The campus community was invited to meet “Sugar,” a horse residing at Alfred University’s Equestrian Center. Equestrian program director Steve Shank, accompanied by two students—co-captains on the Saxons’ Western equestrian team: senior Patricia Kirk and junior Amanda O’Toole—brought the horse from the Equestrian Center to campus Friday morning.
Shank said the event was organized to introduce Sugar to the campus community, giving students, staff, and faculty a chance to see the horse—which acts as a mascot at home football games and other on- and off-campus events—up close.
“The whole idea is to spread some goodwill, give the students a chance to interact with the horse and riders,” Shank said. He noted that he hopes having the horse on campus would give students a chance to experience something new and different, given the restrictions on normal activities caused by COVID-19.
“We want to create interest in the horses, and our equestrian program.”
Amanda, dressed in the King Alfred costume worn in public appearances with Sugar, rode the horse up Academic Alley and back down to the lawn between Powell Campus Center and Herrick Library, before returning to the green pastures atop Jericho Hill.
