UConn Hunter Equitation Clinics

December 13, 2025 & April 18-19, 2026 | UConn Storrs Campus

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Get a Jumpstart on your College Riding Career!

Are you a high school student interested in competing in college and getting a feel for what it’s like to ride and show on an Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) team?

Learn from college industry professionals, meet the UConn Equestrian Team and horses, and showcase your riding skills in a winter and spring clinic at UConn.

The one-day fall clinic will include horse schooling, a course walk, and a mock show with over-fences and flat divisions. The two-day spring dates will include a college selection and recruiting clinic and a hunter equitation clinic.

A table of different colored ribbons.

December 13 Clinic Schedule & Registration Details

Schedule
Time Activity
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Warm Up Horses
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM Course Walk
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Open Division (Flat & Over Fences)
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM Intermediate Division (Flat & Over Fences)
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM Lunch Break
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM Limit Division (Flat & Over Fences)
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM Novice Division (Flat & Over Fences – 18" optional)
3:45 PM – 4:00 PM Q&A & Wrap-Up

Schedule subject to minor adjustments on event day.

Pricing & Divisions

Price: $250 per rider

Divisions: Open, Intermediate, Limit & Novice

Capacity: Max 30 riders total. First-come, first-served per division with waitlist.

Registration: Please use the form below to complete your registration. The deadline to register is Friday, December 5, 2025.

*OPEN TO CURRENT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ONLY*


Coaching by UConn Equestrian Team coach Avery Sutton and judging by Richard Luckhardt and Dirk Fogg.

Coaches & Judges

a woman riding a horse

Avery Sutton

Equestrian Team Coach, UConn

 

Avery Sutton is a seasoned Hunter/Jumper professional with a strong academic foundation in equine sciences. She holds a degree in Animal Science with a concentration in Equine Studies and a Pre-Veterinary track, along with a minor in Zoology from the University of Vermont. Avery brings to the University of Connecticut Hunt Seat Team a deep-rooted passion for horsemanship, an extensive background in barn management, and a comprehensive skill set that supports rider success both in and out of the saddle.

Her training philosophy centers on developing both horse and rider through a strong foundation in the fundamentals of natural aids and a thoughtful understanding of the “horse brain.” Avery is committed to helping riders of all levels reach their personal and competitive goals through individualized coaching, clear communication, and a positive, team-oriented approach.

She looks forward to working with and supporting UConn riders throughout their journey on the Hunt Seat Team!

a man in sunglasses

Richard G. Luckhardt

USEF Registered Judge

 

I am a USEF Registered Judge in hunters, equitation, jumpers, and hunter breeding. I am a USEF Recorded Course Designer in Hunters and Jumpers. I am a Certified USEF Competition Manager. I’ve judged, course designed, and managed shows all over New England, Georgia, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Ohio, Maryland, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Canada, and Bermuda. I’ve judged everything from schooling through USEF A rated shows, IHSA, IEA, and Equitation Finals. I was General Manager of the Mystic Valley Hunt Club, Inc., in Gales Ferry, CT, where I coached the IHSA Equestrian Teams at Connecticut College and the United States Coast Guard Academy. I was President of IHSA Zone 1 Region 5, the Connecticut Region. I sat on the IHSA Board of Directors. I am a former member of the USHJA Zone 1 Hunter Committee where I served as treasurer. I was on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Hunter Jumper Association where I worked on the Standards Committee. I am a member of the National IEA Show Standards Committee. I am a professional member of the Fairfield Westchester Professional Horsemen’s Association and the New England Horsemen’s Council, as well as the United States Equestrian Federation and the United States Hunter Jumper Association.

I am a lifelong native of Connecticut. I’ve been a resident of North Stonington, CT, for over 30 years where my family has a small horse farm. I am an alumnus of the University of Connecticut.

a man in glasses

Dirk Fogg

Equestrian Coach, Roger Williams University

 

This is Fogg's first year at the helm of the Roger Williams University Equestrian Team. Fogg brings more than 25 years of professional experience in the equestrian industry, coupled with over two decades of collegiate coaching and teaching expertise.

Fogg joins Roger Williams following an accomplished tenure at Johnson & Wales University, where he served as Associate Professor and Assistant Director of Riding in the Department of Equine Studies since 2003. He also led the JWU Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) Hunter Seat Team, transforming the program from a club sport into a varsity-level team. Under his guidance, JWU produced regional championships, reserve championships, and multiple individual qualifiers for zone and national finals.

In addition to his academic and coaching background, Fogg has extensive experience managing and training competitive show jumpers, hunters, and dressage horses at renowned facilities across the United States, Canada, and Europe, including Spruce Meadows and Grande Farms. His international exposure also includes working with the Verband Hannoverscher Warmblutzüchter in Verden, Germany, where he gained insights into breeding and sales operations.

Fogg holds a Master of Business Administration in Global Business Leadership and Organizational Leadership from Johnson & Wales University and a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Skidmore College. He is also a certified trainer and instructor through the United States Hunter Jumper Association and the Certified Horsemanship Association, holding advanced credentials in both English and Western disciplines.