The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association is pleased to announce that it has received allocation confirmation from The Jockey Club to present its Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP) Award at the 42nd edition of the IHSA National Finals, April 30–May 4, 2015, at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts.
The Jockey Club TIP Award recognizes outstanding American Thoroughbreds still proving their usefulness and show ring success after their racing careers. The inaugural equine recipient of The Jockey Club TIP Award at IHSA Finals was Noah, a Thoroughbred gelding on coach Cindy Ford’s 2013 Collegiate Cup co-champion hunter seat team for Skidmore College, (aptly named the Thoroughbreds) in Saratoga Springs, New York, home of America’s oldest sporting venue, Saratoga Race Track.
To encourage the retraining of Thoroughbreds into other disciplines upon completion of careers in racing or breeding, The Jockey Club has created the Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.). T.I.P. offers sponsorship for Thoroughbred-only classes and divisions, high point Thoroughbred awards at open horse shows and competitions, a Thoroughbred of the Year Award and a Young Rider of the Year Award. Learn more at tjctip.com.
In addition to four days of hunter seat, western and reining title competition–including the USEF Cacchione Cup, Collegiate Cup, NRHA Open and AQHA High Point titles–the IHSA Finals will host ‘College Athletics Day’ and a Salute to Seniors graduating during the show.
“College Athletics Day will allow us to introduce college and university leadership and athletic directors to all that IHSA offers,” said Johnson and Wales University (RI) coach, Dirk Fogg, who joins Connecticut College/U.S. Coast Guard Academy coach, Richard Luckhardt as organizers of the 2015 IHSA Finals, which was last hosted in New England in 2007.
The 2015 IHSA National Finals offers a platform for the Northeast horse industry to showcase sale and lease horses under student riders during competition, or participate as sponsors or vendors at a popular venue (site of Equine Affaire). Contact coach Fogg, Dfogg@jwu.edu, 508-252-5700 or coach Luckhardt, richard.luckhardt@comcast.net, 860-464-7934.
IHSA promotes competition for riders of all skill levels, who compete individually and as teams at regional and national levels, based on the principle that any college student should be able to participate in horse shows regardless of his or her financial status or riding level. Learn more about its teams and scholarships at www.ihsainc.com.
