Meet Our Coach

Heather Skeens

Heather Skeens a lifelong horsewoman. She attended Hollins College from 1991-95, where she was apart of their IHSA team, took hunter and equitation classes at local SWVHJA shows, and rode my own horse in some local Children’s/Adult jumper classes. In 1993, she had the opportunity to represent Hollins as an individual in the Novice Over Fences at IHSA Nationals and brought home a win for her team. Hollins also won the National Championship as a team that year, so that made it extra special. In 2013, her and her teammates had the honor of being inducted into the Hollins Athletics Hall of Fame.She is passionate about helping her team members have the same positive experience that she did in college.

"I have been a science teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools for the last 29 years, and I became a big Hokie sports fan when I moved to the area. The last 8 years, I have taught at the New River Valley Juvenile Detention Home, and I love my day job there! Almost every summer since my teenage years I have taught riding lessons at summer camps, been a 4-H horse club leader, and a pony club mom. My son, Austin, became an event rider as a young teenager, and his journey as fostered in me a love of eventing. We have since owned 2 horses that have competed at the CCI* and CCI** levels. Years of watching my son and our horses learn and develop has enabled me to learn along with him, and though I still consider myself a rookie student of the sport, I am excited to share everything that I have learned with my team members. I am so happy to be a Hokie!"