Leone's relationship with the IHSA began in 2011 when he met with coaches at the annual meeting and asked for initial input into the development of his Ride the Body: Select Insights of Peter Leone DVD. This meeting led Leone to invite coaches and riders from the IHSA to Lionshare Farms for a hands-on clinic and brainstorming session. Attendees came from schools including Mt. Holyoke
![Peter Leone presents to the IHSA Board. (Photo Courtesy of Peter Leone and Lionshare Farm)](/images/articles/2544/006445.jpg)
Peter Leone presents to the IHSA Board. (Photo Courtesy of Peter Leone and Lionshare Farm)
Co-author, Jaussi was an IHSA rider during college (Smith College). Since 2010, Jaussi has been presenting a series of leadership and team building workshops for IHSA teams. The material for those workshops represents a blend of both Jaussi's expertise as a leadership professor and coach and Leone's philosophies and approaches as an Olympian and top equestrian coach.
After Leone's work with collegiate teams at his home base, he was inspired to travel to Centenary College where he participated in an IHSA scrimmage and "competed" as an Open rider. Coached by Michael Dowling from Centenary and Mary Drueding from St. Lawrence, Leone drew his mounts at random, as the IHSA riders are required to do. He learned first-hand what riders in the collegiate arena face with only an opening circle to get to know their mounts.
"Peter is such a humble person and he was game to give the experience a shot. Even though he didn't ride in college he really believes in the collegiate programs," said Leone's co-author Kim Jaussi.
Leone shared, "Now I truly understand the challenge the college competitors face. To succeed in the college equestrian arena you have to have solid fundamentals together with the skills to ride a horse you've never ridden. I have to admit, I have been a horse show snob. This is great equestrian competition!
Leone's experience captured on video was shown to the IHSA at the annual meeting on Thursday. The video content will be included in a follow-up DVD, which will partially focus on the ins and outs of the IHSA world.
Peter Leone is an Olympic equestrian, trainer, producer of hunter/jumper instructional DVDs and author. He owns and operates Lionshare Farm in Greenwich, Ct. His clients successfully compete in the pony, equitation, hunter and jumper divisions. He is one of three brothers, affectionately named Team Leone, for their success in the show ring. Leone was a member of the 1996 Silver Medal United States Olympic Show-Jumping Team and winner of numerous national and international Grand-Prix show jumping competitions.