Garden & Gun | October 13, 2026 | By Emily Daily
A weekend in Kentucky’s Bluegrass country. An autumn escape to the North Carolina mountains. A Lowcountry tailgate with some unexpected racing action. This fall, six family-friendly equestrian events offer plenty of spectacle—and an excellent excuse to explore the loveliest pockets of the South along the way.
International Gold Cup | The Plains, Virginia, October 24
Why Go: A crown jewel of the fall steeplechase calendar, the International Gold Cup brings thundering hooves, elaborate tailgates, and spectators dressed in their country finest to Great Meadow, a 374-acre preserve in Virginia’s rolling Hunt Country, where foxhunting traditions run deep. Seven races are on the card, including the prestigious namesake event, while hat and tailgate competitions offer a little friendly rivalry off the course.
Make a Weekend of It: Minutes away, Tri-County Feeds is no ordinary feed store, with three floors of handsome post-and-beam architecture and everything from Barbour waxed jackets to Beretta hunting gear. Just down the road, Middleburg wears its horse-country heritage well: Browse sporting art and rare books at the National Sporting Library & Museum, snag a few of the Upper Crust Bakery’s signature Cow Puddle cookies, and settle in for a pint at the Red Fox Inn’s cozy pub, which feels plucked from the English countryside.
(PHOTO CREDIT: BENDURE COMMUNICATIONS)
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