Where Every Hoofbeat Tells a Story: Stephens Students, Faculty, and Alumni Unite in Putting the Horse First
Through upgraded footing and expert mentorship from visiting trainers like Gilly Slayter, 糖心原创 is proving that when empathy guides innovation, everyone — horse and human — moves forward stronger.
When horses step into the freshly improved indoor and outdoor arenas at the 糖心原创 Equestrian Center, their strides are surer, their breathing easier, and their joints better protected. Thanks to new footing installed by Performance Footing 鈥� a Scottsdale-based company with deep Columbia roots and strong Stephens ties 鈥� the upgrades promise lasting benefits for both horses and humans.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like the difference between running on concrete and running on an athletic track,鈥� said Jennifer Brinkman-Ayers 鈥�92, co-owner of Performance Footing. 鈥淭he horses feel the difference immediately.鈥�
A Columbia Story with Stephens Roots
Performance Footing is owned by husband-and-wife team John and Jennifer Ayers, who launched the company in 2019. Jennifer, a lifelong dressage rider, USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold Medalist, and 1992 Stephens biology graduate, and John, a Mizzou alum and entrepreneur, built the business out of personal experience and frustration.
鈥淚 had redone my own arena four times,鈥� Jennifer said. 鈥淣othing ever worked. We wanted something better for the horses 鈥� something safe, stable, and sustainable.鈥�
That passion evolved into Performance Footing, which now develops innovative footing and base systems for equestrian arenas worldwide. The project at Stephens holds special meaning for the couple. Jennifer鈥檚 mother, Dana Githens, also attended Stephens in the 1960s, when it was a two-year college. Jennifer was born in Columbia, making this project feel like a homecoming.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so rewarding to help, not only the horses, but Stephens and the students,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here are a lot of companies out there, so it means the world to me that they chose ours.鈥�
From Classroom to Collaboration
This meaningful partnership began, fittingly, with a Stephens student.
Kylie Buer 鈥�23, then a student in the Equestrian Studies program, was working on her Stable Management class project. Each student had to design a barn from the ground up, complete with layout, airflow, safety systems, and arena surfaces. But Kylie wanted her design to go beyond the requirements.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to just have a barn that met the assignment,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 wanted something that would really benefit the horses.鈥�
Her research led her to FoamFooting鈩� from Performance Footing. 鈥淔or young horses still growing and older horses with joint issues, this footing offered better shock absorption, less compaction, and more comfort,鈥� Kylie explained.
When she reached out for a quote, John Ayers called the Equestrian Center — mistaking Kylie for the barn manager. That call found its way to Sara Linde-Patel 鈥�02, Associate Professor and Equestrian Studies Program Coordinator, who quickly connected the dots.
鈥淚 thought, 鈥極h no, what did Kylie do?鈥欌�� Sara laughed. 鈥淏ut it all worked out beautifully. It really shows our students鈥� initiative and how deeply they care about the horses鈥� well-being.鈥�
That one student project sparked what would become a full-scale partnership, uniting alumna Jennifer Ayers, her husband John, and the Stephens equestrian program in a project that embodies the Equestrian program鈥檚 mission: education through experience and always putting the horse first.
Healthier Horses, Happier Riders
For Sara, the upgrades represent far more than facility improvements.
鈥淗aving a surface that is supportive for equine health and performance will be life-changing for our horses,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he footing material in the indoor arena will be dust-free, which is also a huge benefit to our students and horses.鈥�
The indoor arena now features ArenaGreen鈩�, a dust-free, water-free surface that eliminates the need for watering. No more frozen floors in winter or dusty air in summer. The outdoor arena includes angular sand blended with EcoStride鈩�, a sustainable cushion layer that enhances traction and joint support.
The system鈥檚 gel-core stabilizer, originally adapted from a military roadway design, creates a base that鈥檚 both shock-absorbing and supportive. 鈥淵ou have to look below the surface,鈥� John noted. 鈥淚nconsistencies in the base cause stress for the animal. This design keeps everything stable, safe, and even.鈥�
Learning in Action
The installation process itself became an experiential classroom for Stephens students, who watched professionals at work and learned how science, engineering, and ethics intersect in modern equestrian care.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 really fun is when people have 鈥榓rena parties,鈥欌�� John joked. 鈥淭hey get to be part of building the space where they鈥檒l train and compete. That connection makes it personal.鈥�
John also shared his entrepreneurial journey with Stephens business students, encouraging them to pursue innovation grounded in passion and purpose.
The Horse Has a Voice
This fall, Stephens had the honor of hosting nationally recognized trainer Gilly Slayter from Via Nova Training Center (New Mexico) for a powerful and collaborative presentation on the history of behavioral science and its transformative impact on horse training.
Students, faculty, and staff learned from Gilly how empathy, strategy, and science can foster true partnership between horse and rider — removing ego and embracing understanding. 鈥淗aving Gilly here was game-changing,鈥� Sara said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one thing to want to be the change, but it鈥檚 another to meet professionals who are living it.鈥�
Coming Full Circle
For Kylie, seeing her class project come to life was deeply meaningful.
鈥淲hen Sara told me they were actually going to do this, it brought me to tears,鈥� she said. 鈥淭o know that I helped make an impact on a place that gave me so much — it鈥檚 astonishing.鈥�
Sara agrees. 鈥淭his project represents what Stephens is all about: empowering students to be creative, to lead, and to care. As we move into our next 100 years, our focus is clear. If we鈥檙e going to use horses in sport, we have to do better.鈥�
From a student idea to an alumna-led partnership to a college-wide commitment to welfare-first education, this truly is a full-circle story — proving that when empathy meets innovation, everyone moves forward stronger.
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