Paul D. Cronin

Paul D. Cronin
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)horseman, riding instructor, and author
EmployerSweet Briar College (1967–2002)

Paul D. Cronin is an American horseman, riding instructor, and author. He studied under Vladimir Littauer for 30 years, and teaches Littauer's forward seat riding system.[1][2] His book Schooling and Riding the Sport Horse (2004) was intended to be a modern and updated version of Littauer's Commonsense Horsemanship.[3] In it, Cronin detailed the history of the American forward seat riding system, gave advice on training young and green horses, and outlined a three-part system based on controls, position and schooling.[4]

Cronin was director of the riding program at Sweet Briar College from 1967–2002, and became Professor Emeritus and Director of Riding Emeritus in 2003.[5] Among his students there was Olympic athlete Lendon Gray, rider of Seldom Seen.[6][7][8]

Cronin has been involved with the American National Riding Commission, and was an "R" judge for hunt seat competitions from 1965 to 1987.[6] In the state of Virginia, he was a member of the equitation committee of the Virginia Horse Show Association from 1974 to 1980, was a director for the Virginia Horse Council in 1981–1982, and was on the riding committee of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference from 1985 until 2001.[5] Beginning in 1999 Cronin was an advisory member at large for the Affiliated/American National Riding Council.[9]

  1. ^ "Paul Cronin Biography". Equestrian Coach. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  2. ^ Prax, Elizabeth Ilif. "The Roots of College Riding". Practical Horseman. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  3. ^ Whitfield, Pam. "Paul Cronin's New Text on Riding". American National Riding Commission. ANRC. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  4. ^ Cronin, Paul. "Schooling and Riding the Sport Horse". University of Virginia Press. Retrieved 31 March 2015. (back cover material)
  5. ^ a b Cronin, Paul. "Resume" (PDF). USHJA. United States Hunter/Jumper Association. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  6. ^ a b Whitfield, Pam. "The ANRC: Educating Equestrians for over Half a Century". American National Riding Commission. ANRC. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Lendon Gray Announced as 2011 Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame Inductee". United States Dressage Federation. USDF. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  8. ^ "Sweet Briar College 2012 Riding Brochure - Alumnae Accomplishments". ISSUU. Sweet Briar College. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  9. ^ "Activities '98-'99". Office of the Dean. Sweet Briar College. Retrieved 12 April 2015.