Riding has returned to Notre Dame Academy! The new Fox Hunting Club is an athletic and social organization which promotes the famed local tradition in the rolling hillsides of America's Hunt Country.

The club was founded by Samantha Johnsey, the school's new Latin teacher. Although she only began teaching at Notre Dame in September, she is not new to the school. Johnsey is an NDA alum from the class of 2004. After recently graduating from the University of Virginia, she was pleased and excited to return to her Alma Mater as a teacher and coach. Mrs. Johnsey is also completing her Master of Fine Arts in Playwriting from Hollins University in her spare time.

While attending Notre Dame, she enjoyed playing volleyball and softball, however; her true passions were theater and Riding. When she was not performing, setting, spiking, or batting, she was memorizing lines or improving her saddle skills. Though she certainly wouldn't consider herself the most technical rider, she always enjoyed the thrill of being on horseback ("the faster the better"). Her fascination with horses was brought to a head when she met her husband, seasoned Fox Hunter and Whip for the Loudoun Hunt, Ryan, whom she met in the equestrian community. Over the past few years, he helped to foster her love for riding after introducing her to the hunt. The two of them have spent the last couple of years rehabilitating a rescue racehorse and turning him (and Samantha) into a fox hunting duo. This was quite a formidable task.

During the first week of classes, she decided to offer a Fox Hunting club for students of all levels of riding ability. They received a start up grant of $2,500; and off into the sunset they went! The group of 6 students usually meets on the weekends at the Foxhole Farm in Middleburg. Foxhole provides the students with horses, equipment, and use of their facilities. Such generous support has helped make the club a reality, and everyone at Notre Dame is truly grateful.

The club was founded to teach and encourage riders of all levels—especially beginners. Mrs. Johnsey believes that sharing her passion for horses and the sport with her students is invaluable to their education. Hunting also improves their balance, confidence, and understanding of the local culture. "This is such a great area to ride, and it has a long history of fox hunting," says Johnsey. But why stop at hunting? The club is hoping to begin polo lessons this spring and summer. Who knows, perhaps in a couple of years, Middleburg Academy will have a polo team?

The unseasonably cold weather this winter has prevented the Notre Dame Fox Hunting Club from riding, but not for long! The spring brings promising opportunities to hunt and enjoy other riding activities. While they were "grounded" however, the club had the great opportunity to visit the Middleburg Hunt kennels where they met both Masters Mr. Jeffrey Blue, MFH and Mrs. Penny Denegre, MFH, the huntsman and all the lovely hounds. Also with Middleburg, they got the opportunity to audit and ride in a beginner's Fox Hunting clinic. With Loudoun Hunt, members had the opportunity to help with a judged pleasure trail ride held at the beautiful Oatlands Plantation in Leesburg. This winter, they will join the Loudoun Hunt at their annual black-tie Hunt Ball held in February.

Notre Dame Academy is an independent, co-educational, college preparatory high school in Middleburg, Virginia. WWW.Notredameva.org 540.687.5581