Paul D. Cronin | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | horseman, riding instructor, and author |
| Employer | Sweet Briar College (1967–2002) |
Paul D. Cronin is an American horseman, riding instructor, and author. He studied under Vladimir Littauer for 30 years, and teaches Littauer's forward seat riding system. [1] [2] His book Schooling and Riding the Sport Horse (2004) was intended to be a modern and updated version of Littauer's Commonsense Horsemanship. [3] In it, Cronin detailed the history of the American forward seat riding system, gave advice on training young and green horses, and outlined a three-part system based on controls, position and schooling. [4]
Equestrianism, more often known as horse riding or horseback riding, refers to the skill and sport of riding, driving, steeplechasing or vaulting with horses. This broad description includes the use of horses for practical working purposes, transportation, recreational activities, artistic or cultural exercises, and competitive sport.
A riding instructor is a person whose job it is to teach methods of horse riding to beginners and improve the intermediate and advanced rider's style and technique. A riding instructor may also serve as a coach for a rider in competition. Some instructors may work out of their own riding facility, others at a riding school or training center. With appropriate academic credentials, some may teach in a college or university equestrian studies program. Yet others freelance and travel from stable to stable.
Vladimir Stanislavovitch Littauer was an influential horseback riding master and the author of books and films on educated riding and the training of horses. Littauer's riding instruction was in great demand during his lifetime by both riding instructors and amateurs and he was an early, important and controversial advocate of the forward seat riding system. He wrote more than a dozen books between 1930 and 1973 which sparked vivid debates among experienced riders of various backgrounds. He also wrote many articles on forward riding for notable equestrian magazines of his day. His methods continue to be taught at Sweet Briar College and other riding programs.
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Cronin was director of the riding program at Sweet Briar College from 1967–2002, and became Professor Emeritus and Director of Riding Emeritus in 2003. [5] Among his students there was Olympic athlete Lendon Gray, rider of Seldom Seen. [6] [7] [8]
Sweet Briar College is a women's liberal arts college in Sweet Briar, Virginia, United States, about 12 miles (19 km) north of Lynchburg. The college is on 3,250 acres (13,152,283 m2) in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, on the former estate of the college's founder, Indiana Fletcher Williams. Sweet Briar was established in 1901 as the Sweet Briar Institute and opened its doors in 1906. The college is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts in Teaching, and Master of Education; as of June 2018 it is on "warning" status due to its fiscal-year 2017 finances.
Emeritus, in its current usage, is an adjective used to designate a retired chairman, professor, pastor, bishop, pope, director, president, prime minister, rabbi, or other person.
Lendon Fentress Gray, is an American dressage champion, author, and former rider of Seldom Seen.
Cronin has been involved with the American National Riding Commission, and was an "R" judge for hunt seat competitions from 1965 to 1987. [6] In the state of Virginia, he was a member of the equitation committee of the Virginia Horse Show Association from 1974 to 1980, was a director for the Virginia Horse Council in 1981–1982, and was on the riding committee of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference from 1985 until 2001. [5] Beginning in 1999 Cronin was an advisory member at large for the Affiliated/American National Riding Council. [9]
The United States Equestrian Federation is the national governing body for most equestrian sports in the United States. It began on January 20, 1917, as the Association of American Horse Shows, later changed to the American Horse Shows Association (AHSA). In 2001, the organization changed its name to USA Equestrian (USAE) and, in 2003 it merged with the United States Equestrian Team (USET). In 2017, USEF rebranded as US Equestrian.
Equitation is the art or practice of horse riding or horsemanship.
The Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) is an NCAA Division III athletic conference. Of its 15 member schools, all but one are located in Virginia; the other full member is in North Carolina. The conference also has two associate members in North Carolina and Virginia
