Sweet Briar riding fellow Jason Berry teamed up with Sox In The City at the Warrenton Horse Show in September to win the International Hunter Futurity Eastern Regional championship in the 3-year-old division, according to an article in the Sept. 18 issue of The Chronicle of the Horse.

Berry, who began teaching at Sweet Briar this fall, and the horse were competing together for the first time.

“Jason Berry had never met Sox In The City before saddling him for the Warrenton Horse Show and IHF Eastern Regional, but they quickly developed a partnership,” the article said.

Berry and Sox In The City also won the tri-color 3-year-old hunter division the day before the IHF, where they were first and second over fences and sixth in the under saddle, the Chronicle said.

Sweet Briar IHSA coach Ian McCartney has named the members of his 2009-2010 Intercollegiate Horse Show Association team.

In the IHSA format, riders are classified into levels determined by their riding experience and ability. Levels start with beginner classes in Walk, Trot and move up to Open classes in which riders jump fences around 3 feet in height.

IHSA colleges compete in local regions and within a larger geographic zone to qualify for national finals. Riders compete on horses provided by each show’s host school. Horses and riders are randomly paired and they compete without the opportunity to practice together in advance. The system tests riders on how well they can read the horse in a short amount of time, and follow with an efficient and elegant ride.

To make the team selections, Sweet Briar coaches conducted the tryouts using the IHSA format. Riders were assigned a horse to show over fences if they qualified for a jumping level and on the flat — meaning in the ring with no fences. They showed in their classes without warm-up time.

Riders were evaluated by a panel of judges made up of McCartney, director of riding Shelby French and associate director of riding Mimi Wroten.

After initial trials, riders in contention are called back to try out again on a different horse until the judging panel had picked the team.

McCartney said he has a “really good group of riders” this year, selected from a historically large pool of about 60 students who tried out for team. “It was just an incredible strong group and it really made the decisions hard,” he said.

Congratulations to the following riders for making this year’s Sweet Briar IHSA team.

Brianna Belter ’13

Kaitlin Eckenberger ’13

Greer Gordon ’12

Elizabeth Hansbrough ’13

Kendall Harris ’13

Townsend Horvath ’12

Liz Koslow ’13

Kelly MacDonald ’10

Nell Malbon ’11

Heather McPheeters ’10

Victoria Mott ’13

Alysha Norbury ’10

Sierra Palmieri ’12

Emma Rakosky ’12

Zoe West ’13

Deborah Willis ’11

Sarah Winstead ’12

Laura Jane Wolcott ’12

Clarkie Woods ’12

Morganne Young ’11

On Sept. 27, six Sweet Briar College riders competed at the Tournament of Champions Pre-Season Classic hosted by Hollins University in Roanoke, Va., bringing home four individual ribbons in the first Intercollegiate Horse Show Association action of the year.

The Tournament of Champions is a non-sanctioned exhibition series in the team format of the IHSA National Collegiate Cup competition. Each team brings one rider in each of the eight IHSA class divisions, all riding for team points. The tournaments are invitation only and bring together a wide variety of top teams from all across the country.

“Many people consider them even more competitive than the IHSA national finals, where the best teams in the nation often eliminate each other in the process of just getting to nationals,” said Sweet Briar’s IHSA coach Ian McCartney. “Unlike nationals, where certain teams might come from ‘weaker’ areas of the country, the tournament’s invitational format brings the best teams from the best areas of the country to compete against each other.”

This year’s tournament featured teams from such perennial IHSA powerhouses as Mount Holyoke, Berry College, the College of Charleston, Savannah College of Art and Design, Virginia Intermont, Virginia Tech, Hollins, Mary Washington University, and Bridgewater, Lynchburg, Randolph and Goucher colleges — and, of course, Sweet Briar. In all, 20 teams from as far north as Massachusetts and as far south as Georgia came to compete.

Riders from Sweet Briar included IHSA team newcomers Kelly MacDonald ’10, Liz Koslow ’13, Elizabeth Hansbrough ’13 and Brianna Belter ’13, as well as two returning veterans from last year’s squad, Emma Rakosky ’12 and Alysha Norbury ’10.

Among the day’s winners were Rakosky, who took first in Walk, Trot, Canter; Koslow who was second in Intermediate over Fences; Belter, who finished second in Novice over Fences; and Hansbrough, who was fifth in Novice on the Flat.

McCartney, who is in his first year teaching at Sweet Briar, said he and his riders were pleased with the results. The team was able to use the show as an opportunity for several new riders to gain experience before the season officially begins, he added.

The first show will be held at Randolph College on Oct. 16.

An immutable din of happy voices filled Upchurch Field House on the night of Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. They — Sweet Briar students, alumnae, faculty, staff and guests — had come for a party in this room where just a few hours earlier Jo Ellen Johnson Parker was officially sworn in as the College’s 10th president.

Maybe it was the excitement of the day or the long anticipation of being in this room in this building, Sweet Briar’s Fitness and Athletics Center, which is so brand new that crews would be back to work on it Monday. For most, the events of this Inauguration/Homecoming Weekend offered their first look inside the center.

The Real Geniuses perform Saturday night.
Photo by Aaron Mahler.Revelers basked in the green glow cast by the wall paint and the lighting set up for the occasion. The room had been transformed from earlier in the day, when 1,100 or so chairs had filled much of the floor. Now, more than 100 tables were elegantly set and food stations around the perimeter offered Latin, Mediterranean, Asian and Virginian tapas-style cuisine.

On this night, the College was celebrating the inauguration of a new president, the dedication of the long-awaited building, and the induction of two cherished members of the Sweet Briar teaching community into its Athletics Hall of Fame, Paul D. Cronin and the late Jennifer Crispen.

It was “undoubtedly one of the most phenomenal days in the history of Sweet Briar,” said Kathy Upchurch Takvorian ’72, one of several speakers during the formal dedication of the fitness center, which opened the gala. The field house is named for Ann Samford Upchurch ’48, mother of Takvorian and board of directors chair Virginia Upchurch Collier ’72.

All three were student athletes during their time at Sweet Briar and continued to support the College through philanthropy and service on numerous committees and the board. Takvorian chaired the fundraising committee for the fitness center.

After a ceremonial ribbon cutting, the stage was turned over to The Real Geniuses, who would rock the house into the early hours of the morning. Between the band’s first and second sets, however, the Hall of Fame induction ceremony was held to honor Cronin, director of the riding program for 34 years until he retired in 2002, and Crispen, who coached several sports and taught at Sweet Briar for 30 years.

Cronin was inducted by Vivian Yamaguchi Cohn ’77, a former student. Acknowledging Cronin’s many accomplishments and awards as a coach and horseman, Cohn said he is a teacher first and used his tenure to integrate the College’s educational mission into its riding program. Most importantly, she said, he is an exceptional human being.

Katherine Hearn ’85 inducted Crispen, who died in November 2008 after a courageous battle against cancer. With Crispen’s mother also in attendance, her sister, Whitney Crispen Hagins, accepted the honor. Hagins thanked the people she knew Crispen would deflect credit to, and brought some to tears and laughter with reminiscences of her sister’s always-ready-to-try-anything spirit.

With the induction concluded, the band, which had been chosen for the event by a student vote, took the stage again. Before long, the tables were mostly empty, the dance floor was packed and the all-out party was on.

Erin Alberda, a 2001 Sweet Briar graduate and member of the U.S. Para-equestrian Dressage Team is on a mission to represent the United States at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010.

Earlier this month, Alberda contacted riding program director Shelby French with the news, noting in an e-mail that she is in “very good shape” to meet that goal and that she is always looking for sponsors to “continue this crazy adventure.”

Since then, FarmVet, an animal health products and supplies company, has announced its sponsorship of Alberda. According to a FarmVet press release, Alberda has been riding as a Grade 3 para-equestrian since 2006. Para-athletes are graded based on their level of disability, the release said.

Alberda’s disability progressed over a period of several years, following a viral illness during her last year at Sweet Briar. Her symptoms are similar to muscular dystrophy, including impaired balance and weakened legs.

The 2010 World Games will be held at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. Held every four years, the games are the world championships of eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Federation Equestre Internationale. 2010 is the first time they will be held in the United States and the first time that disabled equestrians will be competing in the games along with able-bodied riders.

Alberda has already earned her FEI certificate of capability, the first step toward qualifying for the games. Her to-do list before assuring her berth includes a CPEDI event in March and the Selection Trials in June. CPEDI is an international para-dressage competition series sanctioned by the FEI. Higher-level CPEDI shows are qualifiers for elite events such as the World Games.

“Actually, the first step will be a good solid winter of training,” Alberda said. “[It] maybe less glamorous, but definitely the most important step along this journey.”

Alberda is working with her 11-year-old Swedish warmblood Dylan, whom she bought last spring. Dylan’s show name is Delectari.

“He’s a bit green, but has come along amazingly well, aside from that Swedish horse temper!” she said. “Dylan and I have a lot of hard work to do over the winter, but I don’t doubt we’ll be ready come next fall to represent SBC —and the U.S. — well.”

The games will be held Sept. 25 to Oct. 10, 2010. According to the Kentucky Horse Park Web site, they will represent the largest equine sporting event to be held in the United States.

For Alberda and other para-equestrians, the opportunity to participate in the games creates even more opportunity. When French learned what her former student was up to, she wondered whether Alberda would mind posting the news on the College’s Web site.

“Absolutely,” came the quick reply. “I am doing as much as I can to spread the word, not only for my own personal efforts, but also to spread the word about para-equestrian. 2010 is going to be such a huge event for the sport, which is growing by leaps and bounds.”

Those interested in supporting Alberda, may contact her at erin.alberda@gmail.com.

Riding instructor Glenn Moody is the "Mr. Clean" of Sweet Briar's Harriet Howell Rogers Riding Center, says riding program director Shelby French.

Glenn Moody initiates his new broom with an “inaugural sweep” of the Bailey Room.

Moody is determined to keep the Bailey Room clean and swept — no doubt a thankless task considering the endless stream of booted feet that tread across it daily. According to French, his desire to keep the area spic and span is so great that at the end of the 2008-2009 academic year, the riding staff and students presented him with his own special hand-decorated broom. The words "Glenn's broom" are painted on the handle.

The Bailey Room, named for former director of riding Clayton Bailey, is the lobby area of the riding center, where visitors enter through the main door. It's also a meeting room and classroom for the riding program.

Today, Moody got the chance to initiate his new broom with an "inaugural sweep" of the Bailey Room — and a new academic year is under way.

Sweet Briar riding director Shelby French has recently become a regular contributor to the Chronicle of the Horse, writing for its "Between Rounds" department.

French has authored two columns, in April and May, with another going to press this month. Contributors to "Between Rounds" are top professionals from different areas of equestrian sports who are asked to reflect on issues they feel are timely and important.

After submitting two columns, the Chronicle's editors invited French to become a regular writer for the section, which she is glad to do. The 70-year-old publication covers the entire sport horse industry and is written specifically for accomplished competitors, according to its Web site.

"I feel it is such an honor to be asked to share my thoughts with the riding industry and be a voice for college riding and for the grassroots level of our sport," French said. "An added bonus is that readers of the column should get a clearer picture of the philosophy that is the basis of the Sweet Briar program."

Headquartered in Virginia, the Chronicle distributes across the United States and in Canada.

Sweet Briar Riding has hired two new instructors, Ian McCartney and Jason Berry. Both will start in July and will begin teaching in the fall of 2009.

Ian McCartney

McCartney joins Sweet Briar as a riding lecturer with a broad range of experience. Over the past 12 years he has been an instructor and professional rider in the lower Hudson Valley region of New York. His students and horses have competed successfully at major horse shows in the Northeast, including Old Salem Farm and Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS) in New York State and the Fairfield County and Ox Ridge hunt clubs in Connecticut.

In addition to competing in the hunter, jumper and equitation rings, McCartney encourages his students to develop as complete riders by taking them to hunter paces, hunter trials and foxhunts. He believes in a patient approach and progressive system of training for horses and rider. He enjoys teaching and is always challenging his students to think for themselves and understand the "whys" of riding.

McCartney graduated from Alfred University, where he rode and competed in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association open division. He also spent three years working on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

Jason BerryBerry will assume one of the three riding fellowships. He began his riding career under the tutelage of Olin Armstong in Staunton, Va., where he helped train young horses for sale and showed them at the regional level. In 2001 he relocated to Virginia Beach and worked for Chris Wynne of Breckenridge Manor coaching amateur and junior riders on a regular basis and preparing their horses.

During the 2002 show season, Berry was given the opportunity to ride for Beaver River Farm of Camden, S.C., and showed their horses in the professional hunter divisions at most of the major horse shows on the East Coast. Since 2003, he has established himself as a top young riding professional in Virginia and has ridden and shown horses for three of Virginia's top show stables, Meadow Bluff Farm, November Hill Farm and Cismont Manor Farm.

While still riding for outside clients, Berry owns and manages Jason Berry Stables LLC of Verona, Va., an operation he began in 2007 with his wife Alisa Cline Berry, Sweet Briar Class of 2003.

Berry has made it his priority to work with well-respected horsemen throughout his career and he will bring a strong work ethic and a dedication to making each horse and rider the best they can be. He will work with the other instructors to continue the development of the College's jumper and jumper equitation program, as well as riding and re-schooling horses for Sweet Briar students.

In November, Sweet Briar's Intercollegiate Horse Show Association team mourned the loss of their beloved head coach Jon Conyers. Four days before his death from cancer, with Conyers unable to attend, the team won the last show before the winter break and began a run that culminated in their appearance at the IHSA National Championship held April 23-25 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Led by Emily Casali, who stepped up to the head coach position, the Vixens first took the regional championship, then earlier this month beat Virginia Intermont College and Mary Washington University to win the Zone 4 Collegiate Cup and a berth in the nationals. There, two Sweet Briar riders won ribbons and the Vixens tied for 10th place overall, but one Vixen distinguished himself above the entire field of hunters at the competition.

"Himself" isn't a typo. Sweet Briar's own Saki was voted "Horse of the Show" among the hunters. Besides Saki, Sweet Briar brought Ladino, Taz and Mel to Murfreesboro. In IHSA competition, riders and mounts are randomly paired from the available pool so that everyone has an equal chance of drawing an unfamiliar horse. Schooling is not allowed, so no one has a competitive advantage.

Saki got a workout in the Cacchione Cup Competition, which pits the top Open riders — Open is the most advanced riding level — from each region against each other. Two of his riders made it into the top 10, Casali said.

Among the two-legged Vixens, Paige Kaylor '10 was third in Intermediate Equitation Over Fences and Heather McPheeters '10 won a sixth-place ribbon in the Intermediate Equitation on the Flat. Alison Sims placed seventh in Open Over Fences.

In an e-mail, Kaylor wrote that the championship did not feel much different from regional IHSA events with one exception. "The only difference was that we were showing in the company of 18 of the best teams in the country," she said. "It was an honor to be able to ride for Sweet Briar at that level."

McPheeters agreed, noting, "There were great college riders from all over the country who had to jump through the same hoops we did to get to nationals."

They seemed to have absorbed Casali's pre-show wisdom. She had told them winning would be amazing, she said, but as long as they "rode every step to the best of their abilities, I couldn't be any happier."

Against the competition she knew they faced, she said, "You can have an outstanding ride and still not get a ribbon. I am happy to say that the team did just that. Many of the riders showcased their best riding of the season. Ribbons or not, that's all we can hope for."

It was a satisfying but bittersweet end to the season for Casali, who after rallying the team to reach the finals, was coaching her riders for that last time.

She plans to marry in August and return to Pennsylvania and her alma mater, Delaware Valley College, where she'll teach and coach part time in the equine department.

McPheeters attributes much of the Vixens' success this year to hard work and coming together as a group under Casali's leadership. "Emily worked hard and wanted us to do well and I think this really rubbed off on the team," she said.

She thinks her teammates kept Conyers in the back of their minds, too. He was there for her, she said. "Everything I did this season I felt like Jon was right there with me, helping along the way."

There were some poignant moments for the Vixens, who'd been underdogs to win their zone and advance to the championship. That win meant they could compete on a day when Conyers was honored by former students and fellow coaches with the IHSA, to which he had devoted much of his professional career. Just last year, he received a lifetime achievement award from the association.

In a tribute to him on Saturday morning, his friend and voice teacher at Sweet Briar, Marcia Thom, sang the national anthem. Standing with Thom were his family, Sweet Briar riding coaches and IHSA representatives.

The association also presented the first Jon Conyers Memorial Scholarship, a $1,000 award from the Intercollegiate Equestrian Foundation that went to Sarah Long from Sewanee, The University of the South. The new scholarship will be awarded annually to a full-time first-year or sophomore who has competed in the Walk-Trot or Walk-Trot-Canter divisions during the year and who has displayed a passion for horses and a desire to better him or herself on or off the horse.

According to the award criteria, "Jon believed in the 'basics' and worked tirelessly with his riders to help them develop a working partnership with their horse. A rider that demonstrates Jon's ideals would first have a passion and respect for the horse."

Sweet Briar College rode to a third-place finish in the American National Riding Commission national championship, held Friday through Sunday, April 17-19, at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in North Carolina.

The 2008 defending champion Savannah College of Art and Design took first place, finishing 10 points ahead of Sweet Briar with an overall score of 182. Centenary College was second with 176. Ten college teams competed for the national title.

Kelly MacDonald ’10 (from left), Alison Sims ’09 and Meredith Newman ’09 rode for Sweet Briar.Kelly MacDonald '10, Alison Sims '09 and Meredith Newman '09 rode for Sweet Briar's team. Rachel Field '10 and Sarah Fishback '10 competed as individuals. Sims and MacDonald both had outstanding outings, scoring sixth and seventh in individual standings, while Fishback was ninth overall. All of the Vixens finished in the top half of the field.

The ANRC championship includes three riding phases judged on equitation and a written phase on riding theory and stable management. Sweet Briar got a boost in this phase from Fishback, Sims and Field, who all placed. They finished second as a team.

The equitation phases began Saturday with flat work in the ring. This dressage sportif competition is a memorized program using U.S. Equestrian Federation hunter seat tests. Fishback was Sweet Briar's top scorer and the third-place finisher overall in the phase.

To prepare for the finals, Fishback said she focused on her flat work with head coach Shelby French, whom she credits for making sure she and her horse, Almond, were "both on our A game." Part of that equation is keeping it fun for Almond and not overworking particular elements, she said.

The jumping phases were held Sunday, beginning with an outdoor hunter trials course over 3-foot fences. The final equitation phase is a 3-foot hunter seat equitation medal course in the ring, where MacDonald earned a third-place ribbon and Sims, riding Chinook, tied for sixth.

As the show progressed, Sims said she knew the team's chances for a ribbon were good. "Chinook and I were really strong in the field, and Kelly MacDonald had a stellar stadium round, both of which were followed up by really strong team performances," she said. "So I didn't have a hard time believing we'd end up finishing strong."

In ANRC competition, judges are scoring both horse and rider as a pair. They look for the level of communication and cooperation between the two. Competitors, who must ride at least at an intermediate level, are allowed to school their horses on the courses in the two days leading up to the riding phases.

As a graduating senior, Sims was riding in the ANRC championship for the last time and confessed to being ecstatic to round out her career by placing in the top six. The show was made all the better by the company, she said.

"This was a very fun-loving group of riders this year, which made nationals a very comical and enjoyable experience," she said in an e-mail. "It was a good way to end a four-year chapter and I'm glad I got to do it with such an amazing group of horses and riders!"