When autocomplete options are available, use up and down arrows to review and enter to select.
Apply Give

Equestrian Center upgrades open new opportunities for students

Liberty University College of Osteopathic student-doctor Josiah Horne leads a horse to graze as part of the therapeutic program. (Photo by Asa Keimig)

The expansion of Liberty University’s Equestrian Center was completed this spring, providing more recreational opportunities for students and elevating the fourth-year competitive equestrian program to regional prominence.

Additions to the 380-acre facility, located on Liberty Mountain five miles from Liberty’s main campus, include two new riding rings — one outdoor and one indoor. A new barn features 24 stalls (bringing the total on site to 60) as well as a team room and a locker room for Liberty’s 33 Hunt Seat and Western student riders.

“It’s now one of the nicest equestrian centers in Virginia, and as far as college facilities go, as nice as any in the country. We’re blessed to have it,” said Jim Arrigon, executive director of the Equestrian Center, who stepped down after 25 seasons as secretary of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) last fall to devote his time and energy to developing the budding riding program.

Starting last fall, the center offered classes for beginner, intermediate, and advanced riding and horsemanship through Liberty’s kinesiology department. Earlier this month, the center also debuted its therapeutic program as a method of providing stress relief for students. So far, 16 student-doctors from Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) have participated in the program on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.

LUCOM student-doctor Richard John grooms a horse at the Liberty University Equestrian Center. (Photo by Asa Keimig)

“We’ve had students go multiple times already, and they definitely love it,” said Meagan Eckhardt, student services coordinator for LUCOM. “It enables them to get out of school mode and into treating themselves — mentally, physically, and spiritually — by getting out in nature and grooming, feeding, and walking with horses that have been retired from riding and competing.”

The four horses used in the therapeutic program, as well as a couple miniature horses and donkeys, are boarded in a secluded area, providing a peaceful retreat setting for students to nurture the animals by grooming, petting, leading, grazing, and bathing them.

“They’re excited to come out and see the horses and the farm, to put down the books and get hands-on experience, actively working with them,” said Meghan Nedow, who helps Arrigon teach the kinesiology classes and runs the therapeutic program. “They get to bond with them and learn about their history, what they used to do when they were in their physical prime, and the horses get a lot of attention, which is good.”

She said the program will be expanded in the future to make it available to students from other departments.

“We’re opening it up to other students who may be dealing with depression or those who just need a break, giving them an opportunity to talk to the horses and talk to us, to work through their problems,” Nedow said.

Arrigon said he is looking into establishing a partnership with Wounded Warriors to help treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) patients, both military veterans and police officers, living in the area.

Arrigon is also focusing on recruiting riders for the equestrian team, one of the university’s Club Sports programs. He has traveled to shows in Florida, Kentucky, Ohio, New York, and around Virginia — a hotbed for collegiate riding programs and the heart of hunter-jumper horse country.

Practicing in their new digs under the guidance of a talented coaching staff, Liberty’s Hunt Seat and Western teams enjoyed exceptional seasons this past year.

Sophomore Western rider Leah Ofalt was Liberty’s first Southeastern semifinals qualifier and placed eighth at the March 24-26 event hosted by St. Andrews, the defending IHSA Western national champion. Sophomore Hunt Seat rider Kendall Burdette, competing in the intermediate flat division, won the prestigious Tournament of Champions High Medal award, leading Liberty to a seventh-place team showing in its first season in that four-event, national-level series.

Senior Elizabeth Chenelle (left) trains in the Liberty Equestrian Center’s new outdoor ring. (Photo by Kaitlyn Becker Johnson)

Senior captain Elizabeth Chenelle received the Cacchione Cup trophy, succeeding Mary Washington University graduate and first-year Hunt Seat assistant coach and horse trainer Kimberly Counts as the Region 4 regular-season high-points champion. Chenelle helped pace the Lady Flames to the regular-season title in their first season in Region 4 and will be Liberty’s first participant in the 50th annual IHSA Collegiate National Championships this Thursday through Sunday at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., competing in open fences against 40 other regional qualifiers.

“The success we had this year was way beyond even what I expected,” Arrigon said. “At each of the colleges I’ve been to before, it predictably takes three years to get where you want to be, and by the fourth or fifth year, you really hit your stride. We’re ahead of schedule, and it’s going to continue to get better.”

The Equestrian Center’s enhanced facilities have also helped to bring in some high-level shows. Liberty will host the equestrian events of this summer’s Commonwealth Games for a second time in late July as well as a variety of Virginia Horse Show Association (VHSA) shows this summer. The center has also landed two collegiate IHSA Hunt Seat competitions for next spring — a regular-season show on Feb. 10 and the IHSA Region 4 Championships on Feb. 24.

Liberty University’s Equestrian Center expansion is now complete, with indoor and outdoor riding rings and two barns, each equipped with 24 stalls. (Photo by Kaitlyn Becker Johnson)

 

Chat Live Chat Live Request Info Request Info Apply Now Apply Now Visit Liberty Visit Liberty