| Email: | tmathews@mtholyoke.edu |
| Title: | Riding Instructor | Head IEA Coach |
| Phone: | 413-538-2493 |
Tara (Lynch) Mathews has been the head coach of
the Mount Holyoke College Interscholastic Equestrian Team
since 2011. In addition to her coaching duties, she also
serves as a riding instructor at the Equestrian Center and is
currently the IEA Zone 1 Administrator.
Mathews teaches her students responsibility, fortitude and
compassion; the same qualities and attributes that she herself was
taught during all her years in the saddle. She is passionate
and dedicated to affording her riders with the opportunities to
achieve great accomplishments.
Mathews started her riding career at a young age and continued to pursue her passion up through high school and college. Under the tutelage of her trainers, Martha and Armand Chenelle of Windcrest Farm, she successfully competed at State and National Championships, earning numerous awards along the way.
In 2004, Mathews enrolled at the University of Connecticut, where
she became a member of the school's IHSA Equestrian Team. Through
dedication and perseverance, she rode her way to becoming the
college’s first rider in over 36 years to achieve the
honorable title of Cacchione Cup winner. From that point forward,
Mathews competed in the IHSA National Championships for four years,
once as an undergraduate and the other years as an alumna. Over
that time, she captured many awards, including two Reserve
Championships.
After graduating from UConn with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in English, Mathews was hired as a special education teacher at A. Ward Spaulding Elementary School in her hometown of Suffield, Conn. She spent three years in that position before leaving for Mount Holyoke.
Mathews currently resides in Suffield with her husband Jay and son Callan. She is a volunteer Board Member, Banquet Co-Chairman and Equitation Committee member for the Connecticut Hunter and Jumper Association. In 2011, she was the recipient of the CHJA Distinguished Service Award. Mathews enjoys kayaking, scrapbooking, gardening and antiquing. She has three horses -- Unity Hillan Dale, Surf City Smoothie and Honey.