Athletic Equestrian: Riding In College Podcast

Sally Batton
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Navigating the world of collegiate riding is a mystery to most young rider athletes and their families. Sally Batton, a collegiate varsity equestrian coach for over 30 years, interviews coaches, organizations and riders for their insight on what it takes to ride on a collegiate equestrian team. So saddle up and join her as she reveals the inner workings of collegiate equestrian.

  1. 4D AGO

    #200 IHSA Founder Bob Cacchione

    Celebrate the 200th episode of the Riding in College Podcast with IHSA founder Bob Cacchione. Follow along as he shares how he started the association with just six schools and a dozen riders and how it expanded in the years since. The concept was simple but revolutionary: eliminate the need for riders to own horses and provide mounts at each competition in a catch-ride format. Honored as one of the 20th Century Most Influential Horsemen, Bob Cacchione is mentioned as a beacon of the industry by most of the podcast guests.

    40 min

  2. FEB 6

    #199 UVM Animal Sciences Chrissy Rohan

    a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Vermont. She began teaching riding at my family's farm in Charlotte, Vermont while she was in high school, and—with the exception of several years dedicated to raising my children— She has been teaching, coaching, and training ever since. Her background is rooted in the hunter/jumper industry, and she holds both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Education from UVM. Her role at the University allows her to bring together her formal training as an educator with decades of hands-on experience working with horses and riders. It is a rewarding blend of my passions for teaching, horsemanship, and supporting the next generation of equine professionals.

    29 min

  3. JAN 23

    #198 Albion Western Head Coach Nichole McColley

    McColley's tenure with Albion Equestrian began in August 2024. For the last 12 years, McColley, together with her husband, Travis, has been serving as the coach for the McColley Equestrian Team.  The McColley Equestrian Team has achieved significant success at both IEA and YEDA competitions. They clinched the 2018 and 2020 YEDA National Champion Senior High Team titles, as well as claiming the 2019 YEDA Reserve National Championship Senior High Team. In addition to team successes, they have coached numerous YEDA individual National and Reserve National Championship riders in horsemanship and ranch riding. Additionally, the team's riders have secured IEA regional championships, high point championships, and national qualifiers. Many of their riders have gone on to compete in NCAA and IHSA collegiate riding. In 2020, the senior high team made history by achieving the highest score to date at the YEDA National Championship show, triumphing by over 10 points. McColley also operates McColley Quarter Horses with her husband at their home in Jonesville. There, she has helped riders and horses achieve significant success, including producing AQHA Level Three and Level Two World, Reserve and Bronze World champions, AQHA Congress and Reserve champions, AQHA Level One champions, PHBA World champions, and numerous year-end high point champions. Nichole holds a bachelor's degree in biology, as well as an Associate's degree in Equestrian Studies from the University of Findlay, where she competed on their equestrian team.

    20 min

  4. JAN 9

    #197 Alum Camryn Lubner University of SC & Skidmore Rider Lillard Peschlack

    Camryn Lubner, from Southampton, New Jersey (a small town about 40 minutes outside Philly) and graduated from the University of South Carolina in May of 2024. She was on their IHSA team for all four years, competing in Open Flat and Fences throughout her career and attending Nationals in 2022, 2023, and 2024. She have been riding and showing horses ever since she could walk and have had the privilege of living on and running a horse farm my entire life. Lubner graduated with a degree in Statistics and Finance and started her career as a Financial Analyst in July of 2024. Lubner still competes regularly and just imported a 5 year old KWPN from Poland in August of 2024, along with dabbling in some AEE/ATOC (Alumni Equestrian Events/Alumni Tournament of Champions) competitions.    Lillard Preschlack is a captain of the Skidmore College Riding Team. She began riding as a toddler on her cousin's retired ponies at her grandmother's farm, officially starting lessons at age 8. She competed locally in Illinois until High School, where she successfully began the AA circuit in the junior hunters and equitation at Kentucky and Wellington. Since the pandemic, she has ridden alongside her mom at Buena Vista Farm in Wadsworth, Illinois. Throughout high school, Lillard wasn't sure if she wanted to ride in college, but after visiting Skidmore, she knew it was the perfect fit for her. She loved that Skidmore provided the opportunity to ride at a high level while receiving a top-notch liberal arts education.

    43 min

  5. 12/12/2025

    #196 Centenary Alum Barbra Crossmyer Reis

    Barbara is a United States Dressage Association Bronze Medalist with Distinction, Silver Medalist, and Bronze Freestyle Bar recipient. She is currently pursuing her Silver Freestyle Bar and has one score toward her Gold Medal. A lifelong equestrian, Barbra earned her B.S. in Equine Studies from Centenary College and holds a British Horse Society Assistant Instructor Certificate from Porlock Vale Equestrian Centre in England. After early experience in hunters and eventing, she dedicated herself to dressage in 1995 and has since competed successfully through Intermediate I, earning numerous local, regional, and national honors. She has trained with many top professionals, including Janet Foy, Heather Blitz, Walter Zettl, and Maryal Barnett. With over 30 years of experience training horses and riders, Barbra is known for her patient, classical approach to developing confident, successful partnerships. She and her husband, Brian, own Brilliant Reflection Farm in Ortonville, Michigan, where she continues to teach, train, and compete with her Hanoverian gelding Leverado Lauries at Fourth Level and Prix St. Georges.

    32 min

  6. 11/29/2025

    #195 University of Toledo Coach Sammy Rothman

    Samantha Rothman is the Assistant Trainer and Professional Rider at Stonehaven Farms.  She has been coaching the University of Toledo IHSA Team since the 2021-2022 season along with our farm's IEA Team. She graduated from Lake Erie College with an Equine Teacher Trainer Major and showed in Open Fences and Flat for my 4 undergraduate years. During her freshman and junior year she advanced to IHSA Nationals as her region's Cacchione Rider.

    24 min

  7. 11/14/2025

    #194 Mental Skills Coach Jamey Mroz

    Jamey Mroz, a dynamic leader in the field of mental performance and leadership development. Jamey is an Adjunct Instructor at Boston College in the Sports Administration Masters Program teaching Sports Psychology. Outside of teaching Jamey primarily works as an Executive Coach specializing in mental skills, culture and leadership development. Applying sports psychology and performance concepts to business and leadership as the founder of Mroz Leadership Consulting, where he empowers athletes, coaches, and professionals to lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose, in and outside of the performance arena. His work supports high performers in navigating pressure, building resilience, and showing up as their best selves in high-stakes environments.   Jamey's work experience ranges from the NFL, division 1 athletics, the WWE, all the way to the board room and sales teams, helping individuals and organizations unlock their full potential through intentional mindset and leadership strategies. You can learn more about his work on Linkedin, Instagram, or at MrozMission.com.

    37 min

  8. 10/29/2025

    #193 Sewanee Head Coach Savannah Mannes

    Savannah Mannes grew up in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan where she was a working student for Greg Crolick throughout her junior career. As a junior, she competed in the Junior Hunters, Equitation and Jumpers. Savannah then went on to attend Cazenovia College where she was captain on their IHSA equestrian team. Earning top accolades in the Open Divisions and Cacchione Cup standings, such as two Open Flat Regional Championships. After college, she turned professional and most recently worked for Back Country Farm in Greenwich, CT and Wellington, FL. She trained students in all rings and levels to top national standings and top placing at national championships. Now, she has begun her new journey as the NCEA and IHSA head coach at Sewanee.

    36 min
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About

Navigating the world of collegiate riding is a mystery to most young rider athletes and their families. Sally Batton, a collegiate varsity equestrian coach for over 30 years, interviews coaches, organizations and riders for their insight on what it takes to ride on a collegiate equestrian team. So saddle up and join her as she reveals the inner workings of collegiate equestrian.

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