Marist Equestrian is an inclusive, co-ed club welcoming riders of all experience levels. As a part of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Zone 3, Region 3, Marist Equestrian's riders have the opportunity to compete locally, regionally, and even at the national level.
The club trains at Crosswinds Equestrian Center, a state-of-the-art facility in LaGrangeville, NY, under the guidance of Coach Clare Knapp and Assistant Coach Lorena Passi. With a diverse group of horses, ranging from beginner to advanced, Marist Equestrian members are able to not only strengthen their riding skills, but also their overall horsemanship.
Over the years, many of Marist's riders have qualified for and competed at IHSA National finals, with several earning National titles. Even some of Marist’s horses have also attended at the National finals, and been featured in top Equestrian magazines!"
Clare Knapp has served as the Head Coach for the Marist University Equestrian Team since 2008. Under her leadership, Marist Equestrian has experienced growth and success on many levels. The Red Foxes have earned over twenty Regional and Zone Championships, and make regular appearances at the IHSA National Championships, with both their Student-Athletes and their team horses.
Coach Knapp has been named IHSA Regional Coach of the Year five times in her tenure, and was the 2025 IHSA National Coach Sportsmanship Award winner. She also serves as the Regional President, and has been part of the IHSA Executive Board since 2018.
In addition to her work with Marist, Knapp is heavily involved with the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) and is the Head Coach of the nationally ranked Empire State Equestrian Team. Clare also serves as the current President of the National Professional Horseman’s Association.
President: Ellen Schroeter '27
Ellen is a Biomedical Sciences major on the Pre-Veterinary track from Millbrook, New York. She joined the team as a freshman to combine her passion for horses and her love of being a part of a team. Apart from her role on the team, she is a tutor, campus tour guide, Secretary of the Pre-Vet Club, and Secretary of Delta Epsilon Mu.
Vice President: Charlotte Farcy '27
Charlotte is from Wyckoff, NJ. She is pursuing a dual major in Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising, with a concentration in Promotion. She joined the team her sophomore year after returning from her first year studying abroad in Florence, Italy. She joined the team to continue her love for riding in a team environment.
Treasurer: Ella Copeland '27
Ella is a Psychology major on the Pre-Occupational Therapy track. She has been a member of the team since her freshman year. Apart from her role on the team, she works as a Peer Mentor for the FOCUS Program, is a member of Delta Epsilon Mu and Delta Alpha Pi, and volunteers weekly in the local Poughkeepsie community.
Secretary: Emily Gerstle '27
Emily is an Environmental Science major who is interested in conservation. She has been a member of the team since her sophomore year. In her free time, Emily enjoys gardening, bird watching, and spending time with her hedgehogs.
Join The Team
The Marist Equestrian team hosts tryouts every fall at Crosswinds Equestrian Center. The club welcomes riders of all levels, so we encourage everyone to tryout!
Before tryouts take place, the club hosts an interest meeting for prospective members. To contact the Marist Equestrian leadership, please reach out to Equestrian.Club@marist.edu, and to contact Coach Clare Knapp, please email Clare.Knapp@marist.edu.
Meeting Times
We have scheduled lessons, created around your class schedule. We ride at Crosswinds Equestrian Center in LaGrangeville, NY.
To earn one (1) point:Members must attend a minimum of 50% of club/organization meetings for the semester and 50% of club/organization activities.
To earn two (2) points:Members must attend a minimum of 50% of club/organization meetings for the semester and 75% of club/organization activities PLUS the community service event.
To earn three (3) points (executive board only): Officers must attend 50% of club meetings for the semester and 100% of club activities including community service. If executive board members do not complete all of the requirements to earn three points, they will be eligible to receive up to two points based on the above criteria.
