2008 Woodie Awards
Equestrian Team Trots Toward Respectability
Matt Sommo
Issue date: 10/19/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
While many might say that William Paterson University does not offers no fun and interesting clubs for the students to participate in, a students on the WPU Equestrian Team might disagree.
The team, which has approximately 20 members, continues to grow each semester.
So one might ask, what is an equestrian team?
Well according to Jacque Davis, the team president said,, "Tthe team rides English, hunter/jumper and equitation to be exact," said Jacque Davis, team president. "(This basically means that we jump fences and we are trained to ride horses safely and properly according to traditional English style.)"
In order to ride successfully, each team member must complete a lesson each week, either in private or in a group. They all have the opportunity to compete in numerous Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Shows shows a year.
"The shows we attend are all throughout the state," said Davis. "We compete against other Zone 2, Region 1 schools such as Centenary College, Stevens Tech, Marist College, Sarah Lawrence, and the U.S. Military Academy.," added Davis.
The head coach of the team is Hayley Rooney of Holland Hills Farms, LLC., who has extensive show experience and a bachelor's degree in Equine Science from Centenary College.
Unlike other sports or clubs on campus, the students must do a lot of work to keep the team going, not only in competition, but in monetary ways as well. According to To finance all the activities for the club, Davis has, each team member must pay dues of $100 a semester. These dues are paid off after two lessons. All show fees and IHSA membership fees are paid for by the team.
Each team member is responsible for their his or her riding and safety equipment. In addition, the students practice at a barn located about 30 minutes from WPU. This creates additional gas fees for the team members.
"The shows we attend are all throughout the state," stated Davis. All show fees and IHSA membership fees are paid for by the team.
The team conducts at least one tack shop trip a semester, which is a horse riding equipment store, to allow new riders to purchase the necessary equipment.
As far as a history of the team, it is tough to pinpoint when the team was formed. According to Davis, "There is a rumor amongst the team that in the 80's the team was really big and successful at shows, but there is no paperwork to be found that proves this,." said Davis.
Davis believes the club started because several members of the WPU student body rode on their own to in events and wanted to compete intercollegiatelyon an intercollegiate level, or they just wanted to try something new, or both. Those tThese are the main reasons students continue to join today.
Meetings for the club are held every other Thursday in Raubinger 311.
The team, which has approximately 20 members, continues to grow each semester.
So one might ask, what is an equestrian team?
Well according to Jacque Davis, the team president said,, "Tthe team rides English, hunter/jumper and equitation to be exact," said Jacque Davis, team president. "(This basically means that we jump fences and we are trained to ride horses safely and properly according to traditional English style.)"
In order to ride successfully, each team member must complete a lesson each week, either in private or in a group. They all have the opportunity to compete in numerous Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Shows shows a year.
"The shows we attend are all throughout the state," said Davis. "We compete against other Zone 2, Region 1 schools such as Centenary College, Stevens Tech, Marist College, Sarah Lawrence, and the U.S. Military Academy.," added Davis.
The head coach of the team is Hayley Rooney of Holland Hills Farms, LLC., who has extensive show experience and a bachelor's degree in Equine Science from Centenary College.
Unlike other sports or clubs on campus, the students must do a lot of work to keep the team going, not only in competition, but in monetary ways as well. According to To finance all the activities for the club, Davis has, each team member must pay dues of $100 a semester. These dues are paid off after two lessons. All show fees and IHSA membership fees are paid for by the team.
Each team member is responsible for their his or her riding and safety equipment. In addition, the students practice at a barn located about 30 minutes from WPU. This creates additional gas fees for the team members.
"The shows we attend are all throughout the state," stated Davis. All show fees and IHSA membership fees are paid for by the team.
The team conducts at least one tack shop trip a semester, which is a horse riding equipment store, to allow new riders to purchase the necessary equipment.
As far as a history of the team, it is tough to pinpoint when the team was formed. According to Davis, "There is a rumor amongst the team that in the 80's the team was really big and successful at shows, but there is no paperwork to be found that proves this,." said Davis.
Davis believes the club started because several members of the WPU student body rode on their own to in events and wanted to compete intercollegiatelyon an intercollegiate level, or they just wanted to try something new, or both. Those tThese are the main reasons students continue to join today.
Meetings for the club are held every other Thursday in Raubinger 311.
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