IHSA’s Inaugural Service Project Award Goes to Goucher

RALEIGH, N.C. — Adding to its already impressive trophy collection, Goucher's equestrian program took home a keepsake from the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association's National Horse Show today by being named the large team champion in the first-ever Service Project Award competition.

The IHSA, in an effort to recognize teams giving back to the community, instituted the Service Project Award for the first time in 2011-12 intending to build team spirit, leadership skills and team bonds, as well as increasing awareness of the needs of the community and the IHSA on campus and within the community. Winners of the award were selected based on the percentage of team members participating, the amount of time volunteered and a subjective presentation describing the project.

Goucher's Healing Hooves entry, which advanced through its region and zone before qualifying for nationals, was selected by a panel which reviewed the team's presentation in comparison to other projects. Three national awards were presented, each representing the top scoring program in three divisions, as determined by team size.

In its third year, Healing Hooves is designed to create awareness for therapeutic riding programs in Maryland and raises funds supporting five participating therapeutic centers locally.  The team, led by program co-founder Chaz Kellogg (Pennington, N.J./Wellesley), created a website to help raise money through social networking. This year's effort, which took place on April 28, raised over $12,000.

At the event, the riding team provided entertainment, riding demonstrations, a petting zoo, a magician, and games for children.  Each therapeutic center had a display and STAR Equestrian Center provided a demonstration of a therapeutic riding session for an autistic child.

For more information about Healing Hooves, click here.