Mounted on a horse he had never ridden, relying on himself and his training, Michael Kocher is representing the Savannah College of Art and Design at a national equestrian championship this weekend in Harrisburg, Pa.
He is competing for the prestigious Cacchione Cup at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association National Championship. He qualified earlier this year, winning first and second places in regional competition.
It’s just Michael, his precision and communication with the horse. He is being judged on his appearance and how he handles the horse, dependent upon his own physical strength, his mental skills and his emotional control.
And he is only a college freshman.
As he approached the show, Michael described himself as generally easygoing and low key. But, he admits to occasional frustrations, knowing well that it is important that the rider “keep a cool head” in competition.
Horses are assigned randomly — riders must be disciplined, experienced with all kinds of horses and horse temperaments, and skilled. Each is riding for two professional judges, competing in the finals with equestrians from around the country. While competition plays a role in the 300-member IHSA, emphasis is on learning, sportsmanship and fun, with student enthusiasm and team spirit major objectives.
Michael, from Tryon, N.C., grew up with horses and has been riding since he was 12 years old.
He has declared a major in sound design, and a minor in equestrian studies. He sees horses as his lifelong career, but realizes he needs a fallback as horseback riding can be a dangerous sport. Even his sound design specialization can have an equestrian slant as it can lead to careers in horse photography, horse videography, horse training, equestrian administration, horse show events, business manager, artist and journalist.
Accompanying Michael to the show is Katherine Cameron, a junior from Sterling, Va., and captain of the 35-member SCAD Equestrian team, and Ashley Kelly, head SCAD coach who has been at the college since her student years of 2001-2005, and has coached championship teams and individual riders. Her degree is in metals and jewelry.
This is the third consecutive year SCAD has qualified for this national show. Last year’s entry — Kels Bonham, BA, equestrian studies, 2012 — took first place, representing the only Georgia college to have produced a winner. SCAD is the only Georgia college that has qualified for this year’s Caccionne Cup competition.
Thirty-eight riders are participating in the two-phase competition, “flat” and “fence.” They are being judged on “equitation” — requirements that the rider have a great physique, athletic posture, balance, form and position.
Katherine, who is majoring in photography and equestrian studies, believes SCAD’s program is “a great training ground for riders. Anybody can ride — every level can participate.” Both Michael and Katherine came to SCAD specifically for its equestrian program.
Most equestrian students’ academic classes — horse-related or not — are held at the 80-acre (and growing) Equestrian Center four miles outside of Savannah in South Carolina. Regular SCAD transportation services the center. Participants must maintain a 3.0 grade-point average. Michael’s current academic load includes math, music theory and color theory in addition to one lesson a week with the coach, a 6 a.m. weekly session as a team and riding every day at 2 p.m.
The SCAD South Carolina facility of grass paddocks and pasture and two barns offers a “hands-on environment to prepare for future professional positions in equine industries.” That’s according to the website, but in a (fabulous) SCAD style that people in Savannah have grown to expect, it is nothing less than remarkable.
The SCAD equestrians point to the “incredible” support from the Savannah community, the SCAD boards and advisers. Equestrian sports has been on the varsity level at SCAD since 1998.
“We’re primarily an art school,” they say, hoping that America will understand “the legitimacy of the (equestrian) sport.”
On a beautiful spring day last week, in a last-minute workout before the competition, Michael, riding Gunter, and Katherine, riding Ducati, on flats and on jumps, demonstrated their talents, their accomplishments, their expertise, and especially, their enthusiasm, for their chosen careers.
In Harrisburg this weekend, the results depend on all of this, on a cool presentation before the judges, and on the luck of the draw.