Awards Convocation 2014

Friday evening the Faculty recognized students who excel in the classroom at the annual Awards Convocation. Sophomores were recognized for their academic achievements with many Equestrians included on the list. Each academic department bestowed special honors including awards, scholarships and induction into honor societies.Equestrians that were honored on Friday evening include;

St. Andrews Honor Society

Michelle Hustad

Katie Mosca

Claire Pollard

Willow Schuler-Goodman

Tau  Rho Rooney L. Coffman Award

Christine Harrelson

Holly Hickman

Beta, Beta, Beta

Alexandra Fullerton

Lauren Guenther

Taylor Hasenauer

Michelle Hustad

Katie Hutchings

Kelsey Jones

Sarah Jones

Psi Chi

Willow Schuler-Goodman

The Timothy J Olthoff Award for Art

Sierra Walker

The Flora Macdonald College Class of 1985 Scholarship for Music

Emily Wright-Thomasson

Pi Gamma Mu

Tara Algieri

Carey Andrews

Vanessa Bradley

Hallie Myers

Claire Pollard

Karen Zielonka

Equestrian Academic Leadership

Hunter Seat – Cami Glaff

Western – Katie Mosca

Dressage – Claire Pollard

TH – Meghan Nedow

Sigma Beta Delta

Cami Glaff

Hallie Myers

Claire Pollard

Abigail Skillman

Excellence in Equine Business Mgt.

Abigail Skillman

Excellence in TH Mgt.

Megan Nedow

Beginning Business Major with Outstanding Potential

Mary Thomsom

Junior Business Major Demonstrating Overall Excellence

Hallie Myers

Gravity Hill Editor’s Choice Award

Tara Algieri

Marie Gilbert Award for Poetry

Shiloh Kozlowski

Alpha Chi National Honor Society

Cami Glaff

Katie Mosca

Sarah Murvin

Willow Schuler-Goodman

Michelle Hustad

Hallie Myers

Rebeccah Yuswak

IHSA Regionals at St. Andrews

The blog has been a little quiet, we have been busy, I apologize.

Tomorrow St. Andrews hosts IHSA Hunter Seat Regionals. We have 12 riders hoping to qualify to ride at Zones which is in a couple of weeks at Hollins University. Next weekend we host western Semi-Finals one of 3 "zone" type finals in the country. Coach Wennberg and the western team will be vying for their slot at the National Championships. In the meantime please wish the following students a great ride as they show what they are made of at our Regional Championships. We will bring you results as close to as they happen as possible on Twitter (StAndrewsEq) and Facebook (SAPC.Equestrian) Go Knights!

Danielle Eads - Walk-Trot
Madison Edwards - Walk-Trot-Canter
Kirsten Farley - Walk-Trot-Canter

Julie Griffin - Walk-Trot-Canter
Tara Algieri - Novice Flat
Rachaell Dockery - Novice Flat
Michelle Eld - Novice Flat
Cami Glaff - Novice Flat
Nikki Napoleone - Novice Flat
Cami Glaff - Novice Fences
Nikki Napoleone - Intermediate Fences
Keli Van Den Heuvel - Intermediate Fences
Regina Barasch - Open Flat
Kelsey Kocher - Open Flat
Regina Barasch - Open Fences
Kelsey Kocher - Open Fences

Seniors Ride at Last IDA Show of the Collegiate Careers

by Kirsten Farley

St. Andrews IDA show, Sunday, March 2, 2014

This weekend marked the last show for the dressage team this year. They had some hard competition, finishing 5th as the team, but they were Reserve High Point team for their Region and will be classified as a “wild card” towards Nationals. If the team does not get to go forward to Nationals, there is a chance that sophomore Elizabethe Weeks, who finished as Reserve Champion Intro rider Sunday, might go as an individual.

However, this show might have marked the end of the season, potentially, but it was also the end of collegiate careers for seniors Abi Skillman and Sarah Jones.
When the seniors were asked various questions about this experience and what they would take away from it, they took a day to respond, and responded with some pretty deep answers.
Sarah Jones- “The best experience I got from this season was the opportunity to show at First level. I have shown First level tests on my own horse but being able to ride for my team was exciting.
The highlight of my IDA career was probably getting the reserve high score award at NC State's IDA show and winning the show with my team. I will miss my team members the most. I have met so many great people, even the ones who are no longer on the team. These girls mean a lot to me!
Being able to ride so many different horses and riding with different instructors and clinicians has really helped my riding abilities and I have learned so much from all those different people.”

Abi Skillman- “Throughout this experience I have learned not only how to become a better rider but also a better friend and person.  I gained a new respect for the discipline and learned that life isn't all about the ribbons but about the relationship you make with horses and people.  What I will miss most about IDA is the camaraderie between the teammates.  We spend a lot of time together and work so hard, it’s really nice that we are all actually good friends as well and truly support each other. We really spread the love and I will definitely miss being a part of such a tight knit team. The highlight of my IDA career at SAU was coming back from the Ethics Symposium in Hilton Head to show on the second day of our opening back to back shows and earning a second place.  Last season I was still learning the ropes of the dressage world so it was great to see the reward from all the hard work. The best IDA experience I have had this season was learning to control my emotions and overcome the mental block I get when I draw a tough horse or have to ride under pressure.  At our final show I was doing both but I worked through it and had the best ride I have ever had on that horse.  When I finished my test Jackie gave me a hug and said she was proud of me.  That moment really meant a lot.”

When I asked Jackie Dwelle about her thoughts about this season and her seniors she said this, “Watching the riders develop their skills was my favorite highlight from this season. It is so much more than being able to ride, you have to be physically fit and perhaps even more importantly, be able to manage your emotions to overcome the mental challenges that this sport brings. It has been so fulfilling to see Abi go from being an accomplished hunter seat rider, making the transition to beginner dressage rider, modifying her position and learning new techniques with the horse. Last year she did not place at all, this year she earned good ribbons every time out and was so close to winning the region had the "luck of the draw" been in her favor. Sarah is a completely different rider. She agreed to ride first level as we had an open slot this year. She has risen to the occasion, with soft consistent rides. The thing I like about Sarah is that she listens to everything you tell her and puts it to work, she gets the job done during her tests, and comes out after the test knowing that she rode well. She is always pleased with her performance no matter where she places. Both these girls have competed win or lose with good sportsmanship and a "what can I learn from this?" attitude. I hope that they have learned to be better horsemen and team players. Most of all I hope that some of the lessons they have learned will provide them with tools to deal with future challenges that they will encounter not just in their riding but in life as well.”

Dwelle also said that she is sad to see the Seniors move onto the next phase of their life's journey in May, but she wishes them all the best as they go out into the world. “I hope they will keep in touch and know they are always welcome to come back to their home at St. Andrews,”  she said.



Abi riding Jake in the warm up parade

 Sarah riding Maggie in First Level Test 2

 

 

The team at the end of the day with barn cat Alfred

Pre Vet Internship Series

Caring for Blocked Nasolacrimal Ducts

by Cami Glaff

 

Over the weekend, we were able to clear Astaire’s tear ducts. Often time’s horses will get obstructed tear ducts, which causes the excess tears to flow freely onto their face. They will have a consistent flow of ocular discharge onto their face, regardless of how often you clean the eye. Under normal conditions, tears will flow down the nasolacrimal duct and then drain from the nostrils. When those membranes become swollen and irritated, that is when we will see an excess of drainage onto their face. An easy fix to this is to have them flushed with sterile saline solution.

To do this, Astaire was sedated and we put a small tube up his nasolacrimal duct. Then we flushed each side with 30 cc of sterile saline solution so that the solution comes up from the tear duct in the eye so you know the blockage has been cleared. Many horses have to have the procedure done every few months to keep their tear ducts clear and healthy.

Last Home Show for Seniors

by Kirsten Farley

SAU IHSA Hunt Seat Show

February 22, 2014

Last Show of the Regular Season

 

When you think of college, you think of the four best years of your life. At St. Andrews, equestrian students not only get to have the college experience but they get to ride as well, which for many of our riders is the most important thing in their life. That is why this blog is dedicated our seniors. This past weekend was our last regular season show, and it was at SAU. For many it was just another show, for some though, this show marked the end of their collegiate riding career.

“The hardest part is to realize this is the seniors’ last show and that they won’t be here next year. It is hard to believe that it seems like just yesterday they were freshman, but I have seen how far their riding has progressed you can truly tell that they are seniors,” said director Peggy McElveen when she was asked about her take on the last show of the season. Parents, friends and other family members of some of the seniors came out to watch as these riders took the ring one last time.

I talked to a few of the seniors to ask them about their experience with IHSA. “I was so grateful to be able to qualify for Regionals and Zones my junior year. I feel like I have really progressed my riding abilities through IHSA, now it’s time to put these new skills to practical use,” was Alexandra Fullerton’s response to what she took away from the last four years of IHSA. Fullerton pinned 4^th on her flat and 1^st in her over fences in the show.

Keli Van den Heuvel, who earned 3^rd, looked back at the biggest highlight from this season that happened for her. “I received my very first, first place on one of my favorite horses at SAU, Feeney. After I went to tell Matt, we both smiled and said ‘I can finally graduate!’ It was a very heart-warming moment for me; I can leave SAU this spring feeling proud of what I accomplished this season.”

Shiloh Kozlowski, who pinned 3^rd, reflected on the past four years saying she was so glad for all the friendships she developed with great people, the chance to ride for some of the best coaches in the country, and making it to IHSA Nationals two years in row because of their help.

Tara Algeiri, who earned a 1^st and 2^nd place at the show, summarized it all by saying “It’s been a crazy experience being on this team. Today’s show is really bittersweet because it is the last time I can watch my friends ride and cheer them on.”

Seniors Racheall Dockery and Jake Hobson also competed in Saturday’s show. Dockery had a challenging ride in her novice flat and earned a 4^th and Jake pinned 2^nd on Big John in Walk Trot.

The team over all had a good day, sharing High Point Team with East Carolina University coached by Alum Alie McGraw.

Weather Challenges!

The weather has created many challenges this semester. Last week school closed Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. and did not reopen until this Monday because of snow and ice. The horses were shut in the barn for all of that time. The power went out so the barn staff had to use the generators to fill water buckets, which prolonged the process significantly with the hose on the Boarders side taking 5 minutes to fill one bucket! The hay trailer that was dropped at the beginning of the week had to be emptied, so in addition to the challenging conditions 600 bales of hay had to be moved and stored. It was a tough week all around for these that were on duty. Liz Dulski served as staff barn taxi with her Four Wheel drive truck, Andrew and Rob stayed at the Farm House to take care of night check and to be on the property if the weather prevented others from getting to work. By the weekend when the temperatures rose and the ice melted everyone was exhausted. Many thanks to the hard working equestrian staff that went above and beyond to ensure that the horses were well cared for last week.

Just for a change of pace, today we have severe storms forecast which caused Peggy to close the barns from 10 – 1 to all students. We hope to have practice this afternoon ready for the IHSA Hunter Seat show tomorrow, the Dressage team traveling to Averett University and the clinic for western riders on Sunday with Kelly Sap.

Hope the weather settles down soon! 

Behind the TH Covered looking at the Sensory Trail

IHSA Hunter Seat Show at St. Andrews Feb. 8th, 2014

by Kirsten Farley, Social Media Intern

The first IHSA Hunt Seat show of 2014. All of the hunt seat team was at the barn by 6 AM, still pitch black out and only a mere 42 degrees. All of us went into action bringing in horses, putting tack out, checking water, and sweeping the aisles until they were spotless. Then we all went to work getting our assigned horse cleaned up for schooling and having them out at the ring for their rider to prepare them for the day to come.

10:00 rolls around and everyone, horses and team members, make their way to the far end of the ring. The weather forecast called for rain that day so we cut the ring down so the horses could be under the covered arena out of the “rain.” However, because we were so well prepared, of course it did not rain at all the entire day. As a whole the entire day ran rather smoothly, only the first two classes showed that some of the horses were still a little fresh with the hustle and bustle of the show and the chill factor, but they all settled as they worked. The judge kept the show moving along quickly, which we all thoroughly enjoyed since the show was done by 3:45 PM.

The team as a whole won High Point Champion, with junior Cami Glaff as High Point Rider and sophomore Caitlyn Woychick earning Reserve High Point Rider for the day. Everyone walked into the ring and rode their best and it showed. SAU now has 11 riders qualified for Regionals: Cami Glaff, Tara Algieri, Kirsten Farley, Regina Barasch, Rachaell Dockery, Kelsey Kocher, Keli Van den Heuvel, Nikki Napoleone, Danielle Eads, Madison Edwards and Julie Griffin.

Keli Van den Heuvel, Cami Glaff, Alexandra Fullerton, Caitlyn Woychick, Jessica Story, Michelle Eld, Nikki Napoleone, Grace Wadford, Betina Gore, Danielle Eads, Amy Wrozek, Mary Thomson, Gabby Schmidt, Tara Algieri, and Shiloh Kozlowski all earned a first place in their class(es).

Kirsten Farley, Caitlyn Woychick, Samantha Taylor and Reba Merritt all earned a second place. Regi Barasch, Kelsey Kocher, Abi Skillman, Rachaell Dockery, Courtney Anderson, and Madison Edwards all earned third place. Kelsey Kocher, Sloan Stuntz, Janelle Petruska, Samantha Garriques and Kathryn Owens were fourth. Regi Barasch, Abi Skillman, Julie Griffin, Brianna Harrison, Danaye Mokma all earned and fifth with Alexandra Fullerton and Keli VDH receiving sixth in their flat classes.

For some this show represented their first IHSA competition ever. For others it meant qualifying for Regionals and pointing out of their division. Others it was receiving their first IHSA career blue ribbon showing that all of their hard work is paying off. No matter what it was, everyone came out a winner for some reason or another.

The greatest part about this show, however, was that everyone was there for one another throughout the day. The team was there to help when someone needed it the entire day helping the show run without a hitch and rather smoothly as well.

Pre-Vet Internship Series

We are starting a new regular feature written by students in the Pre-Vet Internship program. They will be sharing their experiences in the internship program as they work with Dr. Kellam to care for the horses at St. Andrews.

Quincey’s Eye Enucleation

By: Cami Glaff and Keli Van Den Hevual

 Quincey is one of our sweetest, most talented horses in our Hunt-Seat program. Before Quincey came to us, he sustained an injury in his left eye that created a good amount of scar tissue and left him partially blind. Last semester, he came in from the pasture one morning with a puncture wound right in the middle of that unhealthy left eye.

       

    Dr. Kellam determined that the puncture was fairly deep into the cornea. Because the puncture was located directly in the middle of his unhealthy scar tissue, we were concerned that the healing process would be long and not without difficulties.
            We treated him for a month; administrating antibiotics multiple times a day, in addition to banamine for the swelling and pain. One morning we came in to find that Quincey’s eye had rupture from a combination of the pressure and infection, and him itching the area.
            It was then decided that Q’s eye would have to be removed. In order for him to have a happy and healthy life Dr. K performed an enucleation of Quincey’s eye. It was a 5 hour surgery with 3 hours of after care. The experience was incredible; we were able to assist Dr. K in an important procedure. Being that up close to it all, we had the opportunity to see every little detail that was happening during his surgery. We also helped by monitoring Quincey health during the whole procedure. Seeing an operation like that from start to finish was amazing, we had the chance to fully appreciate the hands-on learning experience.
            After the surgery, it was very time consuming to look after Quincey while he adapted to having only one eye. We took shift at the barn that lasted 5 hours at a time, in order to monitor him safely. Of course Quincey did not want to help us out. He immediately starting rubbing his eye, and eventually rubbed some of his sutures out. This made our job more complicated; we had to watch him even more closely than we did before. Quincey eventually stopped rubbing, so that his eye could completely heal over without any more setbacks. He is currently fat and happy, and adjusting well to his new one-sided sight.

 

Non-Traditional Students by Kacie Carter

I had the opportunity to interview some of the non-traditional students at St. Andrews to get a little bit of background on them and what drew them to the University.  I first heard back from Carey Andrews who was drawn to the Therapeutic Horsemanship Program that St. Andrew’s has to offer.  Having waited to go to college after High School due to family circumstances, Carey rents a small house about five minutes away from campus as her parents live in Morehead City, NC.  Carey enjoys the smaller campus that St. Andrews offers but admits that like some of the other, older, “non-traditional” students the age gap can be a bit of a struggle.  Being close to campus allows Carey to do work study at the barn as well as volunteer with the Ride-Like-A-Knight program which she finds very rewarding; she enjoys her riding lessons as well.

Rebecca Pacheco was my second interviewee and she sounds like she has her hands full but is really staying on top of the demands of being a non-traditional student.  After being accepted to both Campbell University and NC State University, Rebecca was encouraged to look into St. Andrews as an alternative and fell in love with the Equestrian program.  She is currently working on an Interdisciplinary Major incorporating Therapeutic Horsemanship, Psychology and Small Business Ownership.

While this is her first semester, I think she has the right positive attitude to make her school experience work.  Rebecca has quite the balancing act ahead of her as she states her biggest struggle being, “the delicate balancing act of full time employment, full time enrollment, a husband, 3 step-children, and a round trip commute of 2.5 hours”.  I look forward to hearing more about Rebecca’s future success!

Kacie, 8 years old with Hershey

Kacie with Cliff "my daily inspiration"
Photo permission Tobe Saskor

In my own instance, I was drawn to St. Andrews after several years of boarding horses in various situations that were just never up to par for me.  I grew up riding but once I left home, I also had to give up horses.  College at that time just wasn't an option for me.  To make a long story short, after spending years as a Registered Nurse, my husband and I decided that some day we wanted to be able to take care of our own horses and the best way to do that was with a proper education.  Every barn I visited, when I asked what their qualifications were for running the facility the most common answer was, “I've been around horses my whole life”.  I just decided that wasn't good enough for me.  If we were going to do this, I wanted to do it right.  After all, I owe it to my horses to take the best possible care of them.  And that is how I now find myself a senior in the Equine Business Management program.

I also had the pleasure of hearing back from Jennifer Almond, a fellow Senior, here at St Andrews.  She like many students was drawn to St Andrew’s for the Therapeutic Horsemanship Program and the partnership that St Andrew’s has with PATH International.  A native of Stanly County, Jennifer commutes over an hour each way to get to classes each day.  She enjoys taking riding lessons as they are helping her to learn more while getting more physically fit.  Like many of us that are a bit older, Jennifer, just like myself, sometimes finds it difficult blending in with the younger students.

Last but not least I had the pleasure of not just an email but a pleasant conversation with Niki Cox.  Another Therapeutic Horsemanship Major, Niki commutes from Fayetteville full time for classes while also maintaining full time employment.  Growing up in a small town south of Syracuse, NY, Niki grew up trail riding.  She has her Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems and has spent the last 15 years working in the pharmaceutical industry.  A natural at working with others and a desire to help others learn was all it took to get Niki hooked after an opportunity to volunteer at a local Therapeutic Horsemanship Facility.  She has been a student at St Andrew’s since May of 2013.  One of her favorite parts is the Ride-Like-A-Knight program as it partners with county schools and the community to provide real world experiences.  Like most of us, Niki admits to struggling with the responsibilities of full time employment, school, being a wife and a mother all at the same time.

While we may be a small part of the St Andrew’s Equestrian community, I think it’s nice to know that we are not alone in our efforts.  Sometimes, when you decide to go back to school as an adult, it can be hard especially if you feel like you are alone in what you are doing.  This has opened my eyes to show that there is more to the “Non-Traditional” Student than meets the eye.  So, if you happen to see one of us walking down the hall, or we are in your class, don’t be afraid to say hello or partner up with us in a group.  Just because we don’t live on campus doesn't mean that we don’t have a lot to bring to the table or years of experience to share.

A Military Friendly School
For five years St. Andrews University has been recognized as a Military Friendly School by Victory Media, the premier media entity for military personnel transitioning into civilian life. Victory Media recognizes schools that exhibit leading practices in the recruitment and retention of students with military experience. These schools have world-class programs and policies for student support on campus, academic accreditation, credit policies, flexibility and other services to those who served and their families. “Inclusion on the 2014 list of Military Friendly Schools shows St. Andrews University’s commitment to providing a supportive environment for military students,” said Sean Collins, vice president at Victory Media.

Alumni Review by Taylor Carroll & Mary Thomson

St. Andrews Equestrian Program has developed a superior learning environment for the those interested in expanding their equestrian knowledge both on and off the horse.  The program offers valuable experience about the many facets if the equestrian industry.  St. Andrews prepares its graduates to go out into the industry as knowledgeable horsemen  pursuing their desired careers  and is very influential in job placement after graduation.

After graduating in 2012,  Allie McGraw became Assistant Barn Manager of Cottonwood Farm in Vanceborro, NC and the Assistant Coach for the East Carolina University Equestrian Team. In 2013 McGraw became the head coach of the team. Along with being the Assistant Barn Manager at Cottonwood, McGraw is also an assistant for Laura Underhill Norment who owns Graham Place that is run out of Cottonwood Farm.  When asked about how St. Andrews was helpful in her job search McGraw answered, “St. Andrews creates lots of ties and networks with students and those in the horse industry. I rode in a clinic with Laura and did my summer internship at Cottonwood before graduating."  

Kate McAlinn graduated in 2008 with a B.A. in Business Administration with a Concentration in Equine Business Management.  Part of this program included a summer internship at Cornell Cooperative Extension for the Chemung County 4H program. Job duties included planning and running horse shows and overseeing the youth knowledge programs, horse bowl and hippology. She says that after graduation the St. Andrews network introduced her to Canadian Team rider, Harold Chopping. Kate worked at Harold’s Solo Show Stables for two years learning more about the horse industry. She says, "If it hadn't been for the stable management class and all the hands on experience, I would not have been able to be head groom and help keep the barn organized and running smoothly."  Currently McAlinn has her own business in Smithfield, NC called Sunchaser Equestrian LLC. "I am grateful for all the experience that St. Andrews has given to me leading me to where I am today" claims McAlinn.

After graduating in 2007 with a B.A. in Communications, Christina Kalinski talks about her journey since leaving St. Andrews. "Life after St. Andrews has been a marvelous adventure. Many of the doors I have walked through have been opened in some way, shape, or form by my experience, contacts, and techniques I developed at St. Andrews. After graduating I landed a dream job working and riding at a private "A" show/ sales barn. I rode all day long and learned a tremendous amount about all aspects of the business. I spent my summers in New York and my winters in the heart of the horse show world in Wellington, FL. The job continuously changed as I learned and experienced more. I was able to refine and define the skills I wanted to use in making myself the best professional I can possibly be. I have experienced several other wonderful job opportunities since St. Andrews and am currently working on the "A" circuit riding, teaching, and perusing my passion."

Heather Jackson Merrell is a recent St. Andrews graduate who has used the knowledge she gained at school to open her own private boarding facility. While at St. Andrews, Merrell majored in Therapeutic Horsemanship. She graduated in 2010, and in March of 2012 she opened Lone Tree Farm where she offers boarding, lessons, and sales. Merrell says that a degree from St. Andrews has helped her most with the business and legal aspects of running a barn. When asked what she missed most about St. Andrews she said, “I really miss the small community we had. It was so nice to be at a small campus where you knew everyone.”

Sami Cram graduated from St. Andrews in May of 2013 with a B.S. in Biology. Shortly after graduating she went to work for Kent Farrington, LLC. About working for Kent she said, “The job has given me the opportunity to work with the best horses, the best riders and to travel the world. The job has truly been a dream come true. I’ve been able to groom, ride and most importantly learn from the best.” Most recently Cram has been put in charge of marketing and sales which she thought might be a challenge as a Biology major. However, she said that other classes such as Sage and Senior Seminar helped her to be calm when presenting information to clients. Cram said, “St. Andrews is a major factor to the success I have had after graduating.”

While at St. Andrews, Cram was highly involved at the barn organizing horse shows, teaching some lessons, and being an ambassador for the team. She said that the staff is the best part about St. Andrews. “The people I met, the life lessons I learned, and the incredible support of my peers and the staff is something I will always have” she said. When asked what she missed most about St. Andrews Cram replied, “There are so many things I miss about St. Andrews. The staff, I would say, is the part I miss most... there are always smiling faces to be there for you whether it is school related or not. You gain a "family" when you attend St. Andrews.” Cram had some great advice for current and future students saying, “This world is a lot about who you meet and the impressions you make.”

Life as a Barn Manager at St. Andrews

Each year The History and Theory of Modern Riding class prepare a review of the previous year. This year Katie Ballard chose to report on the tasks and challenges that face the St. Andrews Barn Managers.



Mariann, Jennifer, Andrew, Kellie G & Kelly M. photo by Pebble Turbeville

Barn managers are the back bone of any barn. A barn the size of the St. Andrews Equestrian Program not only presents all the usual challenges that barn managers face but also the added challenges of multiple instructors, students that fit in their riding lessons around their class schedules, our resident Veterinarian Dr. Kellam and her interns, the stall cleaning and maintenance crew and the four farriers each on a different schedules; all of which creates an enormous challenge when it comes to keeping everyone informed as to the status of the 120 plus horses. In addition the barn managers teach the Stable Management Lab. and assist with other Labs and team practices.

Over the past week or so, I have had the chance to talk to each of the barn managers: Kellie Garrabrant (KG), Jennifer Sansbury (JS), Kelly Meehan (KM), Andrew Micheal (AM), and Mariann Stark (MS). 

Katie: What is your favorite/best thing about your job?

KG: Watching the freshmen come into St. Andrews and seeing them grow through the years. I also love to work outside which is basically where all my work is.

JS: I love everything! I work here because I love the horses and the learning environment. I love being around the horses all the time and being able to have my horse, Charlie Pops here. I really enjoy getting a chance to make a difference in the future of the students.

KM: I get to be around horses all the time. I also get to meet some very interesting people. I love being able to continue learning by being exposed to a huge variety of different experiences.

AM:  I like being able to work with willing students and watching them develop. I enjoy having consistent time off, a regular pay check and health care benefits.

MS: I really enjoy being able to learn new things, every day. I love being outside all day with the horses, learning new things and being able to pass the knowledge onto the students

Katie: What is difficult about your job?

KG: Communication is always a huge challenge. We also have a budget, so making every penny count is another ongoing task so that we provide the horses with excellent care while staying within our financial boundaries.

JS: Organizing the students to manage their time for lessons and work study. We depend on them to help us and when they don’t come to work as planned we have to pick up their slack.

AM: Scheduling and communication is a huge puzzle and it is easy to forget to tell someone something they really needed to know. We all have to work at improving communication on a daily basis.

MS: Communication and keeping an open line between the barn managers and other staff. If there is no open line, it is hard to be sure that the things we need done are done. Things change all of the time so even when you think you have shared something it may not be the most current information!

Katie:  What brought you to St. Andrews?

KG: I moved to NC from NJ to be nearer my parents. I actually applied to assist the Facility Manager. Peggy (Equestrian Program Director, Peggy McElveen) saw my resume and offered me a job taking care of the horses.

JS: I had lots of experience. I ran the barn at Coastal Carolina University before this as well as running my own barn with a boarding and lesson program so this was a natural progression for me.

KM: I loved working and learning from the barn managers when I was a student and I wanted to do the same for the current students.

AM: I started as a temporary employee when someone was out sick. I guess I did a good job as Peggy offered me a full time job.

MS: I was living in Laurinburg when an opening came available, Peggy called me and offered me the job.

Katie: In addition to horse care do you have any specific duties?

KG: I make the work schedule for staff and students and delegate specific duties to our barn team.

JS: The way the barn is set up makes it so we can all step up into each other’s job when needed. I run the Boarder Barn which includes the therapeutic horsemanship and dressage horses. Mariann helps me, but I work alone quite a lot.

KM: I order feed and am the go to person on Kellie G’s day off.

AM: I work on projects such as organizing the blankets and storage in the loft. I also fill in for Mariann as Vet Tech Liaison on her day off.

MS: I am the staff Vet Tech Liaison to the vet interns. I am in charge of doing the meds when the interns are not here.

Katie: Any funny or memorable stories you’d like to share?

KG: It was a few years ago, during the major snowstorm. None of the stall cleaners could get here so the staff did all the stalls. Anyone who could get to the barn pitched in to help clean stalls and take care of the horses. It was hard work but we made it fun.

JS: Early in my time here, I took the WhisperJet (a gas powered golf cart with a rather loud motor) out to watch one of the students ride Charlie Pops. Little did I know that it wouldn’t make it back to the barn after she was done riding. I had to push it back to the barn before Peggy saw me.

KM: I was working over the break with Liz Dulski, Heather Lee, and Mariann. I love the memory because we all got to know each other much better. It was also the break that Mosa, Heather’s dog, drug the deer leg out of the ANRC field!

AM: There used to be a therapeutic riding horse here named Chaco. I used to ride him up onto the shavings pile and it would be fun to have him sink into the pile before riding him out again. It was quite funny to watch.

MS: Not long after I started here one of the horses coliced. That day, I worked for fourteen hours, I learned a lot which really helped my confidence to grow. It was also the day I started becoming more involved in the veterinary part of the program.

Five different people from five different backgrounds all working towards a common cause. They work together as a team to make sure that the barns are safe for both horse and rider.

 

Preparing for the "Real'" World

Check out this interesting article about Senior Megan Nedow's experience as an Equine Business Major and how it has helped her prepare for life after graduation.

http://www.sapc.edu/PDF/2014/012014nedow.php

Kicking Off the Spring Semester 2014

It has been a wet or cold start to the spring semester, either wet or cold. Last week it was so cold Scotland County schools were operating on a 2 hour delay. Then it warmed up and rained and the fields at the equestrian center are soaked with lots of standing water. We kicked off the lesson program with Monday lessons on Friday to ensure that we will fit in 10 lessons on Mondays. With all the horse shows we host on the weekends it is hard to fit in lessons and also give the horses a day or two to recover after our big IHSA shows. In addition we are hosting Western Semi-Finals in March which is a big deal and will require a significant amount of planning and preparation.

January is not too busy with no home shows on the calendar. This Friday is team tryouts for new students and RLAK volunteer training. Nice to ease back into the craziness gradually. Come February we will be going full blast!

Highlights of 2013

January

• Equestrian program participates in the Martin Luther King day of service
• Scrimmage or Head to Head with University of South Carolina Gamecocks for IHSA Western & Hunter Seat teams.

February

• Snow Globe dressage show at the Equestrian Center. Lindsey Agaliotis and Kristen Parker qualify for IDA Nationals.
• Hunter Seat and Western team win their Regions and qualify for Zones.

March

• Our online store opens
• Ten students attend the PATH Intl. Region 3 conference in Hilton Head, SC
• Jeremy and Jennifer Sansbury welcome Greer to their family
• Several students qualify for IHSA Zones as Individuals at Regionals hosted by St. Andrews
• IHSA Western team wins the Zone and qualifies for Nationals
• Host first Easter Egg Hunt at the Equestrian Center

April

• IHSA Hunter Seat team wins the Zone for the first time in our program’s history
• Alumni weekend brought St. Androids from 2002 to town and a trail ride at the Equestrian Center
• Lindsey Agaliotis earns 3rd at first level and Kristen Parker 7th at Introductory level at IDA Nationals Mt. Holyoke College in MA.

May

• IHSA Western team Reserve National Champions!
• IHSA Hunter Seat team 8th
• Horses ship to camp

June/July/August

• Horses at camp, projects worked on, staff vacation and travel time, getting ready for the new school year. Horses come home early August.

September

• Josh Dazey represents Ride-Like-A-Knight and Scotland County at Special Olympics in Raleigh with Red Ted and Quinn
• IHSA Team place 5th at Tournament of Champions Invitational at Randolph College

October

• First ever back-to-back IDA dressage shows at St. Andrews
• Show team travels to Carolina Starz and Greensboro horse shows

November

• Students and staff attend Path International National Conference in Orlando, FL
• Showing Under the Stars – Halloween Edition!
• Scottish Pilot Club donates helmets to Ride-Like-A-Knight

December

• Ride-Like-A-Knight joins Amazon Smile program
• Horse Illustrated publishes an article featuring advice from Carla Wennberg and photos by Pebbles Turbeville