The past week was pretty busy. Ashley Duda and six hunter seat riders made the drive to Mary Washington University in Fredericksburg, VA. The Tournament of Champions is an invitational IHSA style show that pits the strongest teams in the nation against one another. Coach Duda had prepped her team well and improved their previous team placing to sixth. That is sixth in the nation! Not too shabby!
Meanwhile at home the Ride-Like-A-Knight program installed a new lift for mounting riders. This lift was funded by The Elizabeth Fund.
The Elizabeth Fund exists to enrich and enlarge the lives of youth and adults with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities through the therapeutic horsemanship program at St. Andrews University.
Established in 2010 through the generous $25,000 gift by Joe Junod '69 and Marilyn Greene, it is named in honor of their mothers, Elizabeth Donaldson Junod and Dr. M. Elizabeth Peck.
“We are both committed to programs assisting people with disabilities,” said Greene. “Our mothers were both great humanitarians, and lovers of animals as well. Since I have a special love for horses, we decided to focus on giving to this program and dedicate these efforts to the memories of our mothers.”
The lift will be used to offer services to a wider range of riders in the Ride-Like-A-Knight program. Before that can happen, staff, students and especially the horses need to be trained in its use. This will be a great learning opportunity for the students in the RLAK program.
Looking ahead to next weekend, we are hosting our first IHSA hunter seat show of 2012 on Saturday and the western team travels to Martin Community College for a double header Saturday and Sunday. It is good to be busy!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Busy Start to Spring Semester
Life throws you curves, last weekend I was in Florida with Peggy and Debbie Bell at the College Preparatory Invitational in Wellington FL, and this weekend I am bundled up at home with a cold and icing my back which decided that the misery of a cold needed company! Meanwhile while I am laying around (I am icing my back as I type) the equestrian program has been really busy.
- Lessons started early this semester so we can finish early and focus our energies on IHSA Nationals which we are hosting in Raleigh in May in 2012 – there will be lots more about that in the coming months.
- Riding Council organized a cleanup of Hasty Road this Saturday which was well attended and the road is now beautifully clean. (Why do people throw trash into nature, do they do that in their houses too? Yuk!)
- Scot Evans is teaching a clinic this Sunday/Monday for the hunter seat riders – always an interesting and inspiring opportunity.
- Riding Council is organizing horse cleanup for our first IHSA hunter seat show of the spring semester which is scheduled for Feb. 4th.
As for me, it’s back to the chiropractor and work tomorrow! Can’t wait to be busy again!
Monday, January 16, 2012
The History of the St. Andrews Equestrian Program
The book is here! The project completed by the History and Theory of Modern Riding class has been turned into a book discussing the history of the St. Andrews Equestrian Program starting in 1969! If you would like a copy of the book please send a check for $25 made out to St. Andrews University. Attn: Jackie Dwelle, 9167 Hasty Road, Laurinburg, NC 28396. Shipping is free. Below is the introduction to the book.
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Front Cover: Main photograph is the Lesson barn in 2007. Top left to right, Jon Conyers with his dog Kaleb; Kira Gainey showing Chessie; Peggy McElveen and Sami Cram class of 2012 Second row Oscar Allen who has been with the program since at least 1984, cleaning stalls, mowing, raking pine straw etc. Oscar turned 80 in 2011 and still works at the equestrain center; Kelsey Moody showing at IHSA Nationals 2010 in reining. Therapeutic riding photo Liz Harris Adams, Liz Capalbo and Katie Tieman holding Special; Shelby French with a team in the early 1980s; J.R. McCaulley jumping on campus, J.R. was a member of the team that competed in Panama in 1993, his team mates were Susan Yeaman Deal, Beth Anna Perry and Cathy Kassell Geitner; Sarah Rhymer mounted with Debbi White and Bob Cacchione at IHSA Nationals; Christine Eidson showing Max in an IDA show in 2005. |
Introduction
From the beginning St. Andrews’ core curriculum was considered to be the school’s greatest asset. The campus was built to accommodate students with disabilities which in 1961 was many years ahead of the 1990 American with Disabilities Act. The buildings and walkways were designed with ramps to create a modern and accessible facility 1.
Eight years later during the 1969 – 1970 academic year a small group of students with the support of the Dean of Students, Rodger Decker, formed a new club, The St. Andrews Hoofers 2. Marguerite “Bunky” Simpson the first president of the new riding club brought the first horse, Popsi, onto campus in 1969 and a new era for St. Andrews was born 3.
For the last 42 years, the equestrian program has consistently functioned as a student directed and driven program. From the very beginning students have organized the program demonstrating their interest in horses, developing the program into a varsity sport, supporting academic programs and throughout the history of the program sharing their enthusiasm with others in multiple roles including teaching, event management, and service projects.
The drive demonstrated by the students has been matched over the years by the staff and faculty. Many people have contributed to the program, sharing their knowledge, guiding students, creating opportunities and facilitating student driven ideas. You will meet some of these extraordinary people and learn about their accomplishments in the chapters of this book. Looking forward the equestrian program is always evolving; some of the current staff and faculty shared their dreams with the research team.
What Bunky Simpson and her peers started in 1969 has grown today into a nationally respected equestrian program that still embodies the motto adopted early in the program’s history Equitation Elicits Excellence.
This book was researched and developed by the Fall 2011 History and Theory of Modern Riding class. Many hours were spent in the college archives exploring the numerous publications and artifacts that have been collected over the years. Personal interviews with students, instructors, and faculty both past and present were conducted to pull together as much information as possible with the goal of developing a publication that reflects the beginning, development and growth of one of the leading collegiate equestrian programs in the United States.
References
1. The History of St. Andrews University retrieved Dec. 11, 2011 http://www.sapc.edu/aboutsa/history.php.
2. “Elise Eleazer, “The History of the St. Andrews Equestrian Program, Nov 28, 1993.
3. Interview Marguerite Simpson Garfield Nov. 2011.
4. Melton, George E. St. Andrews: A Brief History. 1981. Print.
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Wednesday, January 4, 2012
History of the St. Andrews Equestrian Program
I spent my entire Christmas break helping out at the barn, but mostly working on the History of the St. Andrews Equestrian Program project. It is now 50+ pages and will be printed in book form with lots of color pictures. The history starts in 1969 with the first horse on campus moves onto the Shelby French Era and ends with the Peggy McElveen era and looks at the development of the various programs. Lots of memories from students and staff and some thoughts looking forward. The History will be available for sale, $25 free shipping to U.S. addresses. Hope to send it to the printers today! Email dwellejm@sapc.edu if you are interested!
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