Horsemanship Program

   

The College of St. Benedict’s Horsemanship Program began in 1972 with ten horses. The instructor, Miss Muriel Hallart, offered two courses: An Introduction to Basic English Horsemanship and Basic English Horsemanship. A course in Western horsemanship was added after the construction of two paddocks, indoor and outdoor arenas, stalls, and a hunting field, all located south of the BAC.  These facilities allowed for an annual horse show. Student workers cared for the facilities and animals, and those who owned horses were allowed to board their horse during the school year.

The Horsemanship Program made the College of St. Benedict very distinct in the Midwest region and many students attended the College because of it. A 1982 survey showed that one third of the students had been influenced by this program in their college choice.  Students were offered 14 classes and could receive a minor in Horse Management with 22-24 credits from these classes.

   

The Horsemanship Program was not only offered to the College and University, but also to the public.  Two courses in Hunt Seat and Western Horsemanship were offered to those outside of CSB and SJU.

The program closed after the 1981-1982 school year due to its being a more costly department at CSB and SJU, its limited income, and the unlikelihood that its budget would balance in the future. It was also the least academic program offered. There were also fewer students interested in or enticed by the program.

The last horse show was held on May 15, 1982, and featured 23 horses and riders.

At the close of the Horsemanship Program, the College of Saint Benedict was left with a large red barn on the south side of campus.  Some of the proposed uses for the building included indoor parking for cars, bikes, or buses; a place for social events like dances or art fairs; an indoor skating rink; or a combined office and workout complex.  As a last resort, the College also considered selling the stable.  The College decided to combine several of the above options, and used the former Horsemanship center as a space for ice skating, dances, and other events such as the annual Millstream Arts Festival.  Later it became the site for several large social gatherings, namely J-Term broomball, the first-year barn-themed orientation dance, and “Senior Disorientation.”

In 1995, the administration decided to raze the barn and stables.  They felt the buildings were an eyesore and wished to create a more central location for the Athletics Department.  The barn began its dismantling process in February of 1996.  In place of the barn, CSB built new tennis courts and athletic fields.

Director: Elaine M. Henke

Instructors:
Lois Johnson (1972-1975)
Joanne Coyle, (1973-1978; 1979-1984)
Margaret Wright, (1976-1978)
F. Reker -Dahl (1977-1982)
Janice Fron (1978-1979)
Gloria Hiltner (1982-1983)

Selected Bibliography

Barbosa, Francis. “Horsebarn on Last Leg,” The Independent, December 7, 1995, p. 4.

Berg, S. Carol.  “Riding through the past…CSB jumps into, out of horse program,” The Record, January 23, 2003, p. 3.

Binon, Becky, “Horsemanship Program to be Discontinued,” Cable, February 18, 1982, p. 3.

“Horsemanship Program Added to Curriculum,” Saint Benedict’s, November 1972, p. 1-2

Lang, Sylvia, “Lean Years: Area Colleges Commence Plans to Reduce Spending,” St. Cloud Daily Times, February 17, 1982, p. 6A-7A

Lang, Sylvia, “Equestrians Lament End to Program,” St. Cloud Daily Times, May 17, 1982, p. 1B

Lesmeister, Jean.  “Riding Stables Added to CSB Curriculum,” The Torch, September 27, 1972, p. 1.

Maw, Dick, “An admirer of St. Benedict’s,” St. Cloud Times, March 2, 1982

Oseid, Tammy.  “Dismantling of horse barn begins," The Record, February 29, 1996, p. 1.

 

Special thanks to Ariel Smelter '12 for drafting this text.