News Releases

Lander University's equestrian team opened its 2011-2012 season on Oct. 8 at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) western competition at North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega, Ga. Six members of the Lander team and riders from six other schools in IHSA Zone Five, Region Two, competed in two shows.

Lander University's equestrian team finished in the top half of the 13 schools who competed against each other on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 30 and 31, at Lander's Equestrian Center. The participating schools are all members of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), which provides college riders the opportunity to compete in team and individual events.

When Lander University's Equestrian Center staff reported to work on May 24, they discovered that the number of horses on the property had grown by one.

Lander University will expand its equestrian program next fall to include a minor in therapeutic horsemanship, a form of equine-assisted activity and therapy for children and adults. Equestrian program director Nancy Poston said the new minor will allow Lander students who are majoring in other subjects to obtain special instruction in therapeutic riding.

Lander University and Burton Center will hold an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 27, to celebrate completion of the first phase of Lander's new Equestrian Center, located on Burton Center's campus at 2605 Hwy. 72/221 in Greenwood. The event, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., will include a demonstration of therapeutic riding, a form of physical therapy for disabled young people and adults. There will also be a presentation of horsemanship skills by members of Lander's equestrian team. Fin N' Filet of Greenwood will provide refreshments.

When Delene Barnes was a student at Lander University, then Lander College, in the 1930s, there were stables on campus, and students could hone their horseback riding skills. Due to hard economic times, Mrs. Barnes had to leave Lander before she earned her college degree. Then in the 1950s, Lander closed its stables.