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Monday, June 19 2017 / Published in General

From Vermont Summers to Collegiate Dreams

Samantha Perlman competing at the Vermont Summer Festival.
Photo by David Mullinix Photography

By Lindsay Brock

As show jumping riders reach the culmination of their junior careers, they face one of the most important decisions they’ll ever make. It’s a decision that molds their future, not only as an equestrian, but also as an adult. That decision is whether to step out into the sport they love as a professional, or embark on four years of higher education. After deciding on college, the next question is arguably even more important: to ride or not to ride?

For many equestrian professionals, riding competitively in college was their springboard for establishing a career in horse sport. While not every rider who heads off to college after high school continues riding, for many who do, it’s the best decision they ever made.

Here’s a look at three young athletes who spend their summers riding at the base of the Green Mountains at the Vermont Summer Festival horse show and spend the rest of the year chasing their collegiate dreams.

Ashley Foster and Amon de Diamante’ competing at the 2016 Vermont Summer Festival.
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

Ashley Foster – Auburn University

Twenty-one-year-old Ashley Foster recalls her parents propping her up in a basket atop a pony so that she could participate in the Vermont Summer Festival’s lead line competition. Fast forward to 2017, and that same pony-crazy girl will graduate from Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, this December with a degree in horticulture after also playing a pivotal role on Auburn’s National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) riding team for four years.

Ashley is moving on from college in style, having helped her team advance to the 2017 NCEA National Championship Semi-Finals this April in Waco, Texas, and being named to the All-Conference and All-American teams. After concluding her collegiate career on a high note, Ashley hopes to return to the family business.

“I’ve been riding since I was a baby,” said Ashley. “I grew up riding ponies, and ponies turned into horses. It’s been my whole life and it’s really what I want to do: follow in my family’s footsteps.”

It comes as no surprise that Ashley’s goals surround equestrian sport. She was born into the horse industry to her parents, Patty and Kevin Foster, who operate Rolling Acres Show Stables in Brookeville, Maryland, alongside Ashley’s aunt and established rider, Marylisa Leffler.

While horses may be a part of Ashley’s genetic makeup, she acknowledges the benefits of a college education. When it came to Auburn University, Ashley found it was love at first sight. “I knew I wanted to get an education,” she said. “I fell in love with the town first. I’m not a city girl, so it was a perfect fit for me to go from the farm to Auburn. I think collegiate riding was the perfect answer for me because I got to go to school and do what I love at the same time.”

Patty (left) and Kevin Foster supporting their daughter, Ashley, at the National Collegiate Equestrian Association National Finals.
Photo courtesy of Ashley Foster

While Ashley hasn’t ruled out utilizing her degree in horticulture as part of her career, she currently has a clear focus on riding. When home from school, Ashley can often be found seeking help from her mother, practicing and trying her best to prepare for the upcoming season.

“I think having a parent as a professional helped me a lot because I got to ride a lot of different horses from different backgrounds, and that’s exactly what you have to do in college,” explained Ashley. “You don’t know what you’re going to pull, but you still have to perform and ride it as best as you possibly can for your team.”

As Ashley prepares to make the annual pilgrimage with her family back to the Vermont Summer Festival where her show career first began, her hope is that other riders will reap the same benefits as she did from collegiate riding.

“In our industry, it’s hard to go get a college education and ride at the same time,” she said. “It’s often one or the other and I think riding on a team is the perfect way to never stop riding, but also get an education. I encourage riders to go to an NCAA school, big or small, for the riding, educational and life experience.”

Samantha Perlman competing at the Vermont Summer Festival.
Photo by David Mullinix Photography

Samantha Perlman – New Mexico State University

Samantha Perlman, 19, credits her NCEA scholarship to New Mexico State University to a single horse, saying Aston Martin got her into the equitation ring and ultimately into college.

“He’s the reason I am where I am today,” said Samantha, who recently completed her sophomore year of college. “The summer before my junior year in high school, my parents encouraged me to pursue NCAA riding and that’s when I really stepped up into the equitation.”

Samantha, who hails from Garrison, New York, was born into the equestrian industry and that legacy is helping her to write her own story. Her father is well-known trainer Kim Perlman, who owns and operates Riverstone Farm alongside her mother, Caroline Sykes, in Central Valley, New York, and Ocala, Florida.

“I have pictures of me riding with my dad before I could walk,” recalled Samantha. “I had a short stirrup pony named Savannah Rainbow and she took me from cross-rails up to children’s pony hunters. I’m short, so I did pony hunters for a long time. Once I was really serious about riding, I couldn’t get enough.”

It was while Samantha was in high school that the six-week Vermont Summer Festival, which has been a part of her show schedule for as long as she can remember, introduced its popular Equitation Tuesdays. Samantha used the bountiful opportunities to qualify for year-end equitation finals to get noticed by top schools.

“Having those opportunities without hopping around to different horse shows all summer long was so helpful,” said Samantha of the six weeks of Equitation Tuesday offerings. “I started riding in Vermont when I was in diapers, and the show is a longtime favorite for me and my family.”

At New Mexico State University, Samantha is pursuing a degree in psychology and sports marketing. She still recalls the day her parents sat her down and encouraged her to compete in college.

“I would have missed out on so many things if I hadn’t made this decision,” said Samantha. “Specifically, the college system has made me a better rider at home. You have four minutes to ride a horse you’ve never ridden in your life and figure it out on the spot. That experience has made me more adaptable.”

Samantha admits the change in format was an adjustment for her, but she also appreciates some of her first victories as a collegiate rider. “When you win your first point in competition, it’s a big deal,” she said. “The first time I competed, I lost my point and the next time I came back determined and won. It’s a great feeling to have a whole team there that wants you to do well. That first point was at the Willis Invitational at Baylor and we were riding against Fresno State. I’ll always remember it.”

Emma Schauder at a collegiate competition riding for the University of Georgia.
Photo by Taylor Carman

Emma Schauder – University of Georgia

Emma Schauder, 21, graduated from the University of Georgia this May after thriving on its NCAA equestrian team. Finishing with a degree in English and four years of cherished memories, Emma is extremely grateful for her college experience.

“Going away to college was a difficult decision for me because I’m so involved in my family’s business,” said Emma, who works alongside her parents, Christina and Fred Schauder, at their family-owned Country Lane Farm in Greenwich, Connecticut. “I knew I wanted to become a professional someday but, ultimately, my parents wanted me to have a strong education, and that education has laid a foundation for the rest of my life.

“I’m glad that I chose college, but I’m even happier that I chose to ride in college,” continued Emma, whose younger sister, Lindsay, will follow in her footsteps and start her freshman year on the equestrian team at Texas A&M University this fall. “Horses are my world and when school got crazy, I found my sanity at the barn. I had the best of both worlds; I was pursuing a degree in a subject I enjoyed and I was riding every day.”

From the time Emma sat on her first horse, a pony named Perfect Gentleman, she has been a part of something bigger at Country Lane Farm. As a result, riding as part of a team was an easy transition, but one that taught her lessons far beyond the competition ring.

“I learned a lot about how to compete for others rather than just for myself,” said Emma. “Riding for others is a different type of pressure, and it helped me to grow as a person and learn to put others before myself.”

Emma (left) and Lindsay Schauder showing off their ribbons from the $5,000 3’3” NEHJA Hunter Derby at the Vermont Summer Festival.
Photo courtesy of Emma Schauder

Thanks to the scholarship opportunities offered to Division I athletes, Emma ventured out of state to Athens, Georgia, a community that, according to Emma, stole her heart. Now that her four years at the University of Georgia have ended, she’s eager to return home to Country Lane Farm and showing in Vermont. “I’ve been showing in Vermont since lead line and am excited to spend another summer there,” said Emma.

While Emma packed her bags and left Georgia in the spring, she will make a return visit this fall to collect a championship ring. Fittingly, the University of Georgia won the 2017 NCEA Southeastern Conference Championship to close out Emma’s time on the team.

 

 

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Tagged under: ahsley foster, college riding, emma schauder, ihsa, ncaa, samantha perlmann, vermont summer festival

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It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

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Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses—in a way, she was born into her career. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where her parents ran a farm. Her mother taught, and her father had a jump business and then created one of the first horse show software programs: Ryegate Show Services, Inc.

Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

“Besides running Ryegate Show Services and its various organizations, I can be found in the show office, running a scoreboard or judging jumpers at most shows,” Annette said. “I love getting to wear a few different hats at the show.”

When she’s not busy at a show, Annette lives in Annville, Pennsylvania, with her “fur-baby,” Maggie Mae, and enjoys spending time with her many godchildren. Though she doesn’t currently own any horses, Annette rides when she can at Rolling Acres Farm with Patty Foster, Ashley Foster-Worthington and Mary Lisa Leffler.

Read this month unbridled with Annette Longenecker by clicking the link in our bio. Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine! 🦄
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A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here and we are so excited to feature three-day eventer Liz Halliday on the cover! Big thanks to photographer Melissa Fuller for the beautiful photo of Liz and Cooley Nutcracker- Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing. Liz and her horses have taken the eventing world by storm - and find out how Liz is at the top of the sport as a female eventer! As the horse world gears up for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023, it's the perfect time to enjoy our eventing issue!! We also feature eventer and woman entrepreneur Frankie Thieriot Stutes, who is not only an eventer, but also runs Athletux and FRANKIE CAMERON handbags and accessories. And don't miss our eventing story on Robert "Bobby" Costello, who will be leading the US Eventing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics- and US Equestrian has named Bobby the eventing technical advisor/chef d'equipe!! Liz, Frankie and Bobby all have GREAT stories - don't miss any of them and don't forget to get your tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event! We are also excited to introduce you to hunter-jumper rider Casey Lorusso Smith, who is not only a talented rider but also a psychotherapist and incorporates horses into her career. If you are up for adventure, then read the story on dressage rider Priscilla Baldwin who certainly doesn't let any grass grow under her feet! We also head to the west coast to catch up with hunter-jumper trainer Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm, we feature beautiful art by equestrian artist Tammy Tappan, and we get to know Miranda Jones and her family. Miranda is not only an attorney who spends a lot of time in the courthouse, but she's a rider and spends lots of time riding, and is joined by her daughters also! We are excited to feature Stephanie Lightner in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists George Williams, Robert R.L. Jacobs and Margie Sugarman! It's a great issue - and you can read it online, but don't forget to go to the website and order a subscription and get every issue delivered to your mailbox!! Enjoy this issue and enjoy the ride: Link in bio!!
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