Dec. 15, 2011

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina head coach Boo Major announced the signing of Cary High School senior Sally Henry (Cary, N.C.) to a National Letter of Intent to join the South Carolina Gamecocks Equestrian Team starting in the 2012-2013 season.

“Sally will be a great addition to our hunt seat squad particularly in Equitation on the Flat where she brings notable experience and consistent wins on various mounts,” Major said. “She has competed in Equitation and Jumpers at the national and international level and we are excited to add an equestrian from North Carolina”

In addition to training and showing, Sally regularly rides many horses for their owners, and she volunteers every Monday at the Horse & Buddy therapeutic riding program in New Hill, NC – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for people with special needs. Sally trains and shows with Manuel Torres, a show jumping Olympic veteran from Virginia, and Don Stewart of Ocala, FL.

Sally’s junior riding career highlights include:
• Qualified for the 2011 Pessoa/USEF Hunt Seat Medal Finals in Harrisburg, PA; 2011 USHJA Zone III Medal Finals, Culpeper, VA; and 2011 VHSA Medal Finals, Lexington, VA
• Received Laurie Gilbert – Don Stewart Sr. Memorial Trophy for highest equitation points, NCHJA Annual Show
• Age Equitation Champion-2011 Raleigh “A” Indoor Circuit; 2010 NCHJA high point equitation champion
• Qualified for the 2009 ASPCA Maclay National Finals in Syracuse, NY
• USA Gold Medalist at the 2009 FEI CSI Pre-Jr. B International Jumping Cup in Santiago, Chile
• Qualified for the 2009 WIHS Children’s Jumper Championships in Washington DC
• 2008 reserve champion, ACL Children’s Hunter & ACL Children’s Jumper Finals on the SAME horse
• 2007 4H Junior Horse State Champion

“We are so excited to have Sally join the team next year. She rides beautifully on the flat and over fences and has really proven herself in the equitation ring,” assisant Hunt Seat coach Carol Gwin said. “Sally’s trainers, Manuel Torres and Don Stewart, have done an excellent job of producing a well-rounded athlete that can be a huge asset to our equestrian program. Sally also has a great deal of experience riding different horses which will help her be a serious competitor in varsity equestrian competitions. She is also an excellent student academically which is always a priority for our team.”

Born December 9, 1993 to parents Julie and Mark Henry, Sally Henry has one sister, Carey who is a senior at NC State University. Sally comes from a long family line of horse enthusiasts. Her grandfather, the late honorable mayor of Hillsborough, NC, her aunts and mother fox hunted and competed in show jumping.