Georgia Southern University Coach and IHSA Board Member Eleanor Ellis Receives the IHSA Lifetime Achievement Award
Eleanor Ellis (seated) with Peter Cashman, Carla Wennberg, Mary Dreuding, Eddie Federwisch, Peggy McElveen, Lori Cramer, CJ Law and Bob Cacchione.
Photo by EQ Media
At the IHSA board meeting in January 2023, Eleanor Ellis was honored with the IHSA Lifetime Achievement Award and added to a list of distinguished equestrians who have dedicated their time and talents to the IHSA.
Ellis attended Randolph Macon College and In her senior year, she qualified and competed at the IHSA National Championship Horse Show in the Open division.
After graduation, she spent 10 years in the corporate world. In 1992, Ellis bought her Evermore Farm and began helping Georgia Southern University and other region teams by loaning horses for shows. When Georgia Southern was ready to make a coaching change in 1998, they reached out to Ellis. She has been coaching the IHSA team ever since.
Ellis has been an active contributor on the IHSA board since 2001, serving on the marketing, realignment and hunter seat committees and helped run the IHSA National Championship Horse Show as the barn manager for five years.
The IHSA thanks Ellis for all her significant contributions to the organization.
Lisa Bailey Cassidy Honored with Pioneer Award
IHSA President Peter Cashman, Lisa Bailey Cassidy, Kevin Cassidy and Bob Cacchione. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
The IHSA Pioneer Award recognizes those who have developed collegiate riding programs and opportunities. The 2023 recipient is Lisa Bailey Cassidy, an alumna, former coach and board member of the IHSA and the Intercollegiate Equestrian Foundation (IEF).
Cassidy grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut. She competed in A-rated shows in the hunters and jumpers throughout her junior years, training with Carol Malony, Peter Lombardo and Ronnie Mutch. When she transferred to Sarah Lawrence College, she was recruited to ride on their equestrian team, qualifying for Regionals and Nationals.
Upon graduation, Cassidy took the reins as head coach of the Sarah Lawrence team for six years. Then formed a new team at Fairfield University.
Cassidy served on the IHSA board of directors as a regional president for many years, volunteering her time. In 2004, Cassidy took over the leadership of the IEF. She says she has been reading scholarship and award applications since 2004, right up to this year. She looks for the member who exhibits the camaraderie of the IHSA, gives back in college and submits an essay that highlights the spirit of the IHSA.
The IHSA is grateful for the incredible contribution Lisa has made to the IHSA and IEF. Her energy, spirit and significant impact embodies all that is the IHSA.
2023 IHSA Nationals Sportsmanship Awards – Hunter Seat
Bob Cacchione, Arielle Logiudice, Centenary University coach, Pam Payson from Colby-Sawyer College, Elise Sigety Skidmore College student and Mount Holyoke Head Coach CJ Law. Photo by EQ Media
Rider Award
Always positive, Elise Sigets from Skidmore College competed and won for her team on day one. She helped care for the 10 horses that traveled from Skidmore. She worked tirelessly, caring for the horses and cheered on her teammates and IHSA members from other schools she’s met along the way.
Coach Award
Pam Payson coaches the Colby-Sawyer College Equestrian Team and volunteered her time to welcome all the coaches and teams as our head check-in person. She was cheerful, helpful, outgoing and friendly and provided a warm welcome to all at IHSA Nationals.
Volunteer Award
Arielle LoGuidice graduated from Centenary University in 2022 and was reserve champion of the Hunter Seat High-Point Rider, presenting the Cacchione Cup her senior year. LoGuidice took a week off from work to volunteer during Nationals to assist in schooling horses. She is always positive, demonstrates the best in horsemanship and is a pleasure to have on the volunteer team.