Claiborne has lived in Charlottesville all of her life. She began riding at age 3 with Elliewood Keith at Keithwood. She met Tom Bishop there, and the two married in 1970. That year, Claiborne and Tom bought Great Neck Stables in Virginia Beach. By 1973, their business was burgeoning, so they bought The Barracks.

In 1976, Claiborne and Tom started the University of Virginia Riding Team. Virginia Riding has been very successful over the years, winning the ANRC championship 10 times as well as the IHSA National championship a number of times.

Claiborne has been voted Horse person of the year twice by the Virginia Horse Shows Association. In December 2010, Claiborne was inducted into the VHSA Hall of Fame.

Maria grew up at the Barracks, learning from Claiborne Bishop and Glenn Moody. In 1996, Maria graduated from Hollins University where she majored in Studio Art and minored in Sociology. While in school, Maria rode on the Hollins IHSA team. She won the individual open over fences class at Nationals in 1993 and 1995.

Following graduation, she worked as barn manager for Will Coleman at Fox Ridge. While working at Fox Ridge, she showed “Wincer” in the A/O jumpers. Maria turned professional in 1998 and began riding young horses at the Barracks while still working at Fox Ridge. In 2000, she took a full time position at the Barracks and has remained there since, teaching lessons and riding horses in the professional divisions.

Bio coming soon

Bio coming soon!

Tom was born in San Francisco, California. In 1959, he started attending Robert Louis Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, where he began training with Dick Collins. During the summer of 1963, Tom received his colors from Los Altos Hunt and rode on the Pebble Beach Three Day Event Team. He came to Virginia in 1964 to attend UVA. While going to school at UVA, he rode at Keithwood and met Claiborne. Together, they bought the Barracks in 1973.

A long time supporter of the IHSA, Tom was the first National Steward and served in that position for 25 years. He is now Director Emeritus.

Tom hunts three days a week with Farmington where he is an xMFH, served as Field Master for 30 years, and has taken on a new position as Whipper-in.

Bio coming soon!

Maddie is an ambitious 24-year-old Richmond VA native, seeking to better the equine industry for future riders during her time here at The Barracks. She grew up showing in Virginia, and graduated from Emory & Henry college with a B.S. in equine studies in 2020. During her time there, she was also a member of her school’s riding program; Intermont equestrian at Emory & Henry under Lisa Terry and Heather Richardson. The equine and life skills she learned in such a hands-on program are incomparable, and gave her the passion to continue doing what she loves every day! Following that, she then went on to intern with Havens Schatt of Milestone Farm in Lexington Kentucky and Wellington FL.  It was there that she was able to further her knowledge in crucial aspects of the equine industry while getting to ride, watch, and learn from one of the greatest in our sport.

Bio coming soon!