Fairfield, CT (January 21, 2014) Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Education Committee Chair, Patte Zumbrun (Goucher College Retired Emeritus) has announced dates for the 2015 Teresa L. McDonald IHSA Scholarship Challenge, sponsored by EQUUS, and an April 1 deadline for nominations for 2015 IHSA National All-Academic Awards.
The Teresa L. McDonald Scholarship Challenge is a free test on horsemanship and related topics open to IHSA undergraduate members. Those completing the test get the subscription of their choice from AIM Equine Network (EQUUS, Dressage Today, Horse and Rider). The timed test consists of 50 questions from the USHJA Study Guide at
www.ushja.org. The questions are not specific to any particular discipline. Equine topics include anatomy, bandaging, conditioning, first aid, handling, horse health, horse identification, nutrition, pasture management, shipping, shoeing and stable management.
The online test is only available on
IHSAinc.com for two weeks -- from 6 a.m. EST, Monday, February 23 to 6 p.m. EST, Sunday, March 8 at 6 p.m. – by logging in with a personal IHSA account and clicking Teresa L. McDonald IHSA Scholarship Challenge. Follow the instructions given. A final score is emailed to each participant at the test's conclusion and may only be taken once. The top two scores from each IHSA Zone is invited to compete at the 2015 IHSA National Horse Show, April 30-May 3, at Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, MA, in a final practicum phase Saturday, May 2. All Zone qualifiers get an embroidered hat and recognition in the show program. National winners are determined after the practicum is judged and scored. A $1,500 scholarship and perpetual trophy go to the winner.
April 1 is the deadline for nominations for 2015 IHSA National All-Academic Awards, which recognize academic achievement in undergraduate and alumni members. IHSA members are named to an All-Academic First Team or All-Academic Second Team when they have been nominated by their coach, advisor, or designated representative, and have met the GPA criteria of a 3.5 average or higher (based on a 4.0 scale). The grade point average is based on fall semester grades only. IHSA national All-Academic Award winners are listed in the show program and receive a certificate of recognition. Nomination forms must be postmarked by April 1, 2015 and mailed to: Patte Zumbrun, 11208 Glen Arm Road, Glen Arm, Maryland 21057. Questions may be directed to Patte Zumbrun, IHSA Education Committee Chair,
pzumbrun@goucher.edu.
In 2010, IHSA coach Teresa L. McDonald created the concept of a written test competition on stable management and general horse knowledge as an educational opportunity for undergraduate members. With the help of then-Mount Holyoke College coach Gilly McPhee, members of the IHSA Education Committee and the support of EQUUS magazine, her written test competition is available online to all IHSA undergraduate members. McDonald passed away in 2014, and it is in her honor that this scholarship program continues. “T” as she was known, had been senior instructor for the Equitation Program at Virginia Tech since 1994 and coach for its IHSA hunter seat team and Intercollegiate Dressage Association Team. She was passionate about making a difference in the lives of students and coached riders to national titles on both teams. She was honored with inclusion in the Southwest Virginia Hunter Jumper Association Hall of Fame in 2004, was 2008 Intercollegiate Dressage Coach of the Year and 2009 recipient of the IHSA Lifetime Achievement Award. Before her faculty position at Virginia Tech she coached and taught at Radford University, Ferrum College and TLC (Teresa Little Coaching).
Established in 1977, EQUUS magazine, published by Active Interest Media (AIM) Equine Network, is based in Gaithersburg, MD. Although focused primarily on horse health, care and training, it explores a range of topics related to horses and horse sports. The Equine Network provides, creates and distributes relevant content and services to passionate horse enthusiasts while connecting them to each other and the marketplace including award-winning magazines Horse and Rider, EQUUS, Dressage Today, The Trail Rider, Spin To Win Rodeo, American Cowboy, and Practical Horseman.
IHSA promotes competition for riders of all skill levels, who compete individually and as teams at regional and national levels, based on the principle that any college student should be able to participate in horse shows regardless of his or her financial status or riding level. Learn more about its scholarships, internships and other membership bonuses at
www.IHSAinc.com and follow its more than 400 teams and 10,000 riders on Facebook and Twitter at @IHSAinc.
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