Vestavia Hills High School student Jennifer Johnston had a long-standing interest in horses and learned at a college fair about the Judson College equestrian studies program.
She enrolled at Judson, graduating in 1994 with a major in computer science and a double minor in equine science and journalism. Two years later she accepted the position of equine director at the college.
“I worked in advertising and customer service and loved it,” she said. “But the appeal of taking this program and improving it was greater.”
Johnston, now Hoggle, did weekend equine competitions while a Judson student and wanted her students to have this opportunity as a college team. She worked to include Judson in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) and accomplished this in 1997.
The IHSA is composed of some 300 colleges in 45 states and Canada.
Now Judson is part of IHSA’s Zone Five, Region Two area that includes Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. Since Hoggle is the zone president, Judson is known as the “president school” in Region Two.
“Our IHSA membership gives opportunity to compete all over the country and polish our skills,” she said. “And of course it gets the Judson name out there as a recruiting tool. It’s a win-win situation.”
Hoggle has worked to improve the program academically. She added western riding to the hunt-seat (English) program. And Judson students can now major in equine science through three interdisciplinary programs in psychology, business or science in preparation for graduate study in veterinary medicine or other professional fields.
Marion veterinarian Doug Halbrooks and local competitor and Judson alumna Janice Palmer Williams work with Hoggle as adjunct teachers.
And Hoggle has worked to improve the facilities at the college.
A new riding arena was erected in 2008, and plans are on the books for a 30-stall barn with boarding space, tack room, wash rack and classroom. The Horse Whisperer, sponsored by the evangelism office of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, was the inaugural event in the new arena.
The rural area of Perry County is advantageous for the program, according to Hoggle.
“The soil is rich, so we have plenty of grass and hay,” she said. “Land is more accessible and it’s easier to keep horses in pasture.”
Some students, like psychology major Allison Agee, of Monroeville, take riding classes for fun.
“I was afraid of horses when I came to Judson,” Agee said with a laugh. “Now I’m the IHSA team manager. I overcame my fear and have made a lot of new friends traveling to competitions.”
Hoggle pointed to a number of success stories among Judson alumnae.
“Elizabeth Bush of Huntsville works as boarding barn manager at the Biltmore House,” she said. “Lisa Windom of Nevada never rode a horse until coming here. She went on to win the ‘Miss Rodeo Nevada’ title. And Lauren Stephens of Birmingham, now a medical student at UAB, never competed before coming to Judson, but she qualified for nationals.”
According to Hoggle, the uniqueness of Judson’s program provides opportunities for good-will partnerships.
Judson equestrians travel to Montgomery each year to judge “passive education” for Alabama 4H, they assist in the annual Marion rodeo and students in animal partnership classes enjoy taking horses to the two nursing homes in Marion.
“We had an amazing experience on one of these visits,” Hoggle said. “The nurses told us about a resident who never talked. He petted the horses and opened up, telling us his life story. He used to be around horses when he was younger and this brought back memories. It was a breakthrough in caregiving for him.” (JC)
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