Harvey Equestrians Out of the Gate
The Equestrian Club is off and running as the newest extracurricular activity at The Harvey School with nine upper school girls as charter members.
As it often happens with new clubs at Harvey, it was a student, Briana Frieri, who initiated the creation of the equestrian club. “Briana approached me at the end of the school year last year,” said Math Department Chair Amie Philips “She knew I rode and asked if I would be willing to start an equestrian team. I talked with my trainer over the summer and she was thrilled to host the team. We had a sign up and within one day the bus was filled with nine students and one novice teacher.”
Each Wednesday afternoon the students and their advisers travel to Chessfield Farm in the Putnam County town of Carmel for a one-hour lesson. Barn owner and horse trainer Hessy Derman partners with trainers Carolyn Carter and Michelle O’Dell to provide the instruction.
Phillips and Judy Ryerson, Harvey’s director of informational services, who both ride at Chessfield Farm, are the club’s advisers. When the students meet each week, the trainers group them by ability. In the beginner’s lesson, the students walk and trot and are beginning to canter as well. After the beginner’s lesson, the advanced students ride for a one-hour lesson. The advanced group is again split into two lessons with two trainers but run simultaneously during the one hour. The second lesson involves jumps courses.
Phillips was happy to have Headmaster Barry Fenstermacher’s full support for the formation of the club. “In fact, “Phillips said, “the Headmaster has promised the girls he will join them one day for a ride.” The club hopes to put on a small show for the parents at the conclusion of the winter term.
Images of Briana riding the jumps course