Houghton, NY (February 19, 2015) – Houghton College’s Equine program has received a national honor with the induction of lesson horse Pumpkin into the EQUUS Foundation and United States Equestrian Federation’s Horse Stars Hall of Fame for 2015. Pumpkin will be inducted at the EQUUS Foundation’s Fete Cheval Etoile on Friday, Feb. 20 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida.

Pumpkin will be recognized in the humanitarian category in light of the many lives he has enriched and inspired through his years of service.

“We were surprised and delighted to be contacted by Lynn Coakley of the EQUUS Foundation, notifying us that Pumpkin was nominated for admission to the Horse Stars Hall of Fame,” said Houghton College equestrian program director, Jo-Anne Young. “His consistent kindness, versatility, quietly friendly demeanor, patience, and sturdy build that lets him handle almost any size and weight rider make him worth his weight in gold.”

Pumpkin, a Haflinger pony, was born in 1992 and has been a member of the Houghton College equestrian stable since he was donated to the college in 1997. Recently named the 2014 School Horse of the Year by the Peter Stone Company and the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA), Pumpkin is known both for his docile and well-behaved manner and for being the go-to pony for young children or students with disabilities.

The Horse Stars Hall of Fame is a joint program between the EQUUS Foundation and the United States Equestrian Federation that tells the stories of amazing horses and celebrates the bond between horses and people. The EQUUS Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life of horses, promoting the use of horses to enrich the lives of those in need, and educating the public about the horse’s unique ability to empower, teach and heal. Since its inception in 1917, the United States Equestrian Federation has been dedicated to pursuing excellence and promoting growth, all while providing and maintaining a safe and level playing field for both its equine and human athletes.

The Houghton College equestrian program prepares students to ride, teach, and train using the principles of classical dressage. Based at Houghton’s 386-acre state-of-the-art equestrian center, the program provides opportunities to equip students with a broad base of knowledge in classical horsemanship.

To find out more about equestrian studies at Houghton College, please visit www.houghton.edu/equestrian