Eleanor Phillips is an Event rider who has competed through the Advanced level.
She started riding nearly 50 years mainly Fox Hunting as a child/teen.
Eleanor attended Sweet Briar College where she rode under Director of Riding, Paul D. Cronin, “R” rated hunter and hunt seat equitation judge.
While at Sweet Briar, she hunted extensively with Northern Virginia hunts such as Bedford, Farmington, Keswick, Loudon, and Orange County. She was a member of the Sweet Briar Riding Councel and was certified as one of the Training Assistants. During the summers while in college Eleanor rode with Hunter trainers Peg Seals and Nardine Henderson.
After college Eleanor moved to Southern Pines to focus on Eventing, and lived there for 25 years.
For 17 years she owned and ran Fair Oak Farm, a top quality full care boarding facility where she managed the care of horses ranging from retirees and youngsters to upper level Event horses and Grand Prix Dressage horses. Grand Prix competitor Jim Koford boarded his horses at Eleanor’s Fair Oak Farm for six years.
For more than 20 years Eleanor trained extensively with ‘r’ Dressage and Eventing judge Nanci Lindroth. Nanci was a member of the 1987 Pan American 3 Day Gold Medal winning Team and a Level 3 ICP Certified Instructor.
She trained for two years with Grand Prix jumper rider Maryann Steiert Charles.
Eleanor has ridden in clinics with former USEA coach Captain Mark Phillips and Australian Team coach Heath Ryan.
She has also ridden with/been coached by Ralph Hill, Beth Perkins, Hillary Irwin, and of course, Jim Koford.
While with Nanci Lindroth, Eleanor not only learned the in and outs of Eventing, but I also gained experience with breaking youngsters and handling and caring for foals.
She has competed through Advanced Level Eventing with a horse she broke, trained, and exclusively competed herself.
Since moving to Virginia Eleanor has been riding with former USEA team member Mark Combs of Charlottesville, Va., while continuing to ride with Nanci Lindroth when she goes to Southern Pines. She has also been training with British Eventer Simon Eades when in Aiken.