Women and horses. In barns and show rings throughout Loudoun County, you can witness female riders of all ages groom, train, and show their equine companions. Perhaps it's inevitable. After all, from National Velvet to My Little Pony, the affinity that young girls have for horses is as common as their enchantment with princesses, baby dolls, and anything pink. For some, that little-girl obsession matures to a conscious evolution of owning, caring for, and actively riding and showing horses. Others come to it later in life. Yet, whether as partners in the show ring or simply pals on the trail, there seems to be an inter-species bond between women and horses that is both pervasive, and profound.

On Saturday, October, 10th, that bond, along with the color pink will combine in a very special way as the Middleburg area's Fox Chase Farm kicks off the inaugural Ride for the Cure® Virginia at 11:00am. Sanctioned by the Richmond affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, monies raised by participating riders will help fund breast cancer research, education, and breast health awareness in Virginia.

The ride is one of only five such equestrian events in the country this year, and the first ever in the state of Virginia.

Participants will be organized into three groups based on the distance, style, and speed of trail riding they prefer. Beginning and ending at Fox Chase Farm, the two-hour ride will wind through the beautiful rolling hills of Sunnybank Farm, owned by steeplechase trainer Mrs. Dorothy Smithwick.

Cochairs for the event are Fox Chase Farm owner Maureen Hanley, and Dr. Tena Boyd of Old Waterloo Equine Clinic in Warrenton, VA.

Ms. Hanley initiated the idea of sponsoring a Susan G. Komen benefit ride because of the inherent connection between women, horses, and an event whose goal is to raise funds to help eradicate breast cancer and support those battling the disease. "Horses are very therapeutic to women, especially during illness," she said. "We are proud to offer Fox Chase Farm as a meeting place, and to host the first-ever Ride for the Cure® Virginia."

Limited to 200 riders, Hanley says that already 190 riders have signed up, including some twenty teams of riders. Each participant must raise at least $250 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure® to take part in the ride, which includes a post-ride dinner, entertainment, vendors, and a silent auction including items from Jimmy Kimmel and Melissa Ethridge.

Some individual participants, like Karen Pimental from the Newport News area, have already raised over $1,500. When contacted by phone, Ms. Pimental was enroute to a chemotherapy session. "I had breast cancer five years ago and almost made it past the five-year mark," Pimental said. "But in February, they discovered the cancer had metastasized to my bones."

Since then, she's undergone several types of radiation and chemo, but says she still faces each day with a positive attitude. "Riding itself is very therapeutic," she continued. "Of course, it's very important for me to find a cure. It probably won't happen in my lifetime, but it might in my daughter's or granddaughter's lifetime."

Ms. Pimental has never been to Middleburg before, but she's heard about the area's legendary beauty, and is looking forward to participating in the ride with her beloved horse Punkin.

Of the many teams participating, the Nokesville Horse Society is the largest, with seventeen riders signed up. Karen Basala, the group's vice president, first learned about Ride for the Cure® Virginia on the Fox Chase Farm website. As the Nokesville Horse Society is involved in activities from shows to educational outreach, Basala figured that Ride for the Cure® Virginia was a perfect match for her group. She posted a notice on their message board, and got back a tremendous response from the members.

"A lot of our riders have a passion for horses, and wanted to do something that would have a positive impact for our community," Basala said. Several riders are breast cancer survivors, and thus far, Nokesville Horse Society team participants have raised over $6,000 for the October 10th event.

You can find more information about Fox Chase Farm's Ride for the Cure® Virginia online, at www.foxchasefarm.net. Non-riding family and friends may also attend the post-ride dinner by purchasing tickets at $50/person online at www.komenrichmond.org.