Lyons teen wins college equitation competitions

I've been riding forever,' said Kristen Williams of Lyons, a sophomore Equine Business Management major at Cazenovia College.

She grew up around horses at Cobblestone Farm in Lyons, and has competed at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio, since she was 11 years old.

On Oct. 16 at the Quarter Horse Congress, Williams guided her mount, Achievalenium, familiarly known as Diego, to a first-place finish in the Youth Hunter Seat (ages 14 to 18) equitation over fences contest.

Williams said, 'I placed first in the same class two years ago, but not last year. It was the right way to finish off my youth career. Next year Ill be competing in the amateur division, for non-professional riders who are age 19 and over.'

Williams also competes in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Associations competitions on Cazenovia Colleges Equestrian Team, and placed first in her equitation over fences class at an Oct. 20-21 show at Lehman Farms in Rochester, where the College's teams placed first overall on Saturday and third overall on Sunday.

'Riding in IHSA shows is like real life, where you have to deal with all kinds of horses,' she said. You just take the horse you are given, and get the job done.'

She is still looking forward to her internship, scheduled for her junior year. 'There are internships available for every aspect of the horse business,' she said. My lessons with Amy (Sherrick-von Schiller, associate professor of equine business management, and the College's head Equestrian Team coach) have shown me I'm farther along than I might be with riding, so I may aim for a business-oriented internship. I haven't had as much experience with that.'

Sherrick-von Schiller is glad to have Williams in the Equine Business Management Program, and as a member of the Colleges Equestrian Team.

Smiles come naturally to Williams when she's working with horses. She loves every aspect of equine life, but believes that training is where she shines.

'Our farm is small; we board a few horses, in addition to the ones we own, but trained horses are really expensive, she said, so I've had to train my own. I started training Diego, my current show horse, when he was a four-year-old. My trainer, Pat Coakley, instructed us from the ground. She worked hard with us; Diego and I have learned together. I've really enjoyed teaching him and now we're a winning team.'

According to Williams, Diego knows his job at shows and is more than willing to give his all. 'He's reliable in the show ring,' she said. He loves to jump, and at horse shows, he would much rather be competing after our class he tries to turn around about ten times to avoid going back to his stall.'

Barbara Lindberg, director of the Equine Business Management Program, said, Everyone in the program is excited for Kristin. 'She is a diligent student and team member, and has worked very hard to get to this point. Her show ring successes coupled with her academic studies will stand her in good stead in the future.'

The All American Quarter Horse Congress is the world's largest single-breed horse show, and includes an AQHA-approved Quarter Horse show and racing events, a youth tournament, horse bowl, judging contests, educational demonstrations and lectures and a horse auction, as well as other related events and seven acres of equine-related trade show space.

The All American Quarter Horse Congress was founded by the Ohio Quarter Horse Association in 1967 to showcase and promote the American Quarter Horse, and to educate horse owners about the care, training and showing of horses.

Cazenovia College, named one of Americas Best Colleges by US News & World Report, is an independent, coed, baccalaureate college. Cazenovia offers a liberal arts education in an exceptional community environment, with academic and co-curricular programs devoted to developing leaders in their professional fields. www.cazenovia.edu

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