100 SIDELINES AUGUST 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Carrie Wirth
What started as a glimmer of an idea, developed into an effort
that confrms one’s faith in humanity and, in particular, one’s faith
in the future generation of horse enthusiasts and leaders. Riders
on the Gettysburg College Intercollegiate Horse Show Association
Team (IHSA) decided to do a service project that changed the
lives of 21 horses, and along the way these young riders learned
lessons that will last a lifetime.
Gettysburg College IHSA Team Co-Captains Greer Luce and
Julie Weisz had approached their coach Janis Groomes about
doing a service project when they learned about 21 Thoroughbred
weanlings who were seized by the Adams County Pennsylvania
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in
November of 2011 because they were starving. Of the group of
weanlings, three died of malnourishment, eight were fostered out
and 10 remained at the Adams County SPCA facility.
“We were looking for a way to strengthen our connection to the
community and to really bring us together as a team,” said Julie.
“We had heard about the weanlings. I visited the SPCA one day
and asked them if they were looking for help. We have a team of
thirty members. I thought, why don’t we try to get as many of our
members involved as possible.”
Greer and Julie, with the support of Coach Groomes, got the
team involved. They signed up with the SPCA to help with the
recovering weanlings during their free time. “We do barn chores;
picking stalls, letting the horses out and cleaning the aisles. We
lead the weanlings out to the pasture. We brush them, touch their
Gettysburg Equestrian Team members at the Peter Leone clinic. From left to right, Greer Luce, Kalley Hansel, Jenna Pappas, Alexa
Riddle, Julie Weisz and Emma Goodman.
Photo by Michael Boyland.
legs and faces. We just get them use to contact,” shared Greer.
Julie added, “It has been amazing to watch their transformation.
At one point, they were on the verge of death. They were covered
in rain rot. It is miraculous to see how far they’ve come. It’s great
for our team to have built a relationship with the other volunteers
in the community. We’ve all come together in the mutual mission
of caring about horses. ”
The team’s project was already underway when Coach
Groomes, who serves on the IHSA board, learned of the service
project award the IHSA that would launch in 2012. She suggested
that Julie apply on behalf of the team. The award included a team
clinic with Olympic Silver Medalist, Peter Leone. “Winning was
never the purpose of doing the project. We had no idea that we’d
be selected for it. It was a pretty big shock to us, ” Julie said.
In April, Goucher College hosted the clinic and provided horses.
“We were thrilled. It was an amazing opportunity to ride with an
Olympic level rider. It was great for our team,” Greer said.
“We are a small club sport team and we don’t get a lot of
attention. This has been great. The clinic was extraordinary. They
had a fabulous time. The timing was great. We didn’t qualify for
Nationals this year so it helped us to keep the excitement going,”
said Coach Groomes.
Greer, who will be a senior next school year, will continue as
Gettysburg Equestrian Team Co-Captain. She is planning on
expanding the team’s efforts. “Our team is looking into other
service projects in addition to the work we’re doing for SPCA. In
particular, we want to work with a therapeutic riding organization.
We want to build on our consciousness of community service.”
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Gettysburg College Riders
Show Their Team Spirit