2012 IHSA Nationals - Part One, The Vision of Robert "Bob" Cacchione

Social Media Intern, Kimberly Graves, took on the challenge of documenting the planning and organization of the IHSA National Championships that we hosted in Raleigh, NC last May. To say hosting an event of that size was a large undertaking would be a major understatement. Over the summer I will be sharing the story behind the event starting back as far as June 2009. Today we start at the beginning with the man behind IHSA Bob Cacchione.

The Planning and Organization of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association 2012 National Championships

Part One - The Vision of Robert ‘Bob’ Cacchione


The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) is the largest organization in the United States (and probably the world) to provide a competitive forum for horseback riders in college. Founded in 1967 by then sophomore Robert Cacchione at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, IHSA currently boasts 376+ college members, and approximately 8,700+ student members in the United States and Canada. Competition is offered in hunter seat and western with over 300 shows a year across the country. The country is divided into 8 zones which each contain several regions. Colleges are a member of the zone and region that fits them geographically. Competitions are hosted by member colleges and lead up to regional competitions which qualify individual riders for zone championships. The zone championships decide which teams and individuals advance to the National Championships in early May. Somewhere around 200 individuals qualify to represent their schools at Nationals either as a member of the team, as an individual or both.2

The National Championship competition moves around the country, usually being hosted by a region or zone. Previous venues include the prestigious Kentucky Horse Park, Tennessee Miller Coliseum and The Los Angeles Equestrian Center Around 200 horses are needed for the event to cover the many classes that are offered and to create a competition that is as fair as possible.

The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association IHSA Board of Directors meets twice a year to discuss all matters associated with the association. At the end of the June 2009 meeting, IHSA CEO Bob Cacchione approached Peggy McElveen the St. Andrews University, Equestrian Program Director and informed her that he wanted St. Andrews to be the host of the prestigious Nationals competition. “The first thing I said was “When?” said McElveen. Cacchione had a vision that St. Andrews could host the 2012 IHSA Nationals at the Equestrian Center. The National competition would have to split if it were to be hosted at the equestrian center. With one side of the property dedicated to the hunter seat portion of nationals and the other side to western nationals, it could be done.

Coming next time the reasons behind the move to Raleigh, NC in Part Two - A Hosting Facility.