With close to thirty events in western and huntseat equitation, the event will draw almost 2,000 horse lovers to campus and close to 170 college teams. Due to Mount Holyoke's outstanding facilities and Equestrian Center director/riding team coach Carol "C. J." Law's leadership, MHC is the only college to host this culminating show four times.
The IHSA was founded by a college student who wanted to make riding available to all students, regardless of prior experience or financial status. Now thirty years old, its national show is an event that college riders like Melissa Jones '99 dream about. Part of the equestrian team, she's one of three MHC riders who qualified as individuals for this national competition.
The show will cap a highly competitive season for the MHC riding team. The team placed first in the region and won a tough tiebreaker with Stonehill College last weekend, earning first place in zone competition and the right to compete in nationals.
For IHSA teams and members, a myriad of special events surround the weekend, including a banquet at Smith College and a sports psychology clinic at Amherst College. Sixty to eighty horses brought in from around the area for the event will be housed in temporary stalls and cared for by the equestrian center.
Other activities include a reception with the president on Friday and demonstrations of dressage and vaulting over the weekend. Special friends of the College attending the show will enjoy the newly completed VIP lounge, which was funded by an anonymous donation to the Equestrian Center in 1990.
Anyone interested in volunteering for the show may contact Jess Tartof '97 at x4419. The event is free and open to all viewers; no tickets are necessary. Starting at 8 am, the show will run the entire day on Saturday and Sunday.
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