Generous Gift Spurs Riding Barn Upgrades
The St. Lawrence Riding Program is poised for an exciting transformation, thanks to a $660,000 anonymous gift aimed at revitalizing the west side of the Elsa Gunnison Appleton Riding Arena.
This thoughtful contribution, made in memory of former riding team member, the late Maggie Blackmon ’21, will help fund the renovation of 21 horse stalls, three grooming stalls, and two storage stalls.
With upgraded LED lighting and essential electrical and plumbing improvements, the facility is on track to provide an enhanced environment for both horses and riders. The renovations will unfold in phases, with completion anticipated by the fall of 2025.
Head Riding Coach Mary Drueding expressed appreciation for all the tremendous donor support the program has received over the past several years to renovate the east side of the barn, and she described this anonymous gift as both overwhelming and bittersweet.
“I can only say thank you to our donor for allowing me the honor of sharing this gift with Maggie’s family on their behalf,” she says. “The facility has served SLU riding since 1967, and these long-overdue renovations will finally align with this program’s national successes. We are thrilled.”
