SAVANNAH, Ga. – SCAD equestrian Head Coach Ashley Henry has been promoted to Director and Head Coach of Equestrian Programs.
 
Director of Athletics Amanda Haverstick had this to say about the promotion: "I couldn't be more thrilled that Ashley Henry is moving into the Director of Equestrian Programs role while continuing in her current position as Head Coach. Ashley has been a mainstay in the SCAD Equestrian program, competing first as an athlete and serving as a coach for twenty years. She has been an integral part of the team's successes, and I'm excited to see the program continue to excel under her leadership. As outgoing Director Eddie Federwisch begins retirement, I am grateful for his twelve years of leadership, dedication, and guidance.  The SCAD Equestrian program has a storied history of excellence. I am looking forward to what is in store during the 25-26 season!"
 
In her twenty years of coaching at SCAD, Ashley Henry has led the Bees to over one hundred National and Reserve National titles. In 2024, Henry guided the Bees to another IHSA National Team Title, making it their fourth win, having previously earned the Reserve Team National Titles in 2018, 2019, and 2023. In 2025, SCAD won its fourteenth straight IHSA Regional Championship title, as well as securing its twelfth uninterrupted National Tournament of Champions Series Title.
 
In 2014-'15, Henry led SCAD to one of the program's best seasons as the Bees won the IHSA National Championship for the first time in school history, as well as being the first school to win both divisions of the ANRC National Championship, and the Tournament of Champions Series Title. Henry led the team to repeat this feat in 2016-17 and again in 2023-24. In 2015-16, 2017-18, and 2018-19, they repeated winning three of the four Championship titles, taking reserve in the fourth.
 
Since Henry started coaching, the team has continued its prominence on the intercollegiate riding scene, with forty-four American National Riding Commission (ANRC) National Champion team and individual wins. In addition, Henry coached SCAD riders to win the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association's (IHSA) National Reserve Champion title in the coveted Cacchione Cup in 2010, 2023, 2024, and the National Champion title in the Cacchione Cup in 2012, 2019, and 2025.
 
Before joining as a coach, Henry was a student at SCAD and earned a B.F.A. degree in metals and jewelry. Henry was an award-winning rider on the equestrian team from 2001-05, helping SCAD earn its first-ever National Team titles. While at SCAD, she also served as captain of the team and continued to compete on the AA show circuit. Henry grew up riding and competing in her home country, the Bahamas, before attending the Garrison Forest School in Owings Mills, Maryland, where she was also a competitive equestrian.
 
Henry has been awarded the Frances Wong Coach of the Year Award five times for her successful seasons. The United States Equestrian Federation presented Henry and the SCAD team with an intercollegiate award for achievement of excellence for five years in a row.
 
"It has been an honor to serve as the Director of SCAD Equestrian for the last 12 years," states former Director of Equestrian Eddie Federwisch.  "I will be forever grateful to President Wallace for the opportunity.  I have the greatest of confidence in handing over the directorship to Ashley Henry.  Ashley's dedication and vision for the program are evident.  The best days are yet to come for SCAD Equestrian!"
 
In addition to coaching the SCAD team, Henry has also been an adjunct professor for the SCAD equestrian studies major. Henry is involved with several other professional equestrian associations; she is on the ANRC board of directors, an Equestrian Talent Search clinician, a local/unrated show judge, and an IEA show steward.
 
Henry has written several articles for Practical Horseman magazine, The Plaid Horse, and Sidelines magazine, and has been featured in many articles in the Chronicle of the Horse, including the 2015 cover of the magazine, along with two covers of the USHJA In Stride Magazine. When not coaching the SCAD equestrian team, Henry enjoys time with her family while continuing to focus on professional development.
 
"This summer, I ring in my twentieth year working at SCAD, and I am beyond honored as well as excited to be stepping into the position of Equestrian Director and Head Coach," states Ashley Henry. "I look forward to continuing to help our legacy grow and strengthen such an incredible program. As a SCAD alumnus, I am extremely passionate about giving back to the students and community that have helped me develop into the professional I am today. Our future is bright, and I am looking forward to helping lead the way.