Equestrian Program Draws Respect, Enthusiasm at Buckley

I enjoyed Jeff Meyers’ article “Saddled With Obscurity” in a recent Valley Sports section. Much of what he says is true, but I would like to challenge the accuracy of two of his statements:

1. “School principals and athletic directors have resisted the concept of riding as a team sport.” This may be true in some cases but certainly not in my school. Since Dale Llewelyn (Interscholastic Equestrian League president for the seven years of the league’s existence) first made moot the idea of recognizing equestrianism as a school sport, the idea, and then the reality, received nothing but enthusiastic approval and cooperation from the administration. (Dale at that time was our school nurse, and he formed and advised the first Buckley equestrian team.) Our headmaster, principal and athletic director have all attended at least one show to support the team.

2. “But high school equestrians have had a rough time getting the respect they think they deserve.” Again, maybe so in some schools but not at Buckley. Other athletes watch enviously as our riders leave school early to go training. (They receive physical education credit for their riding, and so do not have to attend P. E. classes.) The school knows that the equestrian team has the best record of all our athletic teams (winners of varsity Year End High Point Trophy, 1986, 1987, 1988; JV, 1989; and overall, 1987, 1988 and 1989).

The team has included, in the past few years, some of the best junior riders in the country, including Meredith Michaels, Holly Garcia, Nicole Bloom, Shana Dishell, Rachel Heath, and currently Emily Straw. One of our recent graduates, Emma Hughes (IEL Scholar Rider of the Year, 1988), now rides for the team at Stanford.

MICHAEL COURTNEY

Dean of Students

Equestrian Team Adviser

The Buckley School,

Sherman Oaks