Hazelwild Farm will continue to be the home of the University of Mary Washington's varsity equestrian program.

"We appreciate our long-standing partnership with Hazelwild, as well as their cooperation in working together with us for a viable solution," said UMW's Director of Athletics Ken Tyler. "We're really happy for our student-athletes."

Tyler shared the good news with team members. "The riders were thankful and appreciative," he said. "They even clapped."

UMW is the only public institution in the commonwealth that offers riding at the varsity level, according to Tyler. The 25-member riding program is based at Spotsylvania County's Hazelwild Farm, operated by the Hazelwild Farm Educational Foundation on the 500-acre ancestral estate of the late A. Elizabeth Morrison.

The UMW team participates in eight shows each year, in addition to regional, zone and national competitions.  In 14 of the past 17 years, UMW has sent at least one rider to the national championships.

In late December, the University was notified that the foundation would no longer be able to host the riding team after the 2017 spring semester. The varsity program has continued without interruption.

UMW is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association and competes with Christopher Newport University, the College of William and Mary, Longwood University, Randolph-Macon College and the University of Richmond.