Purdue News

April 24, 1998 Purdue Equestrian Team headed to national competition WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The Purdue University Equestrian Team has completed its season and is headed to Port Jervis, N.Y., to compete in the National Intercollegiate Horse Show from May 1 to May 3. The trip to nationals is a footnote to the team's long string of wins. For the 12th time in 13 years, the team has placed first in its region. It holds nine regional championships and has made 10 previous trips to nationals. It is this year's zone champion, giving it an automatic slot at nationals. All this success has made the Equestrian Team one of the most successful intercollegiate teams at Purdue. Jerry Steinmetz, team coach and owner of Foxton Farms in Romney, Ind., where the team practices, said the unique partnership between Purdue and Foxton Farms has contributed to the successful team he has built. "In 1972, I was asked to judge my first intercollegiate meet," he said. "After that, I knew that I had to become involved because the students needed a coach and good horses to be a winning team. Since that time, we have tried to bring horseback riding to anyone who wanted to try it." Although Steinmetz attributes the team's success to talented riders, the team members tell another story. Wendy Dorfman, team president and a fourth-year pharmacy student from Long Island, N.Y , attributes their success to exceptional coaching. "Our coach is wonderful," she said. "He doesn't force you to do things that you are not ready for. We are allowed to learn at our own pace, and challenge ourselves. We also have unbelievable horses who are very easy to learn on." As a child growing up on Long Island, Dorfman began riding when she was 7 years old. "I came to Purdue because it has a great pharmacy program, but the Equestrian Team has given me the opportunity to continue on with something I love," Dorfman said. "Riding is such a big part of my life that I would be lost without it." Dorfman's favorite event is hunt seat. "I think that it is one of the harder events, because you have to work with your horse and encourage it to make the tough jumps," she said. "So much depends on the horse that sometimes your performance is beyond your control." Members competing with the Equestrian Team have a choice between two different events and a variety of skill levels. Vicki Cline, an academic adviser in the School of Materials Engineering and faculty adviser to the team, said riders can compete in either hunt or western seat. Western seat involves riding skill and presentation. Hunt seat involves riding skill, presentation and jumping. Both events have beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Kristen Kuehnert, a senior in agriculture from Roanoke, Ind. , said she has enjoyed riding for Purdue. "I have been around horses and have been riding ever since I can remember," she said. "I participated in my first horse show when I was only 3 years old. In a sense, I am following in my mother's footsteps. She was the one who got me into riding, and she has competed all her life." Many new riders to the sport find it easy to learn. With a few lessons, riders can grasp the basics. "It is truly a sport for all ages and skill levels," Dorfman said. "We have members with no experience who compete on the novice level and win." Students can join the team and learn horseback riding for a modest sum. "It is a very economical way for collage students to improve their skills without investing a lot of money," Coach Steinmetz said. "Dues are only $10 a year. You must have the appropriate riding clothes, but these can be borrowed if you don't want to invest a lot of money. To compete on the team, you are required to ride once a week at Foxton Farms, which costs $12. Finally, you have to pay for the horse shows you compete in, which can cost $35 to $75 a weekend, depending on what class you compete in." Student enrolled at Purdue also can take a riding class at Foxton Farms for one credit through the university. This includes two, one-hour group lessons each week. The credit counts as a physical education skills class. The Equestrian Team, considered an extracurricular activity at Purdue, has about 100 members. It is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, which has the goal of providing any college student, regardless of his or her financial status or riding level, the ability to participate in horse shows. Sources: Vicki Cline, (765) 494-4103 Wendy Dorfman, (765) 746-4349 Kristen Kuehnert, (765) 495-1731 Jerry Steinmetz, (765) 538-3123 or (765) 742-8597 Writer: Jessica Kemery, (765) 743-1047; e-mail kemeryj@expert.cc.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page