S.U.N.Y. - New Paltz novice flat rider Valerie Erwin enjoys the sun at Briarwood Farm with her irish wolfhound Drusilla.

NOT YOUR AVERAGE NOVICE FLAT RIDER

“My life is better at age 42 than it was at age 22!” boast’s Valerie Erwin, a new edition to the State University of New York at New Paltz Equestrian team. Erwin is perhaps the only IHSA rider over 40 nationwide competing above the walk-trot-canter level at this time. Erwin rides at the novice flat level for Coach Kristin Connor's hawks, proving that the IHSA does not have to be and is not made up purely of the usual 18-to-22-year-olds.

Erwin developed her love of horses and riding from her parents, both of whom still ride. Her father, although too tall to be a jockey, spent much of his time at the track caring for the horses and cleaning stalls. The decision to attend college was not unlike that of her mother's.

“My mother is a huge inspiration. With five young children she went to Nursing School. Guess what? She graduated Summa Cum Laude!”

Erwin is a single mom with two grown daughters, both of whom are full time students at the University of Vermont. Although neither of the girls ride, both have excelled in skiing and swimming. Both Erwin’s parents and daughters are very supportive of her decision to ride in the IHSA.

However, the support of Leonard Loza, Valerie’s partner, is also extremely important to her. “Without his support, I could not do this. He is absolutely wonderful.” The couple is self-employed, maintaining off-campus student-housing rentals for S.U.N.Y. - New Paltz students, which has enabled Valerie to retire from the medical field and attend college on a full time basis. For 18 years, Valerie worked as a Medical Technologist in a hospital computer building of Laboratory Systems & Interfacing. Last Spring, Valerie was able to retire early and attend college full-time, following her dream of completing a BA in Art History (focusing on Early Medieval Studies) with minors in both History and Anthropology.

Living in the dorms this fall, Erwin was exposed to the IHSA by accident. Her roommate, hawk rider Erica Druyea, was already a member of the team. Druyea convinced Erwin to join, and ironically both now ride at the same novice level. On the day we spoke to her (the November 2nd Marist show), Erwin was third in her section of novice flat, her best IHSA ribbon so far this season.

When all is said and done, what is the most important message Erwin would like to send? “Follow your dreams! Riding is a sport you can do and you can do it all your life! For 20 years people pushed me away from the arts, where I truly wanted to be and into the medical field. For women in particular, you need to know that you need never give up on your dreams and goals and that they are any less important than anyone else's!”

--Denise Prongay