Horseback riding is about passion and connection between a horse and a human. One simple movement by one can cause a current that influences movement in the other.

“People say it’s not a sport, but I would love to see someone else get on a 1,000-pound animal and communicate with something that can’t talk,” equestrian club founder Amanda Trievel said.

Trievel recalled a visit to Shippensburg University while she was still in high school; the representative at the clubs and sports table only gave her confused looks when she asked if there was an equestrian club.

“In the back of my head, I was always like ‘I should do this,’” Trievel said.

This is the first semester that the SU equestrian club is up and running.

“My horse trainer back home inspired me because during my lessons, the athletes from the Penn State Berks [equestrian] team would practice at the same time, and my trainer said I should start a team at Shippensburg,” Trievel said.

Launching the equestrian club was a long process that started last academic year. Trievel had to find people interested in the sport and then, from those people, form an executive board for the club. The last step was filling out the necessary paperwork, which needed to be approved by Student Senate and the club sports department.

This year, the team is recognized by the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association.

The club is for those who are just riding for fun as well as those who are looking to compete. The team rides every week at Swan Lake in Littlestown, Pennsylvania, with its coach Mary Bast, Trievel said.

The first competition is quickly approaching. The first event is on Oct. 4 at Hickory Runs Stable in Newtown, Pennsylvania, where the members will be riding English style.

In horse riding, there are two riding styles: English and Western. The Western style includes barrel racing and the saddles used are unique. The club only practices English style which includes teaching the horses how to gallop, trot and jump.

In order to compete, club members must take a placement test with the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, after which they are put in a class to compete.

Being involved in such events is a little difficult because clubs do not get budgets from Student Senate until after their first year of operation. Right now, the club is relying on member dues and fundraisers.

“It’s a little harder [without a budget] because we pay for the lessons and everything,” sophomore and club secretary Rebecca Masterson said. “We are still in the beginning processes and trying to make it as cheap as we possibly can.”

According to Masterson, the club is welcoming to anyone. She describes it as a kind of therapy where you think about nothing but you and what you want the horse to do.

“It’s a fun club,” Masterson said. “You’re not made to do shows and you can make your own schedule of how much you want to ride. It’s also a really good stress reliever.”

For more information on the equestrian club, contact Amanda Trievel at at4136@ship.edu.

Share