In the October 31st issue of the Chronicle of the Horse, a kind Stanford supporter helped the equestrian team thank the amazing families who have donated four of the team's 25 horses. The issue was given out at the National Horse Show in Lexington, KY, and highlights a few of the team's talented horses and riders, including:- Kamari, donated by Raquelle de la Rocha Bussell and her husband Dan Bussel, '85 Stanford Law. Kamari is a 2002 Oldenberg gelding who was the 2011 circuit champion in the Sm. Junior Hunters at Thermal, won the 2010 USEF Grand National Hunter Silver Stirrup award in the Open division, and took Champion in the Green Hunters this summer at Woodside at Stanford's first show with him. (It was just announced that Kamari clinched another Silver Stirrup for 2011 in Zone 10 for his success in the Junior Hunters.) Kamari is pictured with So. Morgan Abbett, who finished 6th in Nov. Fences at the 2011 IHSA National Finals, is the team's English captain, and is an Environmental Engineering major.
- Armani was donated in May by Laurie Thomas '88. This beautiful 1998 Holsteiner gelding was very successful in the 1.20m and 1.30m classes with Laurie and the trainers at Willow Tree, and he has continued his wins at Stanford, both in 'A' shows as well as in his first IHSA shows as an Open draw. With wins from Menlo to Thermal, Armani is a skilled jumper who has beautifully adapted to his life at the Red Barn. While he still has speed and scope over the big fences, he has also learned to enjoy soft and quiet equitation rounds and even trail rides around Stanford! Armani is pictured with Sr. Nikki Aguirre, one of the team's horse managers and a successful rider in Intermediate Fences as well as at 'A' shows with Armani. Aguirre will be graduating with a degree in Chemistry this spring.
- Kandinsky, known as "Ronny" in the barn, is an impressive 2000 warmblood who stands at almost 17.2hh. Donated by the Lobel family, Kandinsky is an experienced equitation mount who has competed in the Medal and Maclays in shows from Del Mar to Wellington, including at the New England Equitation Finals and the Junior Hunter Finals. Kandinsky is one of the team's favorite Open mounts, quickly racking up ribbons in his first pair of IHSA shows, including a win in Open Flat with Fr. Claire Margolis. Kandinsky is pictured with Sr. Rachel Kolb. Kolb is one of the team presidents and an Open rider who has showed in flat and fences at the IHSA National Finals for the past two years. Kolb competes as a red-shirt junior, thanks to her time spent studying abroad in Oxford during 2010-2011, and she is pursuing a degree in English.
- Nio Lux is a 1995 Dutch warmblood gelding donated by the Coulter family. Nio Lux's career includes countless wins in the Large Jr. Hunters, as well as success in the Green Working and Conformation Hunters at shows from the Oaks to Menlo. On the equestrian team, he is a coveted Open horse and has won classes in every IHSA show he has entered, including at the 2009 IHSA Zone Finals. He is pictured with Sr. Justine Thomas, the team's co-president with Kolb (above), who competed at the National Finals her freshman and sophomore years, including bringing home two 3rds and a 6th at the 2011 Finals (in Nov. Fences, Nov. Flat & Int. Flat). Thomas spent 2010-2011 studying in Florence, Italy and will graduate in 2012 with a degree in French and Italian.
In addition to the horses mentioned above, Stanford is appreciative of all of our horses! While we have long-time staples of the Red Barn, such as Jack ("Some Special Time," a paint gelding who joined the Team in 2003), in 2011 we have also welcomed into the Red Barn: Kadence (a 6-year-old sport horse mare bred by Lisa Hermes), Jove (a 1995 Thoroughbred eventer donated by Kimberly Jones), Tinn (a dashing Fjord gelding from Ruth Koch), Landor ("Lenny," a 1992 gelding donated by the Bedecarre Family), and Chili (a 1996 Quarter Horse gelding donated by Bill (Law '67) and Sally Neukom, voted the 2011 MVP horse by the riders of the Stanford Equestrian Team).
The Red Barn and Student Equestrian Programs are under the umbrella of the Stanford Department of Athletics, but receive no funding from Stanford Athletics or the Buck Cardinal Club, so the program relies on our many amazing donors and supporters. All of Stanford's horses, tack, and supplies are donated to the program, and the income from the Stanford Riding Academy, the IEA high school and middle school teams, and donations help to support the horses. In addition, Stanford has established both an endowment (in honor of Betty Carmichael, the team's first coach, and Bill Lane, the team's first donor) as well as a horse health care fund to make sure that resources are always available to help care for our equine athletes. With the help of Bayhill Equine, Stanford's horses receive free immunizations, worming, and supplies from Boehringer Ingelheim and some saddles are generously supplied by CWD.
Please visit the "Horses" page on the website to see all of Stanford's beloved equine partners.
