LEXINGTON, Ky. —The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) equestrian team won its third-straight IHSA Collegiate Cup National Championship, May 4-7, 2017, the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. This marks the fourth national championship of the season for the Bees. With a total of 32 points in this year’s IHSA championship, SCAD is only the second team in the history of the IHSA to win the National Championship three years in a row.
Earlier this season, SCAD won the National Tournament of Champions, the Novice Division ANRC National Championship and the National Division ANRC National Championship.
The last time the Bees won all four National Championships was during the 2014-15 season when SCAD became the first college in ANRC history to win both the National and Novice Level National Championships.
“At SCAD, the aesthetics, commitment, discipline, and athleticism of riding are highly valued,” said SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace prior to the event. “The first art and design university to offer intercollegiate sports, SCAD is preparing accomplished artists, designers, writers and performers to be champion athletes.” As a fine art form itself, the sport has naturally aligned with the principles of this top-ranked art and design university since the team’s formation.
World-Class Facilities
SCAD is not only home to top collegiate riders, the university is on the forefront of stable design. The latest addition to the SCAD Equestrian Grounds is the new state-of-the-art stable building which provides stalls for up to fifty-two horses and also includes offices, vet facilities, tack rooms, locker rooms, wash stalls and a special event room. On the exterior, the architects used a combination of traditional architectural forms in a slightly exaggerated scale to fulfill the programmatic requirements of the building in an economical yet elegant assembly. The combined language of the board and batten siding, metal roofing, dormers, and cupolas gave the project a vernacular material palette that allows an abundance of natural light and passive ventilation. On the interior, vaulted ceilings and the repetitive structure of the heavy timber columns, trusses, and lighting create an airy and architectural space. The long hallways and oversized sliding doors frame the views to the paddocks beyond. It's a beautiful piece of architecture with exceptional resources, leading veterinarian technology, and sustainable design elements.
Building a Legacy
Since SCAD’s equestrian team began competing in 2002, the equestrian team has made impressive strides in competition. Not only has the team consistently brought home titles in regional and zone events, they have earned esteem on the national level. This is SCAD’s third IHSA National Championship title in as many years. Last month, the Bees also won both the Novice and National Team Divisions at the American National Riding Commission (ANRC) National Collegiate Equitation Championship, marking the third consecutive year that SCAD won the Novice Team Division and the third time in four years the Bees won the National Team Division.
“I couldn’t be prouder of this team. Their success this season and over the last several seasons has been propelled by talent, discipline and determination,” said Coach Ashley Henry. “I’m lucky to work with such an incredible group of artist-athletes and to have the support of SCAD.”
The program continues to attract, train and develop top talent such as senior Tatum Tatreau, who carried on the tradition this year of SCAD equestrian team members joining an exclusive group to qualify and compete for the coveted Cacchione Cup at the IHSA National Championships. Further, SCAD team members Meredith Denny and Hannah Hlopak won the titles of National Division High Point Rider and Novice Division High Point Rider, respectively, at the ANRC National Collegiate Equitation Championship last month.
About the Competition
The Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) encompasses 40 Regions in 8 Zones with almost 400 member colleges in 45 states and Canada – representing more than 9,000 riders in Hunter Seat Equitation, Western Horsemanship, and Reining.
Full-time undergraduate students of member colleges or alumni who competed in the IHSA as undergraduates, are eligible to compete. Riders qualify for the National Championship Horse Show (Nationals) through a tiered play-off system. During the year, riders accumulate points at local shows to qualify for the Regional Finals in their respective divisions. The top two riders in each class of the Regional Finals move up to the Zone Finals. The top two competitors in each individual class at Zones qualify for Nationals.
Each region’s High Point Team competes head to head with the other high point teams in its Zone for the right to represent the Zone for National Champion Team honors.
The regional high point riders are eligible to compete in the National Individual Championship. The USEF/Cacchione Cup is awarded to the National Individual Hunter Seat High Point Rider. The AQHA High Point Western Rider winner receives a saddle and a scholarship. The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) awards a Morrison Bronze trophy to the winner of the Individual Open Reining Horsemanship class winner.
Earlier this season, SCAD won the National Tournament of Champions, the Novice Division ANRC National Championship and the National Division ANRC National Championship.
The last time the Bees won all four National Championships was during the 2014-15 season when SCAD became the first college in ANRC history to win both the National and Novice Level National Championships.
“At SCAD, the aesthetics, commitment, discipline, and athleticism of riding are highly valued,” said SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace prior to the event. “The first art and design university to offer intercollegiate sports, SCAD is preparing accomplished artists, designers, writers and performers to be champion athletes.” As a fine art form itself, the sport has naturally aligned with the principles of this top-ranked art and design university since the team’s formation.
World-Class Facilities
SCAD is not only home to top collegiate riders, the university is on the forefront of stable design. The latest addition to the SCAD Equestrian Grounds is the new state-of-the-art stable building which provides stalls for up to fifty-two horses and also includes offices, vet facilities, tack rooms, locker rooms, wash stalls and a special event room. On the exterior, the architects used a combination of traditional architectural forms in a slightly exaggerated scale to fulfill the programmatic requirements of the building in an economical yet elegant assembly. The combined language of the board and batten siding, metal roofing, dormers, and cupolas gave the project a vernacular material palette that allows an abundance of natural light and passive ventilation. On the interior, vaulted ceilings and the repetitive structure of the heavy timber columns, trusses, and lighting create an airy and architectural space. The long hallways and oversized sliding doors frame the views to the paddocks beyond. It's a beautiful piece of architecture with exceptional resources, leading veterinarian technology, and sustainable design elements.
Building a Legacy
Since SCAD’s equestrian team began competing in 2002, the equestrian team has made impressive strides in competition. Not only has the team consistently brought home titles in regional and zone events, they have earned esteem on the national level. This is SCAD’s third IHSA National Championship title in as many years. Last month, the Bees also won both the Novice and National Team Divisions at the American National Riding Commission (ANRC) National Collegiate Equitation Championship, marking the third consecutive year that SCAD won the Novice Team Division and the third time in four years the Bees won the National Team Division.
“I couldn’t be prouder of this team. Their success this season and over the last several seasons has been propelled by talent, discipline and determination,” said Coach Ashley Henry. “I’m lucky to work with such an incredible group of artist-athletes and to have the support of SCAD.”
The program continues to attract, train and develop top talent such as senior Tatum Tatreau, who carried on the tradition this year of SCAD equestrian team members joining an exclusive group to qualify and compete for the coveted Cacchione Cup at the IHSA National Championships. Further, SCAD team members Meredith Denny and Hannah Hlopak won the titles of National Division High Point Rider and Novice Division High Point Rider, respectively, at the ANRC National Collegiate Equitation Championship last month.
About the Competition
The Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) encompasses 40 Regions in 8 Zones with almost 400 member colleges in 45 states and Canada – representing more than 9,000 riders in Hunter Seat Equitation, Western Horsemanship, and Reining.
Full-time undergraduate students of member colleges or alumni who competed in the IHSA as undergraduates, are eligible to compete. Riders qualify for the National Championship Horse Show (Nationals) through a tiered play-off system. During the year, riders accumulate points at local shows to qualify for the Regional Finals in their respective divisions. The top two riders in each class of the Regional Finals move up to the Zone Finals. The top two competitors in each individual class at Zones qualify for Nationals.
Each region’s High Point Team competes head to head with the other high point teams in its Zone for the right to represent the Zone for National Champion Team honors.
The regional high point riders are eligible to compete in the National Individual Championship. The USEF/Cacchione Cup is awarded to the National Individual Hunter Seat High Point Rider. The AQHA High Point Western Rider winner receives a saddle and a scholarship. The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) awards a Morrison Bronze trophy to the winner of the Individual Open Reining Horsemanship class winner.
