Patti Zwaan is in her 15th season as the head coach and head trainer for the Stevens Institute of Technology equestrian team.
Stevens equestrian has shown great growth since Zwaan took over the program 2003-04. A competitive rider for over 30 years, she has been involved in training and instruction for the past 25 years. She is a USEF/USHJA certified trainer.
Under Zwaan's direction, the Stevens equestrian team has produced five Zone qualifiers in the last four years of competition and 14 since 2004-2005. Kerri Rettig became the first Stevens rider to qualify for the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Nationals in 2005. Rettig went on to win the national title in the intermediate flat that year. In 2005-06, Stevens produced its first-ever reserve high-point rider. That same year, Zwaan was named the Zone II, Region I Coach of the Year after leading the Ducks to a fifth-place finish overall.
In 2016-17, Stevens was third in the Zone III, Region III standings after finishing as the Reserve High Point College in the region the previos year. The 2015-16 season tied the 2011-12 team for the best result in school-history.
In 2006-07, Stevens experienced its finest season ever to that point, as the Ducks finished in third place in the region. Along the way, Kahri Olsen became the second member of the team to be named a reserve high-point rider.
Meanwhile, the Ducks landed their first-ever first-place finish as a team while earning high-point honors at the Centenary College Show in February 2007. Later that season, Rosemary Garofalo became the first Stevens rider to earn champion high-point honors as the team placed second at the All-Region Show.
During the 2007-08 campaign, two more Stevens riders qualified for the Zone II Championships, and Kahri Olson finished fourth of 12 in the intermediate fences. The Ducks also finished third of 12 teams at the Marist College Show to close out first semester riding.
In 2008-09, Stevens had several riders compete at the Zone Regional Championship show in the spring. The Ducks were also the high-point college at the November 9, 2008 All-Region Show at Briarwood Farm.
In 2010, the Ducks had five student-athletes qualify for the IHSA Regional Championships led by then-junior Angela Parriott who competed in both novice fences and novice flat.
Zwaan operates out of Lightfields Meadow Farm in Whitehorse Station, New Jersey. She has also trained many state and national champions throughout the years.
As a junior rider, Zwaan has progressed to the highest level of competition while competing successfully in hunters, jumpers and dressage.
