05/19/2026
Thank you all who came to the 122nd Keswick Horse Show this past week in Lexington. My involvement at Keswick goes back to me ghosting the grounds as a kid, watching and learning from the famous horse people who came every year. It was a different time. No division entry fees. Classes were either $8 or $10 depending on which division you showed in. Days were not long, split into separate sessions with time in between. Footing and stabling was accepted as whatever was there was fine.
Showing has changed just a little bit since the days that no class was offered at less than 3'6". While the economics of running an "A" show, combined with infrastructure demands, and changing habits (showgrounds with multiple weeks at a time) may mean that a modern day "A" show is not feasible at the old showgrounds does not mean that Keswick is going away. We still try to make the show a traditional Virginia show in Lexington with reasonable length days, great hospitality, and all of the old traditional trophies are still revered today.
This will be hopefully the only LONG post I put on this page because I am excited to announce that Keswick is not going away as a cherished showground either. Starting this fall we will hopefully be able to host several local shows at the old showgrounds so a whole new generation of horse folk can gather and show where it all started over 100 years ago. We will start with a one day show on October 3, and what I am planning is a standard morning of short stirrup, pleasure and a junior/amateur division, followed by an afternoon of three open divisions at different heights. If entries are too large we will have to change plans, or limit entries, but the idea is to break in the refurbished ring (pictures to come), the repurposed food stand as a secretary booth, a new pavilion to replace the grandstand, and much more news to come as it happens. One ring show up top, parking at the bottom, no stalls, but hopefully the start of something really special for years to come. Leadline at 6 PM followed by a hunt night as part of the hunt night series put on by Bull Run, Farmington and now Keswick with the finale at the Farmington show the end of October.
Lets please keep this page a place for news and announcements and shared memories. Not everyone will be pleased and if you need a place to vent feel free to use my FB page, or my show page Bearwood Show Services, but Keswick means as much to me as anyone and I hope to do it proud with a new start for a new time.
Text is welcome (within reason) 434 906 8378
Prize list coming up soon, and I am hoping to get the whole community behind this including sponsorships, parking spots for tailgates like the old days, and who knows, maybe a party or two!
Thanks
Stephen
