Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Just ask Miami University of Ohio freshman, Tom Schoen, the 2010 recipient of the Jon Conyers Memorial Scholarship.

Schoen rides on the Miami University Equestrian Team (MUET), representing his Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) teammates in the Walk Trot division, under coaches Heather Pinnick and Lori Cramer. Remarkably, the English Education major was not a rider before college. But it’s clear after listening to him talk about his passion for the sport that he will be a horseman by the time he graduates: “Even once I have years of riding under my belt, I know there will always be more for me to learn and do, and I cannot wait.”

The summer prior to his freshman year, a friend of the family convinced his mother to start riding. “I went a few times with my mom to the barn to ride, or rather, attempt to ride,” said the amiable 19 year-old. “When it came time to go to school, I told her I was going to miss the barn and horses. She suggested I get a job at the stables at Miami and try to squeeze in a lesson or two. So I emailed Heather (Pinnick) about a job, and by the end of my first month, I was picking out stalls and feeding horses.”

One day, after finishing stalls, he asked if he could take a lesson. With true IHSA spirit, Pinnick’s supportive response was, “Of course!” Afterwards, Schoen was surprised and thrilled to be invited to join MUET’s hunter seat team.

“My goal was to work here and maybe get a few rides in here and there, and I was asked to join the team. From that day forward, things started falling into place. They say some people get ‘hooked.’ Well, I got hooked.”

Schoen’s enthusiastic commitment did not go unnoticed by his coaches who, without his knowledge, nominated him for the scholarship.

The Jon Conyers Memorial Scholarship was established by the Intercollegiate Equestrian Foundation to honor its extraordinary teacher, judge, and coach, and is presented annually to an undergraduate competing member of IHSA.

“The hallmark of Jon’s involvement with IHSA was his willingness to share his knowledge and experience,” said Cramer, IHSA Zone 6 chair. “His selfless commitment helped shape the IHSA as we know it today. Jon competed as an undergraduate rider, instructed and coached for numerous college programs, frequently judged IHSA shows, and also served on the IHSA Board of Directors for many years as a Regional president, Zone chairperson, Director of Alumni, and National Horse Show manager.”

“Jon believed in the basics,” added Pinnick, “and worked tirelessly to help riders develop a partnership with their horse. A rider that demonstrates Jon’s ideals would first have passion and respect for the horse. Additionally, they would demonstrate a desire to improve that relationship. Jon enjoyed teaching all levels, but especially appreciated working with riders just beginning their journey with horses, and helping them have the right start toward developing themselves as good equine partners.”

In Schoen, Pinnick saw everything the late, great horseman loved about student riders: “Tom came to school with no riding experience, but an unsurpassed desire to learn all he could. His love of horses led him to join our student staff, and he is always willing to pick up an extra shift to ensure the best care of our herd. Miami students pay to ride on the team, and Tom is responsible for paying for all of his riding at college. This scholarship would ensure he could continue in the years to come.”

Schoen said he had no idea Pinnick had nominated him for the scholarship, which included a $1000 award.

“One hot afternoon, I was cleaning a paddock when Heather came up and revealed she had nominated me, and the even bigger surprise that I had won. I would have given her the biggest hug ever, right then and there,” he laughed, “except there was an electric fence in the way!"

“Although I never knew him, Jon was a good friend of my coaches, and I have learned that one of his passions, besides riding, was to teach riding. I fit like a cog into this because I love learning how to ride! This is my passion, and with it comes the responsibility to pay for my riding expenses. The Jon Conyers Scholarship will help immensely. The financial situation is sometimes very tough but to be honest, I love being with horses and riding way too much to ever let something as trivial as money get in the way. They say where there is a will there is a way. I’ve got the ‘will’ part down, and one ‘way’ to help me came with the scholarship.”

This hunter seat horseman knows he has a tall pair of boots to fill. Not only in honoring the Conyers legacy, but MUET’s, too: “The only other guy on the Hunter Seat team last year was Paul (Duff). He started out doing Walk/Trot and made it to the 2010 Nationals and did phenomenal (Note: Duff placed fourth in the nation in Walk/Trot Hunter Seat Equitation for MUET). He graduated and, well, let’s just say I sure have a lot of boot left to fill! I also look up to the girls above me on the team and my coaches. They may not know it, but every time I ride with them I swear to myself that I will graduate from this level and be as good as them someday.

“I couldn’t be luckier, or happier. If you had asked me a year ago about IHSA, MUET, or riding in general, I would have not seen them in my future at all. Now it’s such an important and fun piece of my life. Doors have opened, friends have been made, bruises gained, and I’m having the time of my life.
“Thank you, Heather. Thank you, Mr. Conyers.”

ENDS

For more information on this and other IHSA scholarships, go to www.IHSAinc.com.