An NSU professor is hoping to start an equestrian student organization.
Maryann Tobin program professor of reading education at the Abraham S. Fischler School of Education will host two informational meetings for students interested in joining the club on April 15 at noon and April 16 at 4:30 p.m. in the Carl DeSantis Building, Room 2064.
Tobin, a third-generation equestrian who judges horse shows, previously began an equestrian team at the University of Miami. She said the club will be affiliated with the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, which has chapters in more than 370 colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada, including Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University and the University of Florida.
Tobin believes having a club would be ideal for NSU because of the local horse facilities. She mentioned her idea to President George Hanbury at a Town Hall Meeting, who expressed his support for the idea.
“We are across the street from a very well-known rodeo ground,” Tobin said. “There are horse farms within a 10-mile radius of the university. So many schools struggle to find a home for their equestrian team because they’re in very urban locations, whereas we have the beach nearby, and we have horse country in our backyard.”
Tobin said the club would allow students to compete and ride at all levels and is open to those who have never ridden horses before.
“If you love horses, if you’re ridden in the past, if you want to learn to ride, and you know nothing about horses but have always been interested, it’s open to riders at all levels,” Tobin said.
Opportunities will include the chance to compete, even for beginners.
“You can be a beginner, and, if you put in some hard work and some luck, you can go right to the national level, which is a great opportunity,” she said.
Tobin will be the adviser to the club under the Office of Student Activities. However, she hopes the organization will grow into an organization that is open to the NSU community.
“It’s not just about competing; it’s also for everyone who loves horses,” Tobin said. “I’d like to see this branch out past just a competition team and more into the global world of horses and ways that students can be involved in philanthropy as well.”
Tobin said these philanthropic opportunities include working with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, helping neglected and abused horses and working with therapeutic riding programs aimed at children and adults with physical or mental disabilities.
Members will not have to own their own horses as they will be able to ride horses from local trainers.
“Besides making life-long friends with your teammates, you have the opportunity to work with these magnificent animals, and you really can’t do it without them,” Tobin said. “The bond that is formed with the horses you work with is, to me, the most fulfilling thing.”
For more information, contact Tobin at mt745@nova.edu.
Photo Credit: COURTESY OF M. TOBIN
