Athletic Equestrian: Riding In College Podcast

Lauren has served as Director of Education at the United States Hunter Jumper Association since 2019, bringing a lifelong passion for horses and extensive experience in the hunter/jumper community to the role. Lauren earned her undergraduate degree from Northern Illinois University and her master's degree from Rockford College (now Rockford University). After leaving the Chicago area in 2009, she made her home in Lexington, Kentucky, where she lives with her husband, three dogs, and cat, and keeps her horse nearby. Lauren is also a USEF Licensed Official, holding "R" cards in Hunter and Hunter/Jumping Seat Equitation.

Raegan Comeaux is a USHJA Credentialed Instructor, a USEF Licensed Official ("r" hunter and equitation), and the founder and CEO of EMES-Equine Mastery Education System. Raegan has been riding, training, and showing horses since the age of 8. After earning her degree in Animal Science with a specialty in Equine Science and minors in English and Marketing, she spent 34 years building her training facility from 30 untamed acres to the 148-acre elite training facility it is today. She remains passionate about creating positive change in the hunter/jumper industry to ensure the safety, wellbeing, and education of riders and horses alike. Raegan specializes in partnering riders and horse lovers with the ideal mounts. She then molds the partnership through one-on-one instruction to be the best that they each can be. Raegan's students have been competitive on a national level for the past 25 years and have traveled to compete in prestigious horse shows like Capital Challenge, Devon, Pony Finals, Junior Hunter Finals, the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, the Washington International Horse Show, the USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships, and the USHJA International Hunter Derby Championships. When Raegan isn't integrating all the best information into EMES, or training horses and riders, or judging hunters and equitation as a USEF Licensed Official, she loves spending time with her husband and children, riding her young horse, wakeboarding and slaloming, gardening, reading, and cheering on the New Orleans Saints! Through EMES, Raegan wanted to offer the hunter/jumper world the opportunity she didn't have growing up: the ability to learn, train, and advance no matter their location. To find out more about Raegan, you can read about her career, visit her EMES coach's profile, or reach out to her directly at [email protected].

Jochen Schleese is a Certified Master Saddler, internationally recognized saddle fitting expert, author, and founder of Schleese Saddlery Service and Saddlefit 4 Life®. After his own riding career was cut short due to his horse suffering saddle-related injuries, Jochen dedicated his life to improving equine welfare through proper saddle fit and ergonomics. For more than 40 years, he has educated riders, trainers, veterinarians, and saddle professionals worldwide, authored bestselling books on saddle fit, and pioneered innovations in adjustable, gender-correct saddle design that have transformed the industry.

Joining the podcast are members of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) equestrian team, fresh off an impressive performance at the IHSA National Championships. Representing the program are Head Coach and Equestrian Director Ashley Henry, Assistant Coach Sammy Perlman, and several standout student-athletes who earned multiple national titles, top-10 finishes, and championship honors across team and individual competition. SCAD continues to showcase the depth, talent, and excellence that have made the program one of the nation's premier collegiate equestrian teams.

The University of Lynchburg, one of the top programs in collegiate equestrian, talks about their recent NCEA National Championship win. Under the leadership of Phillip Williamson, the Hornets have built a nationally recognized program with multiple championship titles. Joining him are standout student-athletes Kristin Palmer, Stella Patenaude, Amaya Bellfield, and Maddy Rubin, all of whom have helped contribute to the Hornets' success through their talent and determination.