About Us
News Archive
Joe Davies '74 Hosts Mini Week Group at Dunmore Farm
Mini Week is an exciting time each fall when Calvert Middle School students trade time in the classroom for off-campus activities, hands-on experiences, and outdoor adventures. This year, alumnus Joe Davies ‘74 hosted 18 students for a morning at Dunmore Farm in Monkton. Joe educated the students about horse training, fox hunting, and steeplechase racing, and spoke about the history, beauty, and challenges of these sports. The students walked through a gallery of photos showcasing racing throughout the years. They also watched clips of exciting finishes at the Maryland Hunt Cup!
The group went on a hike around the property. With his beautiful farm and a church steeple as the backdrop, Joe told the students about the origin of the term steeplechase and described how riders would chase each other from one church steeple to the next. Joe also spoke about the history of the land and the importance of conservation. His property is in conservation, and he shared that he believes it is his responsibility to care for the land during his time there and preserve it for future generations.
During their visit, students saw the barn and tack room and met two very special guests: Blackhall, one of the horses Joe trains and winner of the 2024 Maryland Hunt Cup, and Fernando the donkey. Fernando plays an important role during training as his presence helps to calm the horses. Meeting him was a highlight for the students!
Throughout the visit, Joe reinforced many of the lessons students receive during their time at Calvert such as the importance of hard work and resilience. He shared the story of a time when the bank of a river was not covered in crushed stone, and it led to one of his horses being unable to train for a period of time. This illustrated a powerful lesson about the value of learning from mistakes and working to improve.
Thank you, Joe, for sharing your expertise with Calvert students and providing them with an engaging and impactful experience!
Calvert School is a coed independent lower and middle school.
