Hearts beat for hoofbeats

The eighth annual Parade of Breeds showcased horses and included a halftime show tribute to veterans

MIRANDA

NATALIE

Reporter @natalierosemir

More than 35 horse breeds stomped their hooves, strutted their stuff and trotted before a crowd to showcase their characteristics. Their long manes, diverse coloring, spots and even stripes, were on full display as spectators clapped and cheered for the exchange of horses in the arena on Saturday, Nov. 11. at the Pierce College Equestrian Center.

Gypsies, Mustangs, Appaloosas and Miniatures, just to name a few breeds, put on a spectacle for those attending the show by traipsing, turning, and even rolling over in the arena alongside their owners.

Adjunct instructor of horseback riding Katrina Britner said the Parade of Breeds is memorable for many people, including prospective students.

“You would be surprised how many students come here at 18 or 19 years old, and they remember going to the Parade of Breeds when they were a kid,” Britner said. “They were looking forward to coming here because they remembered this experience.”

Chair of the Equine Department Patricia Warner said she thinks exposing her students to this firsthand experience is beneficial.

“This event was basically a gift to my students,” Warner said. “I started this event about eight years ago, because the students said they couldn’t tell what specific breeds of horses looked like without actually seeing them.”

Christopher Lay, the advisor of St.A.S.H, referred to another recent study that states that onein-five students are homeless in LACCD.

“The need is out there. We just don’t have enough students taking advantage of what is available,” Lay said. “That’s why the constant effort of awareness is so important. That’s why next week is so exciting.”

Food donated to the pantry during the week will be available on the Mall during the plate signing event for students to stop by and grab whatever is needed.

Jordan Rice, the president of St.A.S.H, said that they will host a Thanksgiving drive and on the Mall Wednesday, Nov. 22. turkey, mashed potatoes and corn bread will be distributed.

“We’ll have options so people can create that meal and still be able to experience what a wonderful abundant holiday we have,” Rice said.

Rice said hunger is not just a student issue, it also affects others locally and statewide.

11, 2017.

The eighth annual Parade of Breeds was organized by students in the Horse Show Organization and Management Class. They prepared for 11 weeks since the start of the fall semester. This included: coordinating the parade, barrel racing, trick roping and a drill team performance. The Boots and Saddle Club and Pre-Vet Club partnered to help facilitate the petting zoo and face painting booth.

JESSICA VAUGHAN Reporter @JVaughanRoundup

Transitioning from the culture of military life to civilian life can be tough for some veterans.

On Nov. 9, the Veterans Resource Center opened its doors to offer a place to build a community and help veteran students achieve their goals and ease the transition.

This new center is coordinated by Charles Johnson, a 26-year-old active duty Navy veteran.

Johnson said he is happy to be the coordinator of the center because he can relate. “I can actually show them how it works, that it works, and be an example for them to follow,” Johnson said. “The things I’m telling them I have already experienced myself.”

Johnson said one of his goals is to make sure the student veterans understand how to use the Veterans Resource Center, the Counseling

Center and financial aid resources.

“Those three things allow you to be a successful student, to get you in the door,” Johnson said. “There are a lot of other factors but those three things are vital.”

Equine Student Rachel Koch said she enjoys observing the horses in the parade.

Vice President of Student Services Earic Dixon-Peters is excited to see the college expand existing services and wants to focus on student integration, their connectedness, their engagement with the campus and with the Veteran Resources Center.

“One of the essential pieces of all of this is to increase our student engagement in terms of their academic engagement and allow them to feel comfortable and confident,” Dixon-Peters said.

He said he is hoping this new addition will increase the retention rate and graduation rate of student veterans.

“As a community, we have to recognize that this is a real issue. We are in L.A. It seems like we have everything. We are in the land of abundance, but of course there’s still people struggling and that’s not right,” Rice said.

Lay said students should not hesitate to recognize that they are in need of food.

He said students should take advantage of the food pantry created by the partnerships of St.A.S.H, the Associated Student Organization, the Brahma Initiative and all the volunteer students who have donated.

“It seems obvious, but we live in a society that stigmatizes food insecurity. People like to act like it doesn’t exist,” Lay said. “People are ashamed to not have enough to eat. If we are able to overcome that stigma, we can get people to come get food.”

Lay said that more college students are recognizing that they have to make a choice between education or a meal.