Maryellen Elizabeth Hart
Dr. Robert Taylor was the Department Chair for Animal Sciences, in the College of Agricultural Sciences while I participated in developing the present-day, Riding Instructor Training (RIT) and stable management certification program at Colorado State University 1976-1979. Dr. Taylor was remarkable with his administrative leadership ability to guide, role model, develop and direct young Aggies with fulfilling their dreams. His compassion, grace and example were foundational in my success in Animal Sciences, Riding Instruction Training and Stable Management certification program. My senior year Animal Science internship was combined with my foreign language requirement as a language immersion experience in Bavaria Germany. I worked as an assistant to a German Olympic Dressage and Cross Country trainer, while learning to speak German. The program required that no English be spoken to me. I did not previously study German, so it was extraordinarily challenging. I did speak French, so many of my French-speaking German friends bent the rules a little an sometimes interpreted in French. Much of Dressage is taught in French. I was the first woman to complete the German Exchange program in Bavaria, and was told that I scored higher than any previous students. Dr. Taylor knew of how very challenging the program was, and his encouragement for me to persevere and write my final exam paper was instrumental. Dr. Taylor was instrumental with fostering my perseverance in Education as one of Colorado State University's first undergraduates to teach three of my own students in the RIT program my senior year. I would not have attempted these goals if Dr. Taylor and Dr. Carpenter had not sponsored me with such care. Thank you, Dr. Taylor. I used my experience to teach beginning horsemanship to 4H students, United States Pony Club (USPC) and at private riding clubs while teaching Biological Sciences to high school students. Thank you!