Piper and Traci Brooks speak with Phillip Williamson, Director of Riding at the University of Lynchburg and Abby O'Mara, Associate Head Equestrian Coach of Texas A&M University about riding in college and their different IHSA and NCEA programs. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.
- Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse and Traci Brooks
- Guest: Phillip Williamson became the University of Lynchburg's Director of Riding in December of 2020 and leads Lynchburg in both National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) and Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) competition. Phillip brought the Hornets into the forefront of the NCEA conversation, culminating with the 2022 NCEA single-discipline Championship in 2022 and was awarded the Jumping Seat Coach of the Year honors. Lynchburg's IHSA team also enjoyed a renaissance in his second season at the helm, finishing fourth in one of the nation's most challenging regions and sending one rider to IHSA nationals. Phillip came to Lynchburg with a wealth of experience in the equestrian world, most recently as a riding instructor and assistant IHSA coach at Sweet Briar College. A Colorado native and 2016 Equine Studies graduate of Centenary College in Hackettstown, New Jersey, Phillip was an accomplished rider for the Centenary IHSA program in his own right, earning reserve high-point rider honors at the 2016 IHSA Zone 3 Region 3 championships and novice individual reserve champion accolades at the 2016 ANRC championships. Phillip also holds a Master's Degree in coaching and sport leadership from Randolph College. Phillip has also taught and ridden professionally in both New Jersey and Colorado, holds a USEF “r” judge’s card and is a USHJA Certified Trainer.
- Guest: Abby O'Mara grew up riding horses in New Jersey and competed in Big Eq, Junior Hunters and Junior Jumpers. Abby went on to the University of Georgia and rode for their team from 2010 to 2014. In Abby's senior year, the team won the national championship. Abby went on for two years of graduate school at the University of Georgia and completed an internship in the academic side of athletics at the University of South Florida for a year and then started coaching at Texas A&M in 2017. Abby was recently promoted to Associate Head Coach at Texas A&M and is in her sixth season of coaching the jumping seat squad. During this time, Abby has coached 10 NCEA All-American athletes and 10 SEC conference rider honors.
- Title Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance Services
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