The Bethany College Equine Studies Program has been restructured and strengthened to position it for growth.
On the operational side, Amy DiBartolomeo-McGreal has been appointed Interim Equestrian Manager, in charge of all aspects of the operation of Oglebay Stables, and reports to Saralyn Dague, Director of Business Affairs. These facilities have served as a boarding space and learning laboratory for the Bethany Equine program for the last two years and are in addition to the College’s own pasturelands and paddocks currently in use. The Oglebay facilities allow the College to host Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) competitions. Bethany will host two such events this fall, a Western show on Oct. 11 and a Hunt Seat Show on Oct. 12. The partnership with Oglebay also means Bethany can offer expanded service learning activities, internships and experiential learning opportunities.
The Equestrian Club teams will have new coaches leading the three disciplines. Beth Johnson is the new Hunt Seat Coach and brings over 25 years of hunt seat riding experience to the program. She has qualified for and competed in national and international shows. Amanda Mokri is the new Dressage Coach and has been working around equestrian programs for 10 years, including being one of the top riders for Bethany’s Dressage team prior to graduating in May, 2014. Shannon Vaught, the new Western Coach, brings over 25 years of Western experience to Bethany. Coupled with her educational background, she has an impressive array of experiences to bring to the program. All of these coaches, who will report to Brian Rose, Director of Athletics & Recreation, will be leading the Bethany programs in competitions against IHSA Zone 2, Region 5 programs such as West Virginia University, Allegheny College, California (Pa.) University and Saint Vincent College, among others.
On the academic side, Dr. Amanda Stewart will resume her position as Director of the Equine Studies Program in January, after her sabbatical, and will report to Dr. William Hicks, Chair of the Department of Biology. Bethany’s Equine Studies Program offers students the opportunity to major in equine management and pre-veterinary medicine, as well as enroll in an equine studies minor and an equine-facilitated therapy certificate program. These programs are designed to provide students with a strong base of knowledge to support the wide variety of careers within the equine industry, as well as to experience methods, techniques and management philosophies in addition to improving and developing the necessary communication skills for professional development.
