The Pioneer Award - Peggy McElveen

Peggy was honored with the Pioneer Award at IHSA Nationals last week. This is the piece I wrote about Peggy and the award for the IHSA program.

The Pioneer Award is not awarded every year, it is only awarded when a deserving recipient rises above the hundreds of volunteers who make up the IHSA. This year the pioneer award winner has worked tirelessly for IHSA, locally, regionally and nationally. Peggy McElveen’s service to equestrians in college is outstanding. Beginning as the coach for the North Carolina State University and Peace College IHSA teams Peggy has been a leader for IHSA and its participants.

Peggy came to St. Andrews University (formerly St. Andrews Presbyterian College) in 2000 to serve as its Equestrian Program Director. Her first task was to move the equestrian center from the rented 17 acres into a brand new facility. Convincing local land owners to sell land that was not even on the market was the first of many challenges. To purchase the initial 100 acres she worked with several families including one who had owned their land for 100s of years. Next was the construction of a world class equestrian center including a covered arena which would withstand hurricane force winds – a first for Scotland County. The beautiful facility lacked vital items such as water buckets, office furniture and saddle racks. Peggy went undaunted out into the community to raise money and solicit donations. The friends she made along the way have loyally supported St. Andrews and the equestrian community. Within a couple of years Peggy added another 200 acres, additional stalls and arena space to an already impressive facility.

This facility has enabled St. Andrews to host numerous IHSA, American National Riding Commission (ANRC), Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) events and international caliber clinicians including Lynn Palm, Dorothy Morkis, Jane Savoie, Laurie Renker and Bernie Trauig. Regular season shows, ANRC Equitrails, IHSA Regionals and Semi-Finals, invitational Tournament of Champions, Path International Regional Conferences and workshops, and ANRC and IDA National Championships have all found an excellent venue at St. Andrews. Through these events the equestrian facility has benefitted equestrians not just from St. Andrews but from across the United States and Canada.

Peggy is the organizer of these 2012 IHSA National Championships, an event that requires incredible event management, social and organizational skills. The planning started two years ago and has been an on-going process centered around IHSA ideals and Southern culture. Peggy has been the driving force behind this week’s events working tirelessly to lead the many volunteers to excel at their assigned duties.

2012 St. Andrews graduate, Rob Jacobs who is now a hunter seat instructor at St. Andrews has this to say about Peggy’s contribution. “Peggy enjoys investing in students and seeing them grow as riders and horsemen. Peggy has been a huge supporter and has played a large role in the IHSA's continued success.”

Peggy’s service is not limited to St. Andrews and the events it hosts. She is a dedicated member of several committees and boards serving the equestrian community including service for ANRC, IHSA, the United States Equestrian Federation, the United States Hunter Jumper Association, and the North Carolina Horse Council.

Peggy’s work has always involved the betterment of others, whether it be in the classroom, the competitive arena, event management, staff development, job placement for students and graduates or promoting the goals of a national organization. As one of her faculty colleagues said recently, “she holds herself, her staff, and students to the highest levels of excellence.” Excellence is a theme that resonates around Peggy and one that she expects from those that work with her in any capacity. Rob Jacobs again, “Peggy's passion for seeing the students succeed has rubbed off on me and I now have developed a passion for watching the students grow and learn some of the important lessons that were taught to me.“ Peggy was recognized in 2011 by the United States Hunter Jumper Association as Instructor of the Year.

Peggy McElveen is an individual who inspires, educates and serves as a role model for excellence. Her service to St. Andrews University, the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association and the greater equestrian community has impacted and changed numerous lives for the better.

Saturday Awards Update!

As busy as I was shipping horses yesterday, I overlooked the fact that Dugan McDermott won the National title for the AQHA (team) walk/jog class! Congratulations Dugan, what an amazing accomplishment! Dugan came to St. Andrews to play lacrosse; somehow we persuaded him to come out to the equestrian center and that was all it took to get him interested in the team! Prior to coming to St. Andrews, Dugan had ridden on a ranch in Hawaii but had no formal training. Dugan told Carla and I recently that lacrosse was his passion but the horses come a close second.

Congratulations also go to Carla for all her hard work; yesterday she was recognized with the IHSA Coach Sportsmanship Award. Senior Shannon Leggett was recognized for her team leadership and sportsmanship with the IHSA Rider Sportsmanship Award.

Social media intern Andrea Tito and Pebbles Turbeville have put together a great photographic record of the Championships on our facebook page.

My Saturday at IHSA Nationals

Kira was assigned to assist Sarah at the draw table for Saturday and Sunday and I realized that all but two of the St. Andrews hunter seat horses were finished. So around 8:30 we loaded 6 horses and as many buckets, fans, tack and extra feed that we could. I made great time back to Laurinburg and was met by Kelly Meehan, Rachel and Marianne to unload everything. I filled up on Diesel at Nic’s and drive back to Raleigh. As I arrived the first of several severe thunderstorms  hit which later in the day delayed the show making for another late night for everyone.

Saturday at IHSA Nationals is the day when the volunteers, officials and organizers are recognized. The competition continues, but around lunch time there is a break in the action for the Parade and Celebration of Teams and Horses, Presentation of the Collegiate Cup (for team hunter seat), Sportsmanship Awards and additional recognitions as decided by the IHSA Board of Directors.

The parade of teams is a wonderful spectacle with all 450 competitors, coaches and one horse from each school that provided horses, all marching around the arena. Each zone has its own banner and each team carries a banner. Kellie G. led Will to represent the St. Andrews western horses and Ozzie was the hunter seat representative. The parade is followed by the awards. St. Andrews hunter seat team was tied for 8^th place with five other schools. Coach Duda was please saying, "we earned more points than last year!"

The recognitions continued but it was time for me to load up six more horses and a bit more equipment to return to Laurinburg. I knew Peggy was going to be recognized with the IHSA Pioneer Award as I had written about it for the program. The Pioneer Award is only awarded when someone does something extraordinary for IHSA – such as organizing the National Championships!

I was sad to miss the presentation but needed to get the horses home. Turns out my timing was excellent as after I left Raleigh they experienced torrential rain that flooded the horse complex and put the show on hold. I had another easy trip back and the barn crew was quick to unload horses and equipment.

Today Dale takes the trailer back to Raleigh and once the show is over the rest of the horses and the remainder of the equipment will ship home. So I am missing the action today, but following it on the live streaming which you can find at ihsainc.com along with the results as they happen.

Friday at IHSA Nationals - One Perspective

My roommate last night was Kira Gainey, we caught up on one another’s families and animals before falling asleep. The SAU interns and barn staff were once again at the barn very early. Kira and I arrived around 7:00. I headed to the draw table and Kira joined Pebbles for runs to the store for water and food for the officials, interns and volunteers. The volunteers looked great today in their red shirts. Yesterday the shirts were yellow and I hear there are green and blue shirts for the remaining 2 days. The SAU interns are smartly dressed in khakis and dark blue polo shirts. For each prize ceremony one of the interns carries the prizes and ribbons. A line of 8+ St. Androids smartly dressed, carrying awards, is quite impressive!

The morning at the draw table was slow with the large Cacchione Cup over fences class with 36 riders taking up most of the time. St. Andrews rider Katie Hansen had an unfortunate stop in what was otherwise a very nice round, taking her out of the competition. IHSA recognized all Cacchione Cup qualifiers with an awards ceremony headed up by Bob Cacchione and a representative from the United States Pony Club one of the oldest equestrian, educational organizations in the country. Each rider received a saddle pad with the USEF logo. The top 24 riders returned to test on the flat in two sections, the ride off for the ultimate IHSA title in hunter seat will be tomorrow. Following the Cacchione Cup Kali Cram was 4^th in team intermediate over fences.

After lunch the classes alternated between western and hunter seat flat classes. Shannon Leggett earned 5^th place in the team reining. Shiloh Kozlowski was 4^th in Walk/Trot and Miranda Wright was 6^th in Walk, Trot, Canter both riding for the hunter seat team.  The only hunter seat team rider left to ride is Katie Hansen in the open over fences and on the flat. The students reported that the team is currently tied for 8^th with 3 other schools so if Katie does well tomorrow we could potentially move up. Ashley told me we already have one more point than last year!

With Shannon’s fifth place in the AQHA Cup reining we moved on with the western team competition. The last class of the day was the Western Novice Horsemanship. Brittany Powell drew St. Andrews horse Zoey and placed 3^rd. Shannon is currently in 6^th place for the high point class so the western team is off to a great start!

I left around 8:30 to get dinner, some of the western horses were going back to school, which would be followed by the jumps being set up for tomorrow. The St. Andrews staff and students are in for yet another late night followed by an early morning. (I think they are getting used to this schedule!) The first horse draw is at 7:30 and the day starts with the Collegiate (team) Open Fences.

Saturday has lots going on with classes, the majority of the awards and a competitor’s lunch hosted by NRHA, AQHA and USEF. My job is to help with the draw table and then ship home 6 hunter seat horses when they are done. I will rendezvous with Dale who will drive up early Sunday morning to pick up more horses, we then hand off the trailer one more time for me to return Sunday afternoon to bring home 6 more with Kellie in the other trailer with the remaining horses.

It is now 9:30 and my roommate, Kira is not home yet, as I suspect she is helping set jumps. She is just one of many who have come to donate their time and help St. Andrews host the biggest show in its history! Sarah Rhymer is taking vacation to be here to work the draw table, Audrey Hayden and her Mom are doing the same thing to organize the awards and prizes! There are many other alums, parents and friends of St. Andrews doing the exact same thing!

All I can say is, “Wow, awesome! What a privilege to be a part of the St. Andrews team!”

First Day of Competition at IHSA Nationals - One Perspective

Thursday: Former St. Andrews IHSA coach and SAU alum Sarah Rhymer and I are working the draw table or put another way managing the ducks in the duck pond! The draw table is always a good place to be as you meet everyone. In addition to the competitors, parents stop by as well as IHSA officials and stewards. Sarah has a 5 week old puppy that is looking for a home so we have an added attraction – as if the ducks weren’t cute enough! Bernie Trauig stopped by to video the ducks in action for an Equestrian Coach video on IHSA.

Meanwhile, the rest of the staff are busy with multiple responsibilities. Hunter seat starts the competition so Ashley of course is coaching. Rob is schooling and preparing horses all day which I believe started around 5:00 a.m. for the key hunter seat people. The barn staff also had early start having left close to midnight yesterday due to late arriving horses.

Heather is typing up announcements to recognize our sponsors, Pebbles has not been seen but food miraculously appears on a regular basis! Our own Debbie Bell arrived with a car load of goodies from the Admissions office – thank you Jeff Bennett!

Thursday Evening: With the draw table finished for the day, I relocated to the St. Andrews barn area, to help Carla and the western riders with their horse selection. All the horses had been ridden during the day, but each one had to be shown to the horse selection committee. The reiners started the selection process around 5:30 followed by the horsemanship horses.

The schooling was wrapping up when I left at around 8:30. Kellie and the barn staff had returned from dinner and were busy wrapping legs, packing feet, picking stalls and doing the late night hay and water. Pebbles was on another run to the airport to pick up a western judge and Peggy was going to the store for additional cases of water. With the heat the crew had gone through almost 50 cases in the first few days. Tomorrow schooling starts at 6:00 a.m. followed by the first horse draw at 7:30. Going to be another busy day!

IHSA Nationals – One Perspective

I picked up 5 western horses in Laurinburg this morning and with the help of Liz Dulski and Rachel Buckler, loaded quickly. Pebbles wanted some baskets from the TH classroom for hospitality and Kellie had requested more double ended snaps for the barn. We also packed feed tubs and a hose. The drive was thankfully uneventful and I arrived 30 minutes ahead of Peggy’s minute by minute schedule. As I turned into the Fairgrounds I was greeted by Alexandra Fullerton one of the SAU interns for the event. She directed me to the barn where an army descended on the trailer to unload the horses. Carla helped me park the trailer while Kellie settled the horses.

Thankfully, much of the set-up had been done over the last few days, so the afternoon was relaxed aside from the arrival of horses. Carla did an incredible job of persuading her friends to lend their horses for the show. During the afternoon several horses were delivered that Kellie dubbed “orphans” as they had no one staying to care for them. The SAU students become their foster parents for the duration of the show. Other horses arrived with their care providers from various schools and were helped by the overall stable manager, Jen, with their stall placement.

Orders for shavings and hay came in all afternoon. Tyler with the help of Jake and anyone else who was available took care of these. The SAU interns were everywhere taking care of everything! I wandered around and visited with parents, current students, alums and IHSA officials. I spent a few minutes with Heather who was numbering ducks for the draw table; briefly visited with Pebbles who seemed to be feeding everyone and taking care of the officials; and tried to help Kellie and Carla with their jobs.

As the day wound down, I checked in with Kellie and Carla and then headed to the hotel to check in. I was expecting to share a room maybe even a bed, but no, true to southern hospitality, I have my own room, at a very nice hotel, with complimentary water and chocolate chip cookies on the table. Thank you Peggy, I love southern hospitality!

As one person said, “it takes a village, no wait a minute, it takes a mid-size town!” I agree whole heartedly!

I will try to post each day for the next few days, time permitting. Good luck to all the Knights riding in the next few days!