in a supportive and nurturing environment.

Founded in 1914, the Equestrian Program is the school’s oldest continuous sports activity. The program is run from the Phebe T. Phillips Equestrian Center, a historic horseshoe-shaped structure featuring 25 stalls, a covered track, and a turnout field. The school also has an outdoor sand ring, grass ring, and pasture areas.

The Knox riding program is a 5-day per week program designed for students of all ages and riders of all ability levels – beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The program focuses exclusively on hunt seat equitation, hunters, and jumpers.

The Knox Riding Program will allow you to ride with whatever focus you desire. If you have a love of horses and ride for the pure enjoyment of it, we can help you do just that; keeping it fun and safe. If you would like to compete, we can help you reach your goals. We can sit down and discuss those goals and a program can be arranged to help you be successful.

Behind all our athletic endeavors we stress Knox Core Values. Ninety-five percent of our riders this past year were honor students who were highly supportive and respectful of each other. Here, the Golden Rule is THE RULE at the barn. Horses teach us empathy, patience and discipline. It is an individual sport with a team twist to it…your horse. We have seen individual lives changed and influenced by interaction with horses. We hope you decide to join us at The Phebe T. Phillips Equestrian Center.

Co-Director Natasha Acker-Smith has had local and national experience in show jumping, from the Junior Equitation eliminations to level 5 jumpers in Wellington, Florida to Saugerties, New York. She is presently trained by Olympic medallist Neal Shapiro. Six years ago, having bought a three year old Westphalian, Natasha was able, through correct training, to successfully compete at AA shows up and down the East Coast. She then bred her own mare and is presently training her five-year-old Oldenburg. Having worked in the horse industry in North Carolina, Virginia and Pennsylvania, Natasha has many years of hands on experience, enabling her to pass on the very best classical training methods to her students and their horses. This includes proper horse husbandry, feeding, shoeing, vet care, barn management, and rider safety.

Co-Director Debbie Moore has had a lifelong involvement with horses and the equestrian community. Her experiences include successful showing at all levels, breeding, boarding, instruction, training, horse sales, racing, horse transportation and owning and running a retail equestrian shop. Debbie has a B.A. in Education, and has worked for Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Topping’s Swan Creek Farm and most recently ridden with nationally known trainer and Judge Ralph Caristo and his daughters Karen and Lynn. Debbie has been champion and reserve at the Hampton Classic and qualified for the Marshall and Sterling. She was also the winner of the 1996 NAL A/A Hunter Finals at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, as well as placing second that same year in USEF Zone II. Just recently, Debbie trained the LIHSAA 2006 Mini Equitation Year End Reserve Champion.