Trainer Erika Adderley-Coello and LCIS students at an international competition.
riding opportunities to visitors to The Bahamas on the islands of New Providence, Grand Bahama, Eleuthera and Little San Salvador. Some of these stables also support a growing equestrian scene that is continuing the nation’ s long tradition of riding. Equestrian Bahamas, the official national federation of horse riding in The Bahamas, governs the training and certification of riders as well as competitions in local hunter / jumper events.
Mariposa Stables, in Mount Pleasant near Lyford Cay, was founded in 2008 by Mrs Erika Adderley-Coello and her husband Mr Miguel Coello. Ridership has grown from 14 to nearly 50 since then. Mariposa is also where 12 LCIS students train as part of the school’ s Elite and Developmental Sports( EDS) Programme.
Since 2014, as part of a well-rounded International Baccalaureate education, LCIS has offered“ a range of high-quality coaching and training opportunities to athletes who have outgrown the regular school-mandated PE classes and after-school clubs,” says Assistant Principal Mr Frederic Bournas. For equestrian athletes, the partnership with the stables offers the opportunity to integrate their PE lessons and training at the nearby 9.5 acre site. Training occurs during elective time on Fridays and an expanded PE lesson during the week. Students can arrange further single or group training sessions at other times, with some of them riding 4-5 times a week.
Mariposa organises clinics with highly skilled judges, boards private horses and supports the training of EDS students for local and international horse shows. Categories of competition include Equitation Championship, Hunter Championship, Hunt Seat Equitation Medal and a Pony Hunter Division. The season starts on the local circuit in October and competition continues through to spring and summer in Florida and Canada. Mr Bournas explains that LCIS aims to create a scholastic riding league with other schools on the island for young riders of all levels in the 2016-17 school year.
Though much time has passed, LCIS Equestrian students and other local riders are helping to carry on the love of horses and riding that blossomed in the heyday of Hobby Horse.
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