horses – Houghton STAR

By Hannah Avery

The Houghton University Equestrian Center is bustling with activity this fall semester with the conclusion of the annual Houghton Horse Trials, Combined Test, and Dressage Show in September.

If you missed the opportunity to check out show day, there are still many opportunities to explore Houghton’s beautiful equestrian facilities, starting with the annual Homecoming Open House event on Saturday, Oct. 8th, from 9-11 a.m.

The Open House is “an amazing opportunity to show the community, especially alumni, how much the equestrian program has changed in such great ways,” said Equestrian Society President, and senior, Cassidy Kuhlmann. “We also love to give people hands-on experience at the barn to show them what we love so much about the barn!”

The Equestrian Open House will host a variety of activities, including a photo booth, pony rides, and hay rides. There also will be a variety of demonstrations from the upperclassmen who will showcase disciplines such as jumping, dressage, and horse training.

The program’s assistant barn manager and event coordinator, Hannah Williamson, and the Equestrian Society Club have remarked that this year’s open house may be the biggest one after the COVID-19 pandemic, and a lot has changed over the course of these past few years. It gives an opportunity to students, alumni, and community members alike to get out and experience what is happening at the equestrian center and see the four-legged teachers that help get the job done through a variety of fun activities.

Included in the Equestrian Center’s changes, a brand new custom jump course was recently unveiled – a project made possible by generous donors. The program is very excited to have these jumps, which includes a custom “Houghton University” banner, for the students to learn with, and put to good use at events and shows.

“The new jumps mean a lot to our program. We so rarely get things custom made for [the program],” said senior, Izzy Gritsavage. “One of the great things about them is that they look different than our old jumps, which presents new challenges for both us and the horses.” ★

For the second year in a row, the equestrian center will be hosting an open house, allowing community members and students to see a glimpse of the elusive equestrian lifestyle. Last November, Houghton’s equestrian program hosted its first open house, opening riding demonstrations, and lesson opportunities to non-majors and the surrounding community. The equestrian center will be hosting an open house once again this year, planned by equestrian student event organizer Grace Walker ’18. The event will take place on October 1, running from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Photo by: Nate Morre

The open house, like last year’s, is intended to bring both income and awareness to Houghton’s Equestrian program. Among the events and activities, the open house will be advertising lessons, which the equestrian program offers throughout the year. “We teach lessons to students, little kids, middle-aged people,” Walker said. Walker also emphasized the hope the open house will attract people who have had little previous interaction with the equestrian center. “A lot of people go through the year and have never been up there,” she said. Equestrian student Hannah Levesque ‘18 also looks forward to the event for the same reason, While last year’s open house took place in November, this year’s has been planned for early October, when, Walker hopes, the weather will be warmer. The event will also differ in using the entire facility instead of only having indoor events, and being “more of a day fair than a night time event,” Walker said. The event will have a variety of activities including face painting, hay rides, pony rides, a bounce house, concessions, and riding demonstrations, which Walker said she “hand-picked.” She noted there will be more opportunities for riding demonstrations at this year’s event, with five hours-worth as opposed to last year’s two demonstrations that only last ten minutes each.

Walker and the equestrian students look forward to showcasing their program this year. They expressed their appreciation for the professors, who Rebecca Rex ‘18 described as “super knowledgeable. Levesque also discussed their faith and the influence it has. “I am encouraged by God-fearing professors who push and guide me to be the best that I can be as an equestrian, and as a follower of Christ,” she said. Walker echoed this by acknowledging their relationships with the equestrian professors are intimate, that they are “your coach, mentor, professor, everything.” Smiling, she remembered a professor inviting her over for pancakes at 3 a.m..

The equestrian majors are eager to share their passion with other students. Levesque said, “Not many people even know that Houghton has a barn, let alone what we do, and it will be great to show everyone what I am so passionate about.”. The equestrian program, according to Levesque, has allowed her to pursue her passion and, in addition, has given her an escape when things get tough., She said, “Horses have always been a good escape for me when life gets busy and Houghton’s Equestrian program has definitely allowed me to do that in various ways.” Walker, who is working toward one day participating in the Olympics, also appreciates the day to day benefits. “It’s the most mentally challenging thing I’ve ever done, yet also physical,” she said. “When you get it right, there’s no comparable thing.” Rex expressed enthusiasm that “the equestrian students and members of the Equestrian Society get to show our love of the horse industry to our friends and family.”

The open house encourages students, faculty, and community members to come regardless of having any experience with horses. While the open house celebrates the equestrian center, much of the intention is making people more aware of the center. “You can never have been on a horse and we’ll welcome you with open arms,” Walker said. Walker also expressed a want for understanding, “I hope they come away with more understand of what equestrian means.”