Joined Cornell Athletics Staff: June 2025
At Cornell: Appointed as head coach of the Cornell equestrian program on June 24, 2025 by Dr. Nicki Moore, the Meakem & Smith Director of Athletics & Physical Education.
Prior to Cornell: Madonna brings more than two decades of experience as an equine professional, including extensive coaching success at the regional, zone and national levels. She has served as owner and head trainer of CNY EQ since 2010, where she has managed all aspects of horse training, sales, leasing and instruction while maintaining successful client relationships and business operations.
From 2008-23, Madonna founded and coached the CNY EQ Interscholastic Equestrian Association team, leading middle and high school students to regional, zone and national titles. Her team won Zone 2 finals in 2010. She also served six years on the Zone 2 ethics committee, helping determine rulings on sportsmanship and competition issues.
Madonna's collegiate coaching experience includes founding and leading the LeMoyne College Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association team from 2013-17, where she coached riders from introductory through open levels and managed all team operations.
Her professional background includes two years as a professional groom and rider for John Madden Sales, where she cared for top-level competition horses and received weekly instruction from Olympic gold medalist Beezie Madden. She also worked as an assistant trainer at Hunter Farms and holds an associate degree in Applied Science from Morrisville State College.
Recent client achievements under Madonna's guidance include the 2024 Zone 2 18-35 adult hunter finals championship and Zone 2 3-foot equitation finals victory, with the rider finishing third nationally. In 2023, her clients won championships at the Mid-Winter Circuit in Ocala, Fla., and multiple Syracuse Professional Horsemen's Association titles.
