The New Paltz Equestrian Team has called Lucky C Stables home for the past 15 years. Beginning in 2000, Susan and Gary Clark opened their doors to SUNY New Paltz and welcomed a new way for students to compete athletically.

The Clark's had already had their business established in the local area as horse borders so when Maria Bernabo approached them with the intentions of starting an equestrian team, the Clarks were quick to accept as coaches and sponsors. The opportunity allowed for Lucky C Stables to bring in revenue and give students a chance to ride horses competitively.

The club began with two members and slowly built up to where it currently stands with 18. The students who are part of the team compete in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, which is made up of 12 colleges. Students from participating schools meet at different barns throughout the semester and show in front of a judge gaining them a point-valued score.

At each show, riders are divided into eight divisions assigned by their coach. Members of the team begin competing as a walk/trot and move into harder divisions as they advance. The highest level someone can compete at is known as open fences. At this level, riders not only walk, trot and canter but they do jumps as high as three feet. The New Paltz Equestrian Team has two riders who compete in open fences.

Once one's division has been established, it is up to the Clarks to decide the top rider from each individual division to show, however, they must do so before they draw the horses. In other words, upon arriving at each show, the Clarks and New Paltz team do not necessarily know who is going to compete for the team's points, in addition to not knowing what horse they are going to be competing with. It is up to the school hosting the show to provide the horses, therefore in most situations riders are using horses unfamiliar to them. When deciding who is going to compete for the team card, the Clarks look at who has been riding well that week.

"It's sorta a guess... it's an educated guess," said Susan.

Further, it is not just the rider who is selected for the team card who competes; every member of the team will ride but their scores may not go towards the team's collective points but they will be pointed individually.

Points are awarded based on the rider's positioning of their hands, legs, back and feet, as well as how well they control the horse they are on. The more points the better. The top score someone can receive is a 9D.

Presently Sedentary College is ranked in first place, while New Paltz sits in fifth. New Paltz has never ranked lower than where they are now. They held the reserved team position behind Sedentary College from 2008-2012.

The team also found success in 2009 when captain Amanda Bender placed within the top five at nationals in intermediate fences; Bender was among the top of her class out of 18,000 riders coming from 365 schools. Consequent to graduation from SUNY New Paltz, Bender continues to compete as an alumni within the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association and won nationals in 2012 for alumni fences.

Vice President of New Paltz Equestrian Team, Julia Jenkins has been riding with the team for three years. She began with little to no experience and has worked her way into being a core member of the team competing for the team card regularly in the advanced walk/trot/canter division.

Jenkins recalls the first time she got first place. She was on a horse that she was unfamiliar with and did not have a bond but because she couldn't decide which horse she got in the draw she took it in stride and showed anyway. Not expecting to place, Jenkins waited as everyone in her division finished their rides. When they announced her name the ring was silent aside from her mom cheering as Jenkins smiled from ear to ear.

"When you try something new and end up doing good, it's a really awesome feeling," said Jenkins. She goes on to say that moments like that are what draw her into competing, as well as, the joy she creates for her mom who attends every show.

Moreover, team captain Lauren Theobald who has been been riding horses competitively for 14 years, says that she came to New Paltz due to the fact that it had an equestrian team. When the application process began for her, she only looked at schools that had IHSA riding teams. Theobald currently competes in division 8, Open Equitation Fences and has been a great example for those who have never ridden before.

"The great thing about riding at the college level is that although you are competing individually in the ring, your individual points get collected into your team's overall points and in the end that is what makes a school win or lose," said Theobald. She goes one step further by saying, "There is no feeling like putting in the perfect round a big show and both the horse and rider know that they've made it. You share a moment together: just animal and human."

Theobald gives credit to her coaches and team for all her success, and says that had she not felt as welcome as she does on the team, that she would no longer be attending SUNY New Paltz.

For the Clarks, they see the team as a fun adventure. They enjoy the youth and excitement that comes with competing. "When somebody wins, everybody wins," explains Susan.


If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a member of the New Paltz Equestrian Team, you can contact Susan or Gary Clark at (845) 255-3220, check them out on Facebook, or visit their website at http://www.luckycstables.com/. The team is open to all full-time college students, and no experience is necessary.