Amid clopping hooves and neighing horse calls, students at Ohio University can take a break from the rigors of studying and turn their attention toward horsing around.
“I’ve never ridden a horse before, so it is exciting just being able to interact with them,” said senior accounting major Dia Scovil, who is treating herself by taking the horseback riding class because this is her last quarter at OU.
OU offers a series of classes both in western and hunt styles of riding. “Western” is the cowboy style of riding, with a horn on the saddle, while “hunt” is the British style of riding and jumping, said Hannah John-Conry, president of the OU equestrian team.
The OU horseback riding classes are led by Roland McQuate of Mare-O-Gold Acres, Ltd., in Millfield, Ohio. His wife Carol teaches private lessons.
“Just being able to get hands-on experience working with the animals and learning about them is great because I plan on owning horses someday,” said Terese Cline, a freshman forensic chemistry major enrolled in the class.
Students learn correct riding procedures to ensure safety to both horse and rider.
“People don’t believe that riding horses is really exercise,” McQuate said. “But if you do it correctly, you use muscles that you usually don’t.”
Each class meets once a week for two hours and has a maximum enrollment of nine students per class. Approximately 45 OU students are enrolled for fall quarter. Spring quarter always has the most enrolled because students want to be outside in the nice weather. Winter quarter always has the least enrolled, although there are always a few “willing to brave winter quarter,” McQuate said.
Mare-O-Gold Acres, Ltd. sits on 130 acres of land located about 15 minutes outside Athens. It consists of both indoor and outdoor riding arenas as well as trails that run throughout the property.
Because of the indoor arena, lessons are held in all weather conditions except for periods of severe thunder and lightning because the noise and flashing lights might frighten the horses, McQuate said.
The farm owns 13 horses and boards five additional horses. Students can bring their horses from home and board them at Mare-O-Gold Acres, Ltd. for $300 a month. This includes feed, hay and clean stalls. Students can travel to the farm and ride whenever they have the chance.
The OU Equestrian Team interacts with horses through team competition.
The team, consisting of 35 members, competes with other schools within the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association around the state in both western and hunt styles.
“The best thing about the group is the fact that every quarter you meet at least 30 people who share your drive to be around horses all the time,” John-Conry said.
The OU Equestrian Team won the national title in the IHSA in 2002. It is the only team from OU that has ever won a national title, John-Conry said.
The team’s first show is Oct. 28 and 29 in Akron. During the competition, students will randomly be matched to one of the hosting school’s horses. John-Conry said that this procedure levels the playing field. “It is no longer about who has the most expensive horses anymore, but rather about what you can do with what you are given.”
Junior Michael Hiehle, the group’s treasurer, said there is a place on the team for all levels of experience from people who have never been on a horse to experienced riders.
“The team is a great next step up,” John-Conry said. “The classes are a good segue to riding on the team if you want to take it a step further and begin showing.”
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