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Her honors thesis work was so compelling that To bring it all together, Albion recently hired Mitchell and David Hawsey, vice president for George Halkett as the center’s director. A graduate of enrollment, were intrigued, especially when they the British Horse Society’s rigorous training program, learned that serious riders sometimes choose a colthe native Scotsman brings more than 26 years’ lege—all other characteristics being generally equal— experience to this new position. He holds an Internabecause they can bring their horse. Michigan State tional Trainers Passport for both horse and rider. University has a competitive equestrian team as does Halkett is a former member of the Queen’s Household Western Michigan University, but neither has onCavalry and rode in the wedding procession for Prince campus boarding facilities. Hawsey notes, “The Charles and the late Princess Diana. He most recently state of Michigan is first coached the high school riding team at Stoneleighin the nation for the Burnham School in Massachusetts to four national number of equestrian titles in three years. There is no mistaking his commitment to excellence. “I run this like it is my own private barn,” he says, surveying his surroundings. “What brought me here was a new program and 340 acres that no one else has. We will make this the number one facility in Michigan and beyond.” The completion of the Held Equestrian Center represents the fulfillment of a dream for Randi Heathman, ’03, who formed the Albion College Equestrian Club in 2001 during her sophomore year. As student interest in individual and team competition grew, she approached administrators to ask if they would build Held Center director George Halkett an equestrian facility. “President Mitchell told me to do my coaches the College’s 20-member equestrian team and offers lessons for research,” Heathman, says with a grin. beginning to advanced riders. A She evaluated other colleges that have graduate of the British Horse Society’s programs, learning about costs, rigorous training program, he brings sustainability, marketing and the demomore than 26 years’ experience to his graphics of “horse people.” new role.
venues, riding clubs and registered breeds of horses, but there is an exodus of college students from Michigan to out-of-state schools where they can take their horses. We are now the only school in Michigan where you can board your horse right next to campus—in a college-owned facility—and the only private college in Michigan to have an equestrian center.” Having an equestrian program at Albion is not just about boarding students’ horses or giving students who are novice riders a chance to pursue something they may have always wanted to do, but also about creating links with the College’s educational offerings. The groundwork is now being laid for cross-disciplinary education melded with the Equestrian Center. The existing pre-veterinary program is a natural, but so are psychology, art, English, marketing, management, and human medicine as students appreciate animal-human bonding,
D. TRUMPIE PHOTOS
QUICK FACTS Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center Albion College’s 340-acre Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center, opened in fall 2004, offers training and support for five disciplines: hunt seat, dressage, show jumping, eventing and western. Under the direction of professional staff, it is expected to attract riders and spectators from across Michigan and the Midwest.
The Held Center provides training in five different riding disciplines: hunt seat, dressage, show jumping, eventing and western. Here, Jill Overaker, riding Golden Son, warms up for a show jumping demonstration at the new Randi Heathman Arena.
Kristin Foley, shown with her horse, Annie, competes in eventing, which is a combination of dressage, show jumping and cross country riding. Albion’s equestrian team this year is traveling to 10 intercollegiate shows across the Great Lakes region.
Programs and Services ■
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IHSA competition (Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, Inc.) Lessons (beginner through advanced) Clinics Summer camps Recreational riding Boarding Locally provided veterinary and farrier services Hosting for equestrian shows
Facilities ■
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Randi C. Heathman Arena (100-x-216-foot indoor arena, with heated viewing and judging areas) State-of-the-art 30-stall stable (individual 12-x-12foot windowed stalls with Nelson automatic water stations) Grooming, wash, and veterinary care stalls Private tack room and extra storage loft Outdoor, all-weather competition arena Ample paddock and pasture space Bridle trails Onsite classroom and office space Students return their horses to their stalls following a riding demonstration. The Held Equestrian Center’s stable features 12-x-12-foot windowed stalls for 30 horses, a specially designed work area for veterinary care, a shower room for riders, a horse-bathing area and spacious tack rooms.