William Woods Equestrian Academic Showcase
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
FULTON, MO – William Woods University held its annual Equestrian Academic Showcase Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 1-2), featuring clinics with both celebrated WWU graduate and hunt seat trainer, Kris Killam, and renowned saddle seat trainer, Paul Boone.
The showcase is an annual event designed to allow prospective equestrian students a chance to view WWU horses and riders in action, and learn what William Woods has to offer them.
Saturday began with equestrian events that included an introduction to the equestrian studies (EQS) division, barn tours, a parade of disciplines and a presentation on EQS scholarship opportunities.
Break-out sessions were offered with the four riding seats—western, saddle seat, hunter/jumper and dressage. During these sessions, students and parents got a change to ask questions of equestrian faculty and students. There were also separate question and answer sessions about the EQS division in general and EQS division alumni speakers.
Featured clinician, Kris Killam, spoke on Saturday about career opportunities in the equine world and conducted a clinic on Sunday. Killam graduated from the WWU equestrian program in 2002, and has since become a well-respected trainer and rider in the hunt seat industry. He has attained an impressive series of wins in show jumping competitions, from Wellington, Fla., throughout the Midwest and Canada. He is an instructor at Colby Creek Stables in Ithaca, Neb.
The saddle seat clinic was conducted by Paul Boone, trainer at Boones Farm and Stables in Concord, N.C. A long-standing member of the American Saddlebred community, Boone has trained many world champions, including the five-gaited sensation, (SA) Carswald Prince’s Domino.
Boone has many ties to William Woods: he instructed rider Ashley Eisenhower, who later became a student at WWU, and now works as a professional in the Saddlebred industry. William Woods graduate, Lynn McCallister, worked for Boone before starting her own barn, and current student Jesse West spent a summer under his tutelage as well. Another graduate, Cydney Cutchall, works for him currently.
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