Webb students to learn on horseback

The Webb School is expanding its extracurricular offerings to include horseback riding. A pilot program initiated last spring by 1995 Webb alumna Sandi Jobe and six enthusiastic students, Webb's after-school equestrian club begins anew this month with a goal of becoming a member of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association.

Webb is partnering with Midland Farms in Bell Buckle and nationally-recognized coach Faye Lynn Coffey to train its students in English, Western and Walking Horse equitation.

"I'm excited to give Webb students an opportunity to learn several disciplines of riding and horsemanship, and to potentially compete," said Coffey. "There are Webb alumni all over this region who are active in the horse industry and I'm sure they will share my enthusiasm with this program."

The director of alumni relations and annual giving at Webb and an avid horsewoman, Jobe said she felt an equestrian program was needed.

"I noticed the lack of a horse-related activity when I was a Webb student, and when I returned to Webb as an employee in 2008, I decided to try and change that," she said. "In addition to the benefits of physical exercise, learning to ride horses is a great way to build a child's independence, confidence, and compassion."

Jobe competed in the mid to late-1990s on the Middle Tennessee State University Equestrian Team in Hunt Seat Equitation, while earning a degree in horse science. It was at MTSU that she met and began working with Coffey, a Tullahoma native who competed to National Reserve Champion on the MTSU Intercollegiate Equestrian Team and went on to coach the team to national successes in both English and Western Equitation. Coffey has also coached numerous Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Equitation champions.

"Faye Lynn is the perfect coach for our Webb team because she's an excellent equitation coach in all disciplines," Jobe said.

Jessica Avery, a Webb student who participated in the riding program this past spring, said she values the coaching she receives from Coffey and the variety of horses available at Midland Farms.

"I enjoy riding different types of horses, learning what they do differently and adapting myself (riding style) to them," said the Wartrace resident.

According to Avery, horseback riding is similar to relationship building, and every horse has a different personality.

"You don't know a horse very well until you've spent a lot of time with them. They are all individuals," she said.

Another Webb student who has embraced the riding program and the prospect of competing with the IEA is Sallie Carter of Murfreesboro.

"Right now, with the number of (IEA) high school teams in Tennessee, the teams have to travel to other states to compete. But with one more team, we could stay in Tennessee and compete against each other," Carter said.

She is hoping Webb will be that team.

"I'm very excited about what's coming up (for the program)," Carter added. The IEA is a national organization bent on improving the quality of equestrian competition and instruction available to middle and secondary school students. Students at the independent college-preparatory day/boarding school for grades 6-12 can also earn scholarships toward their college education through IEA.

For more information about The Webb School visit: www.thewebbschool.com.