The Saints Riding Program
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A five-time winner of the Collegiate Cup, symbolic of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association's national team champion, St. Lawrence University's riding team is one of the top programs nationally.
The Saints were the reserve national championship team in
2008 and finished 12th in 2009. They were represented by individual
riders in the 2010 championships including Suzanne Snyder who rode as the
region's high point rider in the competition for the Cacchione Cup, the top
individual competition for intercollegiate riders.
St. Lawrence's co-ed program has produced a number of individual national champions including Kristin Putnam '10, the 2008 Walk-Trot-Canter national champion. St. Lawrence riders have won a total of 20 national individual titles including 10 under head coach Mary Drueding.
Competition accumulates point toward regional and zone competition. Riders are judged on their ability to handle an unfamiliar horse in walk-trot, walk-trot-canter, novice, intermediate and open equitation on the flat and novice, intermediate and open equitation over fences. Riders advance through various classes throughout the intercollegiate season, based upon points accumulated in intercollegiate competitions.
Competition is year-round for the team with fall, winter and spring shows, culminating in regional and zone competition prior to May's annual Intercollegiate Horse Show Association National Championship show. St. Lawrence has also competed in the Affiliated National Riding Championships and the Tournament of Champions.
The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association includes over 365 colleges in the U.S. and Canada. St. Lawrence competes in Zone 2, Region 2, which includes Alfred, Cazenovia, Canisius, Nazareth, Geneseo, Potsdam, Oswego, RIT, the University of Rochester, St. John Fisher, Syracuse and the University of Ottawa, Guelph and Brock University from Canada.