Phyllis Cervelli to be Inducted Into the IHSA Hall of Fame

Phyllis Cervelli. Photo courtesy of Phyllis Cervelli

Cervelli spent 34 years developing Boston University riders and leaders.

Gladys, Va.– April 23, 2026 – Phyllis Cervelli, a dedicated coach who nurtured scores of riders at Boston University, will join the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) Hall of Fame Class of 2026 at the organization's National Championship, taking place May 1–3 at Tryon International in Mill Spring, North Carolina.

During the 34 years that Phyllis Cervelli taught at Boston University, she built up legions of students by inspiring them to believe in themselves.

“I would say the biggest thing Phyllis did for my riding was give me confidence and tools to execute better,” said Elizabeth Nevins, who won the 2023 Cacchione Cup winner under Cervelli. “I wouldn't necessarily say I had stage fright, but I would say my competition background before college didn't reflect the level of riding that I could do, and that was just because I would get in the ring and get nervous and make mistakes. I'm not sure I have ever taken a deep breath in the show ring before I started riding with Phyllis.”

According to Eileen McNamara Blair, who served as Cervelli’s assistant coach for 14 years, Cervelli had a knack for helping her students not just become great riders, but well-rounded humans as well. Her student captains regularly won awards for their leadership skills, and she encouraged horsemanship skills beyond just riding.

“In addition to being able to ride well, she encouraged her students to work hard at all these things that happen behind the scenes, like the admin work and the entries,” said Blair. “She builds up her students with skills that are important in the rest of the world. I see Phyllis put in that effort to create well-rounded leaders who care. That was my favorite part about working with her: watching all these students come in as freshman grow into stronger leaders.”

While Cervelli’s carefully honed emotional radar helped her connect with students, she was also a wonderful steward for the horses in her care, the kind of horseperson who always had mints in her pocket and a pat for each of her charges.

Cervelli grew up riding by the seat of her pants in Massachusetts. She showed locally, then found her way to endurance riding, snapping a lunch bag onto her saddle and heading out with her sisters for day-long rides. After graduating from the University of Massachusetts with a degree in animal agriculture, she worked with dressage Olympian Dottie Morkis and did a stint with eventing legend J. Michael Plumb, dabbling in those sports before becoming a flat rider for Margie Engle, who got her back into jumpers.

In 1991 she started coaching the Boston University team, while simultaneously teaching students on the open circuit as well until her retirement in 2025. She also stayed busy as a U.S. Equestrian Federation hunter and hunter seat equitation judge, and by helping out with her sisters’ Holly Hill Show Stable.
Cervelli’s uncanny ability to bring out the best in horse and rider came in part from her out-of-the-box thinking. She taught multi-level lessons to students and frequently turned to her sisters for an extra set of eyes.

“I found that every student learns in a different way, and my job was to figure that out,” said Phyllis Cervelli. “Sometimes that was, standing there talking to them, and others would like it if I could get on the horse and just show them myself. Some did better in a group setting, once they were capable enough to be in a group setting. That way, they didn't feel like they stood out. I never approached any student the same way.”

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