WPAOG held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 1, 2021, to officially open the new Equestrian Center for USMA.
The center features a 17,500-square-foot indoor riding arena, viewing area, tack rooms, horse stalls, changing rooms, and coaches’ office. It provides needed space for year-round training and is accessible to the West Point community and graduates through the Rockbound Highland Home Program.
“This facility will not only benefit the equestrian team but the larger West Point community. It will afford all the ability to ride throughout the winter months and permit us to offer the use of this facility to other West Point organizations that need a large open area to function.” - Coach Peter Cashman
During the ribbon-cutting WPAOG's Kristin Sorenson, VP of Development thanked all the donors who made the new facility possible because of their tremendous support. #GOARMY! Because of donor support, over the past 20 years, WPAOG has delivered over 50 completed gift-funded buildings valued at over $250 million. COL Tom Hansbarger, West Point’s Director of Cadet Activities, thanked WPAOG and the generous donors that made the project possible.
The center is named after West Point Grad and four-star general Crosbie Edgerton Saint '58 who served as Commander, United States Army Europe from 1988 to 1992. In addition to remembering Saint, other major donors chose to memorialize individuals with their gifts: The Ballagh Viewing Lounge is named for LTC Robert S. Ballagh, long-time coach of the Cadet Riding Club at West Point and the Hines arena is named for mule rider at West Point, 1LT Ronald D. Hines, Class of 1961, who was killed in action in 1964 and posthumously awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart, as well as the Vietnamese National Order Medal and the Vietnamese Cross for Gallantry.