Source:  News Release

IHSA Annual Board Meeting Launches 2012 on Right Lead

Fairfield, CT—The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Annual Board of Directors meeting at the Florida Mall Hotel, January 5-7, in Orlando, Florida, launched the new year on the right lead with exciting plans regarding the 39^th annual IHSA National Championships, May 3-6, in Raleigh, North Carolina and a special presentation by 1996 U.S. Olympic show jumping Silver medalist, and soon-to-be-author, Peter Leone.

The IHSA Board meeting hosted 50 talented coaches and equine educators from throughout the United States who generously volunteer their time and talents to assure the continued success of the nation’s oldest and largest collegiate equestrian organization.

Among its keynote efforts were orientation of new IHSA Regional Presidents and the announcement of a new (37th) IHSA Region in Zone 5, updates on the IHSA National Championships in Raleigh, North Carolina (2012) and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (2013 and 2014), a welcome by executive director Bob Cacchione to the newest IHSA corporate partner, SmartPak, and a presentation by 1996 U.S. show jumping Individual Silver medal Olympian, Peter Leone.

“We are delighted to be working with the IHSA, and to be able to offer its members, including students, coaches, and alum, both deep discounts on the products they need, a convenient system to fulfill those orders, and the same dedication to customer satisfaction that our SmartPak team is known for,” said senior director of SmartPak tack and equipment, Donnie Steele, who was joined in Orlando by SmartPak director of sales, Susan E. Tuller.  The SmartPak presentation, including its emphasis on always free shipping, drew enthusiastic smiles from their IHSA audience.

As did Peter Leone, who announced the launch of Peter Leone's Show Jumping Clinic: Success Strategies for Equestrian Athletes.  The book is co-written with IHSA (Smith) alum, Kimberly S. Jaussi, PhD, an avid rider, leadership professor and coach.

The book employs diagrams, exercises, anecdotes, and photos of successful riders such as McLain Ward, Richard Spooner and Georgina Bloomberg, to demonstrate its concepts.  IHSA coaches, such as Eddie Federwisch (Virginia Intermont College), lauded the book as a comprehensive, modern textbook on riding.

Leone's relationship with the IHSA began at last year’s Board Meeting, while seeking input into his Ride the Body: Select Insights of Peter LeoneDVD. This led Leone to invite IHSA coaches -- from Mount Holyoke College, Johnson & Wales University, Smith College and St. Lawrence University -- and past Cacchione Cup winners, Lindsay Clark (Centenary) and Lindsay Sceats (Mount Holyoke) to Lionshare Farm in Greenwich, Connecticut for a clinic and brainstorming session. He then participated in a scrimmage hosted by 2011 IHSA National Champion hunter seat team, Centenary College, and "competed" as an Open rider.  Coached by Michael Dowling (Centenary) and Mary Drueding (St. Lawrence), the Olympic veteran drew mounts at random, like an IHSA rider, and learned what riders in the collegiate arena face with only an opening circle to get the feel of their horse.

Leone confessed, "Now I truly understand the challenge college competitors face. To succeed in the college equestrian arena you have to have solid fundamentals, together with the skills to ride a horse you've never ridden. I have to admit, I have been a horse show snob. This is great equestrian competition!”

About the IHSA

The IHSA mission is to promote competition for riders of all skill levels, who compete individually and as teams at regional and national levels.  IHSA is based on the principle that any college student should be able to participate in horse shows regardless of his or her financial status or riding level.  To learn more, visit www.ihsainc.com.

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