For equestrian commentator Sara Kozumplik, Leesburg’s Morven Park — home to the Morven Park International Equestrian Center — is a special venue.
“I’ve been riding here since I was 11,” Kozumplik says. “Morven Park has a long and rich history in horse sports. It’s really a perfect venue for international competition.”
The park’s legacy stretches back to 1903, when Westmoreland Davis and his wife, Marguerite, purchased the estate, and the venue has hosted recognized horse trials since 1973.
This year, the park will host the first-ever U.S. Equestrian Open of Eventing Final, with $200,000 in prize money at stake. The event is part of the Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials. “It’s going to be exciting because you get to see future Olympians alongside emerging riders.”
Kozumplik says Morven Park’s courses remain one of the most challenging in the country. “The cross-country courses, dressage arenas, and galloping turf attract top international officials and riders,” she says. “It’s the kind of place competitors dream about.” She says the weekend is an opportunity to enjoy the sport, the scenery, and the heritage.
“You don’t have to be a horse expert to enjoy the weekend,” she says. “You can bring your family, walk the grounds, and see the riders and horses at all levels. The atmosphere is welcoming, and the autumn scenery makes it a really beautiful experience.”
For McKenna Martinez, the Morven Park International Fall Horse Trials are more than just another competition — it’s home turf. The Leesburg resident and Loudoun Valley High School alum has been riding for 20 years. “It’s like any athlete competing in their hometown — it brings a different level of pride,” she says.
Before every ride, Martinez says she meditates and visualizes success: “Every time before I go out, I make sure I sit and picture everything exactly how I want it to happen.”
One of her proudest moments was finishing 12th in her first FEI (Fédération Équestre Internationale) event without a coach: “It takes a lot of hard work and blood, sweat, and tears, but you have to make it happen,” she says.
Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials
- Date: October 9 to 12
- Time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Address: 41580 Sunday Morning Ln., Leesburg
- Admission: Free
- Livestream: Youtube.com/@MorvenParkEQ and bit.ly/WatchMPIFHT
Feature image courtesy McKenna Martinez, photo by Erin Gilmore Photography
