EQUESTRIAN- COMPETITIVE

The Binghamton University Equestrian Team is a club sport based off-campus at Itaska Show Stables, approximately a 20 minute drive from campus. Our coach, Veda Tupy has over 20 years experience competing in hunters and jumpers, and 10 years experience teaching. We are a competitive team that participates in Zone 2, Region 3 of the IHSA, one of the largest regions in the northeast. Lessons, shows, and club participation are integral to being a team member. Riders who are interested are more than welcome to come try out in the beginning of the fall semester. Interested in visiting the stables? Please contact the Coach and/or Club President to arrange a tour.

For additional information about the club, visit their web site at http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=binghamtonequestrian.

Accomplishments:

• 2011:  Binghamton Equestrian places 4th overall for the first time in history!... Lindsay Knott- Open over Fences Regional qualifier, qualified for Zones, placed 4th at Zones. Over all 3rd in Open Rider standings...  Alena Ferrigno- Regional Qualifier Intermediate Flat and Fences... Sara Mallon: Regional Novice over Fences qualifier.
• 2010: Binghamton Equestrian places 5th as a team and is in the ribbons for the first time in team history!...  Lindsay Knott- Region 3 Open Flat Reserve Champion, qualifying for Zones, Open over Fences 3rd, qualifying for Zones, placed 7th on the flat and 8th over fences at Zones. Placed 3rd overall in Open Rider standings.... Kathleen McHugh- Novice fences regional qualifier, placed 4th at Regionals... Alena Ferrigno- Novice Flat Regional qualifier, placed 6th at Regionals...  Samantha Zimmer- Intermediate Flat Regional qualifier... Kristen Voorhees- Walk Trot Canter Regional qualifier... Lauren Web- Walk Trot Regional qualifier and Reserve Champion.
• 2009: Kelly Palmer- 4th place at Regionals in Intermediate over Fences... Ali Levy- Regional qualifier in Open flat 7th over all Open rider... Alicia Kobiscia- Walk Trot Regional qualifier and reserve Champion- qualified for zones, placed 4th at Zones...  Alena Ferrigno- Walk Trot Canter Regional qualifier, placed- 3rd at Regionals, placed 5th at Zones... Overall Team places 7th. 
• 2007: Team Places 3rd in Open Fences at Regions.
• 2007: Open Rider: 4th place team finish in Zone2/ Region 3.
• 2007: Open Rider: 3rd place team finish in Zone 2/ Region 3.
• 2007: Rachel Peach- Novice Fences at Regional Championship. 
• 2007: Ali Levy- Intermediate Fences Reserve Champion.
• 2006: Kelly Palmer- Reserve High Point Team at Skidmore College.

Affiliations: IHSA (Intercollegiate Horse Show Association)

Club Co-Presidents: Kathleen C. McHugh (email: kmchugh1@binghamton.edu) and Kristen Voorhees (email: kvoorhe1@binghamton.edu)

Message from the Co-Presidents:

Hello Everyone,

It’s been a wonderful summer but we are both so excited for the club to start this fall! This summer everyone has been hard at work preparing for what we hope to be our most successful year yet! We plan to do whatever it takes to finish in the top 3 in our region, and that all starts with our team efforts at home. In order to afford all the shows we have come up with many excellent fundraising ideas that we can’t wait to put into motion. Riding is an expensive sport so every little bit of fundraising helps makes our team more accessible.

We also plan to go above and beyond when it comes to team bonding! We are organizing get-togethers such as a formal, team dinners and events such as charity walks. We are already signed up for a handful of events to walk for excellent causes such as the fight against breast cancer. Team cohesiveness is such an important part of being on a club team in college and we want to make it the best experience possible!

Another goal we have is implementing clinics. At our IHSA competitions, we live by the phrase “luck of the draw”. We feel that to be able to ride any horse that you draw the best practice is to ride as many different horses as possible! We are planning to implement at least two (hopefully more) professional clinics throughout the year. This way we can ride some different horses that will strengthen more areas of our riding. None of this would be possible without an extremely generous donation from one of our alumni.

We are dedicated to solving any problems that the team has experienced in the past as well as solving new ones that may occur. We want this year to be the best the team has ever had, and we won’t slow down until our goals are met!

Sincerely,

Co-Presidents Kristen Voorhees and Katie McHugh

Coach: Veda Tupy (email:Veda@itaskashowstable.com, phone: 607-760-5735) 

Spring 2012 Practice Schedule:

• Practice days and times are based on rider and facility availability.
• Members work with club leadership, coach and each other to arrange practices in small groups to include transportation.