Three Instructors Join UF English Equestrian Program
Jill Paxton, director of equestrian studies at The University of Findlay, has announced that three instructors have joined the program. The instructors each will be responsible for an area of focus: dressage, hunter/jumper and eventing.
Fred Magazzeni is the new dressage instructor and Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) team coach.
Originally from Ohio, Magazzeni graduated from Houghton College, N.Y. After graduation, he relocated to Germany to work for the PSI Dressage Training Yard and with the dressage team of Jorgen and Christoph Koshel. While in Germany, Magazzeni also worked with several national teams in training for Olympic riding competitions and flew horses to Doha Qatar for the Asian Games.
Upon returning to the United States, Magazzeni accepted a position riding and training for Horses Unlimited in New Mexico. In his position with The University of Findlay, he’ll instruct students at the James L. Child, Jr. Equestrian Complex and continue to ride, train and compete.
With an extensive background in riding, training, judging and consulting, Russ Walther is a hunter/jumper instructor for the program. Originally from Virginia, he is the former director of the college equine program at Southern Seminary and a former Equine Association president for Virginia, North Carolina and Indiana.
Walther has managed more than 10 multi-breed shows and managed the USEF Pony Finals three times and trained his daughter to become a Pony Final champion. He is also responsible for recruiting U.S. Olympic team member Beezie Madden.
Sue King will instruct equestrian students in eventing, a new area of focus for the program. Eventing includes the disciplines of dressage, cross-country and show jumping. King has competed in and taught three-day eventing for 30 years. She graduated from Wittenburg University in Springfield, Ohio, and holds a master’s degree in education from Syracuse University in Syracuse, N.Y. King looks forward to creating the eventing program at The University of Findlay.
Anyone interested in the equestrian studies program can contact Paxton at Paxton@findlay.edu or 419-434-5807.