Casey Wonnenberg

South Dakota State University has hired a coach for its women’s equestrian program, which is the university’s newest sport and was added last semester to comply with Title IX regulations. The university will officially start competing in fall 2005.

Megan McGee, who led Fresno State to six straight IHSA appearances, has been hired as the new coach.

Prior to coaching at Fresno State, McGee taught at private facilities in Oregon, California and Kentucky. She also worked as a teaching assistant at Moorhead State University and California Polytechnic State University.

While coaching at Fresno State, McGee guided several of her players to top ten finishes, including two Reserve National Champion finishes. At the 2000 NCAA Division I Equestrian Invitational, her team won overall Reserve Champions. In 2000, two of McGee’s riders competed in the Olympic Selection Trials.

After resigning at Fresno State in August 2003, McGee served as a consultant for two different management firms, Ram Tap, Inc. and Montana Equestrian Events. At these firms she planned and directed equestrian events around the country.

From 1985 to present, McGee has trained and shown horses through her own business. McGee has served as a member of the management teams of the Del Mar National Horse Show, 1984, the 1996 Olympic Games, and the Volvo World Cup Dressage.

SDSU equestrian events will be housed at the Pegasus Equine Center, just northeast of campus on the US Highway 14 bypass and Interstate 29. The school intends to build a bigger riding arena and convert the current smaller arena into stables. Currently the Pegasus Equine Center’s stables can hold only 20 horses. By renovating the small arena, the center could hold up to 50 or 60 additional stables.

“The university will also have its own stable of horses for outside competitions,” said Rob Peterson, SDSU assistant athletic director.

Of the 15 Division I schools that currently offer equestrian, Kansas State University and Oklahoma State University are the closest to SDSU. Five Division II and 18 Division III schools participate in equestrian.