Christopher Mitchell, a professional horseman, was named head equestrian coach at Cornell University on Oct. 7, 1999.
In his 13 years as the Big Red's mentor, he has led many members to the regional and zone championships. His teams have claimed 27 collegiate horse show team crowns, including four Ivy League titles.
Mitchell’s teams won a pair of shows (Skidmore, Hartwick) en route to a regional reserve champion showing in 2009-10. Charmaine Tan qualified for the national horse show by winning the Zone 2 reserve walk trot spot. His 2010-11 team won its first-ever regular season regional championship after claiming four team blue ribbons during the season. Zofia Hilton (walk-trot) and Kelsey Craig (open flat) each qualified for nationals after earning the title of Zone II Reserve champions.
Cornell placed first as a team at four shows during the 2008-09 season, including a top place finish at the Ivy Show to round out its season and add to its titles at Morrisville, the Cornell Invitational and Hartwick. At the Ivy Show, the Big Red crowned four individual champions and three reserve champions. Mitchell also coached Justine Gentilini to high point rider of the day. The Big Red qualified 15 riders for the regional show and further advanced five riders to zones. The Big Red finished in second place overall in its regional team race. Under Mitchell’s tutelage Caroline Shulman and Dana Kendrick finished in second and third place, respectively, in the Cacchione Cup race for high point rider of the year.
The Big Red finished in second place at seven shows during the 2007-08 campaign. Cornell qualified 11 riders for regionals and advanced five to the zones. Mitchell coached Zoe Samuel on to win the Zone II Novice Flat Championship to qualify for the IHSA National Horse Show, where she placed 11th.
During the 2006-07 season, Cornell finished first at its own Winter Invitational and took the reserve champion spot at six other shows during the year. That campaign saw three riders compete at the zone championships with Laura Acker being named reserve champion in Intermediate Flat. Acker placed seventh at the IHSA National Horse Show.
It is Mitchell's goal to see Cornell become a recognized name on the national scene and for the team to be a contender each year at the national championships. Based on the results during his tenure, the Cornell equestrian team is already on the rise and receiving attention from the rest of the collegiate riding circuit.
Mitchell had previously been an instructor and trainer at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough, N.Y., and was the barn manager and trainer for Lion Hill Farm in Easton, Conn., from 1996-98. During that time, he also served as an equestrian instructor for Sacred Heart University and was an assistant coach and instructor at Pace University. He coached one of his riders to a national championship in walk-trot equitation at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association competition and had other riders place among the top 10 nationally in the novice flat, novice fences, intermediate fences and open levels.
Mitchell is a member of the NCAA steering committee for equestrian and is also a member of the American Horse Shows Association. He is a graduate of Longwood College in Farmville, Va., with a degree in business administration and marketing.
Mitchell, his wife, Martha, and their children reside in Ithaca.
*Updated January 2012
