At Woodpecker Farm, students are encouraged and trained to achieve a high quality of riding within the goal they desire. This could be competing at the “A” show level or simply to be a confident pleasure rider.
Hunt seat lessons are taught with an emphasis on good horsemanship and equitation. Students can get a good foundation that will allow them to pursue any discipline such as hunter, Jumper, dressage, eventing, foxhunting and pleasure riding. Lessons are given in the ring, the fields and on the trails.
Trainers Beth Linton and Elizabeth Kennedy teach year-round, Monday through Saturday.
Private lessons are available
BETH LINTON is a well-known and respected member of the Hunter community in Virginia. As a young person in the show ring, she accumulated numerous Championships, Reserve Championships, and year-end awards on the “A” Circuit.
Beth continued her pursuit of equine knowledge at Southern Seminary College in Virginia with a degree in Horsemanship with an emphasis in Stable Management, Horse Show Management, Instructor Training and Equine Medicine. After graduation, she gained valuable experience as an instructor at The Barracks Equestrian Center in Charlottesville, Va; the home of the UVA riding team and a top show barn in the state.
Beth brings great energy to her efforts in the horse and pony industry. She, along with her late brother Forrest, founded the Battlefield Horse Show Association (BHSA).Her parents, Charles and Pat Linton have run the farm since 1972 as a mecca for Virginia-bred ponies.
Mrs. Linton is a charter member, past president and a board member of the Virginia Pony Breeders Association (VPBA). Woodpecker Farm boasts many award-winning ponies over the years in the breeding ring and the performance ring. In continuing her education, Beth attends clinics and seminars on Judging, course designing, riding and teaching taught by some of America’s most prominent horsemen.
Since 2012, Beth has coached Woodpecker’s Champion IEA riding team on to the National competition. Her team has won Regional Champion, Zone Champion and the Varsity Open Individual Champion at Nationals.