An Equestrian Heritage

When Mary Shallenberger ’66 returned to campus for Alumnae Council Weekend, she expected a familiar sense of welcome. What she did not expect was to come face-to-face with her own Chatham Hall history. While visiting the barn, Mary noticed a photograph hanging in the classroom, a young rider, poised and confident, astride a horse named Soap Suds, donated by the family of Wendy Wilson ’67. As Mary looked more closely, she realized she was the rider.

The photograph is part of a growing collection curated by Director of Riding Ally Doyon, Assistant Director of Riding Emma Lane, and Archivist Dr. William Black to honor generations of Chatham Hall equestrians. The intention is simple and powerful: to connect today’s riders to the strength, courage, and legacy of the women who came before them. Chatham Hall is a place where past and present are always in conversation. This discovery also served as a reminder of how deeply riding is woven into the fabric of the School, and how its lessons extend far beyond the saddle.

After graduating from Chatham Hall, Mary went on to serve as a Senate-appointed member of the California Coastal Commission, as Principal Advisor on natural resources and environmental issues to the President Pro Tem of the California Senate, and as an air pollution specialist with the California Air Resources Board. Across every chapter of her professional life, her commitment to stewardship, leadership and thoughtful decision-making reflects values first nurtured in Chatham Hall’s fields and stables.

Chatham Hall’s riding tradition stretches back more than a century. Riding was on campus in the early 1900s. By 1928, the school was home to just four horses. By 1931, with the inspiration of Ed Brush, who arrived as business manager and dairy operator, the foundation for what would become one of Chatham Hall’s defining programs began. By 1933, The Chatham Hall Chat

recorded a thriving operation: twenty-nine horses, 200 miles of bridle paths within ten miles of the School, and nearly 90 percent of students riding. Riding had, as Rev. Dr. Edmund Jennings Lee noted, “become our major sport.” Bit and Spur, our riding club on campus, was founded in that year and is still a vibrant program today. Signature events such as the Commencement Horse Show and the May Day Tournament became beloved traditions, celebrating not only athletic skill but also poise, partnership, and presence, qualities that remain central to the Chatham Hall experience.

Today, the equestrian program continues to be a cornerstone of campus life, offering students far more than competition or technique. It is a practice in mindfulness, resilience, responsibility, and courage. “In a world where girls are constantly navigating academic pressures, social expectations, and full schedules, the barn offers something rare,” shares Ally Doyon. “Horses demand presence. Their intuitive nature requires our students to slow down, tune in, and be fully engaged in the moment.” Riding at Chatham Hall also reflects the School’s mission to encourage students to choose courage over comfort. Showing up day after day, through setbacks, injuries, early mornings, and the ongoing responsibility of caring for these powerful animals, builds grit and confidence. Our riders rise to that challenge, and the program continues to thrive.

From those early days of four horses and a vision to today’s state-of-the-art facilities, competitive IEA participation, and regional success, the evolution of the riding program is remarkable. Yet its heart remains unchanged. Chatham Hall’s riding tradition endures, rooted in courage, compassion, and connection across generations. And for alumnae like Mary Shallenberger ’66, every return to the barn is more than a visit. It is, unmistakably, a homecoming.