March 19, 2009
Orlando, FL (www.UCFAthletics.com) - 'The New Pegasus & The UCF Knight' Unveiled During Campus Ceremony
By Kerry Gregovich
In a unique partnership, the UCF Alumni Association has been "adopted" by the most famous equestrian show in America - The "World Famous" Lipizzaner Stallions. Owner White Stallion Productions of Oviedo is stepping in "to help create the best live mascot program in collegiate America."
White Stallion President Gary Lashinsky said the company has partnered with the Alumni Association "as a gift to our hometown university commemorating our 40th anniversary." He introduced "The New Pegasus & The UCF Knight" on Thursday to a crowd of trustees, administrators and students on Memory Mall. The UCF cheerleaders, dancers and pep band also joined in the celebration.
"What a great gift for a university whose symbol is Pegasus the winged horse of Greek mythology and whose athletic team mascot is a majestic Knight. Now our Knight has a world-class steed," said UCF Board of Trustees Chair Rick Walsh, a 1977 UCF graduate and member of the Alma Mater Society - made up of recipients of the University's Distinguished Alumnus Award - which created the live mascot program in 2001.
Lashinsky said White Stallion is committed to training members of UCF's Equestrian Club who will ride The New Pegasus as The UCF Knight at football games in Bright House Networks Stadium and at numerous other appearances on and off campus "where this live mascot can represent the spirit of UCF in the community."
UCF President John Hitt called Lashinsky and his company a great neighbor and a great partner.
"We are grateful for your generous support of our university's programs, and we anticipate the emotion on the football field and at special events when one of these beautiful animals gallops into view," he said during the ceremony Thursday.
Lashinsky created the touring show in 1970, and every year the horses perform before hundreds of thousands of fans in packed arenas across the U.S. and Canada, in Europe and in Australia. The tour features 12 to 14 of the stallions - descendants of a line that can be traced back to Carthage more than 2,000 years ago. They bring to their shows 400 years of European history, performing amazing leaps and maneuvers.