Founder's Hill at Shawan Downs (Baltimore County)

Saturday resulted in a fabulous day at The Green Spring Valley Point-to-Point Races - at the kind invitation of a former boss and dear friend. The carnival atmosphere was quite Ralph Lauren-esque with a hint of Thomas Hardy. When I wasn't making a mental note of the jodhpurs, riding boots and oilskin jackets that I coveted, I was obsessing over a twin-silo barn at the top of the hill. Slightly ramshackle (so my scene!), it seemed to preside over each equestrian event, acting as a beacon of orientation as they traversed each intervening obstacle…

To read about how the Land Preservation Trust is working to protect Baltimore County's agricultural and rural heritage, visit www.shawandowns.com