One of the newest members of Liberty University’s equestrian program hails from Belgium and is well-established as a champion in the sport.
His name is Bernoulli (aka “Icey”), a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding who was bred in Europe before being brought to the United States to compete in U.S. Equestrian Federation-sanctioned shows. Former owners Chris and Jackie Cottone donated the show horse, valued at $250,000, last fall when their daughter, Anabella — who formerly trained Bernoulli — left home to attend college in Florida, and the family knew they weren’t going to be as involved in showing him.
Chris Cottone, vice president of Greentree Financial Group Inc., in Plantation, Fla., has been a regular speaker at Liberty’s annual CEO Summit, and when he was in town for the summit in late September, he visited the Liberty University Equestrian Center and met Suzanne Flaig, the center’s director and head coach of the Hunt Seat equestrian team.
“It was such a pleasure getting to know Coach Flaig and the wonderful equestrian program at LU,” Chris Cottone said. “The student riders we met there were amazing, and we knew right away that LU would be the perfect destination for Bernoulli. We are so happy to hear how he is adapting and getting loved and cared for.”
The Liberty Mountain Equestrian Center, a 380-acre venue that features a total of 72 stalls, currently has 28 horses that it uses for programming, along with another eight in some form of semi-retirement. The university also houses several horses belonging to residential and commuter students through its boarding program. The center features a 300-by-120 indoor riding arena that is one of the largest in the state.
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