Riverside, Calif. (April 24, 2017) – Riding his fearless horse, a lance in one hand and a shield emblazoned with a cross in the other, California Baptist University’s “Mounted Lancer” arrived on campus April 24 after nearly two years in the making.

The Mounted Lancer is a bronze sculpture of the CBU mascot riding a charging war horse. The sculpture weighs some 4,000 pounds and rises 15 feet from its base to the top of the armored helmet. It arrived at CBU aboard a lowboy trailer after an hours-long journey from a foundry in San Fernando where the lost wax bronze casting process that produced the statue was performed. The sculpture was hoisted into place and welded atop its base near the entrance of the CBU Events Center. The installation at CBU will be completed April 25 when the lance is attached.  

The Mounted Lancer is the artistic creation of Lance Jost and joins several of his other works on the CBU campus. Jost designed the cross that sits atop the James Building Bell Tower (1995); the Lancer Mosaic on the south exterior wall of the Van Dyne Gym (1998); and the Bible sculpture situated in the Stamps Courtyard (2009).

The Mounted Sculpture statue is a gift to CBU from the Classes of 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 and the Associated Students of California Baptist University.

Delivery of the statue comes just in time for the Events Center ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for May 4. The Events Center is being built adjacent to the CBU Recreation Center. The north-facing front entrance will be located on Lancer Lane.

The design of the two-level building complements the Mission Revival architecture style that is a hallmark of the CBU campus. The centerpiece of the 153,000-square-feet building will be a more than 5,000-seat arena that will showcase some of the CBU athletics teams competing in NCAA competition.

Besides athletics, the arena also will provide space for CBU’s chapel program attended by nearly 5,000 students weekly during the academic year. Other uses planned for the Events Center include student orientation activities and commencement ceremonies