SUNY Cobleskill Student Places 3rd at National Horse Show

Tatum St. Pierre, an Animal Science student at SUNY Cobleskill, placed third overall at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association’s (IHSA) National Championship Show in Burbank, Calif. on May 8 - 11 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. St. Pierre competed against the 12 best western riders in the nation in the Advanced Western Horsemanship competition.

PICTURED TO RIGHT: Tatum St. Pierre, on horse, placed third overall at the
Intercollegiate Horse Show Association's National Championship Show in Burbank, Calif. on May 8 - 11 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center.

“There were so many great riders and big teams from so many different schools at the national competition,” St. Pierre said. “I feel very lucky to have had the chance to go out there and compete. It is great that SUNY Cobleskill has such a terrific program that gives the students such a great opportunity.”

Throughout the year she competed at various events at the local level, where she earned points to qualify for competition at the regional level. Because St. Pierre was reserve champion at the semi-finals in Amarillo, Texas, she was able to move on to nationals.

St. Pierre began her riding career at the early age of six when she first learned to ride English at Hidden Ponds Stables in Norwich. Since then she has shown horses throughout the state. In her teen years St. Pierre turned to western riding, as her American Quarter Horse was trained western. During her time at SUNY Cobleskill she worked closely with Bruce and Sandy Emanuel, the riding coaches at the college, to further her ability. This summer she is completing an internship for her bachelor’s degree in Tyrone, Penn. at the Grier School, a boarding school for girls. There she will help teach English riding lessons to girls in seventh through twelfth grade. The school has already offered her a full-time position as head riding director for the western riding team at the conclusion of her internship.

IHSA, established in 1967 by Bob Cacchione, was created to allow riders of varying degrees of experience in hunter and western riding disciplines compete individually or on a team. IHSA gives students opportunities to participate in riding competitions by nearly eliminating the expenses of owning horses. Horses are furnished by the host college and chosen by drawing lots.