Haley Schoolfield Named SMU Equestrian Head Coach

[PonyPride]

Haley Schoolfield Named SMU Equestrian Head Coach
Schoolfield has a national title and national runner-up finish as an assistant coach

Aug. 3, 2009

DALLAS (SMU) - Haley Schoolfield has been named SMU head equestrian coach, Director of Athletics Steve Orsini announced on Monday, Aug. 3. Schoolfield spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at TCU, where she was in command of the team's English division and helped the Horned Frogs to the 2008 Western Seat National Championship and a national runner-up finish in 2009. She also coached Carrie von Uhlit to the 2009 Varsity Equestrian Reining individual championship.

"We are excited to have Haley Schoolfield directing our equestrian program," stated Orsini. "We believe her championship experience as a rider and coach can help lead SMU Equestrian to a championship level as well." While with TCU, Schoolfield also worked for Bridlewood Stables and Equestrian Center in Flower Mound as a Hunter/Jumper trainer. Through the years, Schoolfield has trained with some of the industry greats including Peter Pletcher, Ginger Black and Ann Kurszinski.

Prior to TCU, Schoolfield lived in the Houston area where she worked for Travelers Insurance, handling Environmental Liability Claims. Schoolfield also worked for Sienna Stables in Houston as the Senior Hunter/Jumper trainer. While working for Sienna, she continued to compete on the "A" show level where she has won numerous local, state and national awards, including a Perpetual Award for the Low Hunter Division in 2007.

Schoolfield was a member of Texas A&M equestrian team from 1999-2002, and was the squad captain her senior season. While competing in the English division, she won the Open Flat at the California Spring Classic in 2001. She was also nominated to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll for the spring semester of her junior year. As an individual rider, Schoolfield won the 2000 SJHJA championship in Adult Hunter, Adult Equitation, and Schooling Hunter.

She is native of Willis, Texas, and a 2002 graduate of Texas A&M with a bachelor's degree in agricultural development with an animal science emphasis. Schoolfield and her husband Clay were married in December 2008.

[mrydel]

Kind of interesting having a coach named Schoolfield rather than a school field named after a coach.