Ethel Walker School
Please join us for a conversation about the opportunities to ride at the collegiate level. Hear about the collegiate riding process from Belinda Colgan, Skidmore College Head Coach; C.J. Law, Mount Holyoke College Head Coach; and Janet Hedges ‘21, currently riding at Boston University. You will learn about the differences between IHSA and NCEA, and take a deeper dive into what riding IHSA in college actually looks like. Bring your questions!
Belinda Colgan was promoted to the head coaching position at Skidmore in 2019 after a successful stint as assistant coach. Belinda has been an integral part of three Skidmore national championship teams and three reserve championship teams. She trained numerous riders (students and community) to many championships and personal bests both in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association and A Circuit competitions. Most recently, Colgan led her team to win their ninth IHSA National Championship in May of 2023; this is the most wins in IHSA history.
C.J. Law is currently in her 38th season at Mount Holyoke College where she currently serves as the Director of Intercollegiate Coaching and Varsity Hunt Seat Team Coach. C.J. is regarded as one of the top collegiate riding coaches in the nation with accolades too numerous to count. She has received the prestigious IHSA Lifetime Achievement Award for her innovative ideas promoting sportsmanship and has founded the IHSA Senior Academic Achievement and National Horse Show Sportsmanship Awards. C.J. has served on the IHSA Board of Directors since 1986 and has been the IHSA Zone 1 Chairperson since 1989 and is presently a member of the IHSA PR & Communications Marketing Committee. All of these achievements have been made while coaching Mount Holyoke’s team to 30 regional championships, three IHSA National Collegiate Team Championships, and three of her riders have taken top honors in the Cacchione Cup Class Championships.
Janet Hedges ’21 is a junior at Boston University studying Public Relations and Business Management. She is on the BU Equestrian Team and is an Open Level rider. This past fall, Janet won the Adult New England Equitation Finals and finished in the top 25 at the National Horse Show in the Adult Equitation. While at Walker’s, she was a co-captain of the Equestrian Team and a member of the Cicerone Society.
