Frank J. Buchman

Cowboy • Horseman • Writer

Renowned College Equestrian Coach Plans Seven Clinics At EquiFest

One of the busiest most diversified and talented horsewomen in the country is coming to EquiFest of Kansas in Salina.

At the Saline County Livestock Expo Center and Tony’s Pizza Events Center (TPEC), March 16-19, EquiFest will be highlighted by Sally Batton.

That’s according to Justine Staten, executive director of the Kansas Horse Council (KHC), headquartered in Manhattan.

Serving the   Kansas equine industry with leadership direction through education, promotion, and advocacy, KHC sponsors EquiFest as its main fundraiser.

“Sally Batton, Canton, Ohio, will conduct a total of seven demonstrations during the first three days of EquiFest,” Staten said.

Sally Batton, many times champion college equestrian coach, will conduct seven clinics during EquiFest Of Kansas at Salina, March 16-19.

Due to popularity of her program “Riding In College-Saddles, Studies, and Showing” is to be offered twice. A clinic titled “Equicize” will also be presented two different days.

Titles of her other programs are “Ride Like A Varsity Athlete,” “Polocrosse-Demonstration and Games,” and “Biomechanics of Bending,”

“Sally began riding at Ohio’s Camp Tippecanoe in the fifth grade, where she was introduced to Western riding,” Staten said. “From there, she expanded into different disciplines, gymkhana, dressage, polocrosse, eventing, Morgan breed showing, foxhunting, polo, and riding sidesaddle.” 

Receiving an equestrian degree from Ohio’s Lake Erie College, Batton completed a master’s degree in communication at New Jersey’s Fairleigh Dickinson University.

“She began her professional career at New Jersey’s Centenary College first as the stable manager then as instructor and coach,” Staten said. Her team qualified for the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) national championships twice.

“While at Centenary, Sally learned how to play polocrosse, which is like lacrosse on horseback. She traveled all over the United States playing the sport,” Staten said.

In 1988, Batton flew to Australia to research the sport and published the book, Polocrosse: Australian Made, Internationally Played. 

From 1990-2019, Batton was director of riding and varsity equestrian head coach at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire.

“In that time, Sally managed as many as 150 riders per week from both the school and the surrounding community,” Staten said.

“Through the Tiny Riders program to her most ‘senior’ students, Sally had the chance to work with riders from ages three to 73,” Staten noted.

“The Dartmouth Equestrian Team has long been known as a group of talented and competitive young equestrians, both in and out of the arena,” Staten said.

With Batton’s coaching, the Dartmouth’s team successfully competed in the IHSA National Championships at many different levels claiming five league titles. In 2015, top two places in the McDonald Scholarship Challenge an unmounted horsemanship test were won by Dartmouth team members. 

She served on the IHSA board of directors from 1984-2017, first as a regional president. Then chair of several committees and was the IHSA national steward from 2001-2017.

In 2008, Batton was named the American Riding Instructors Association (ARIA) Instructor of the Year. She is an ARIA certified Level III hunter seat trainer and a United States Hunter Jumper Association certified trainer. Batton was awarded the IHSA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.

Baton’s diverse interests in horses led her to believe in the critical importance of developing correct and effective horsemanship skills.

“Sally founded the Athletic Equestrian League (AEL) in 2010,” Staten said. “She saw a need for all riders to compete in a format in which clear and objective feedback was available.”

AEL emphasizes the development of correct fundamental horsemanship skills, which in turn allows for progressive improvement in technique and performance. 

The organization includes Batton Equestrian Clinics, Athletic Equestrian Riding Podcast and The Athletic Equestrian book.

 Sally Batton retired in 2019 and is continuing teaching and working with the Athletic Equestrian League.

Batton’s schedule and other activities planned for EquiFest of Kansas are available at www.equifestofks.com.

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