Friday at IHSA Nationals - One Perspective

My roommate last night was Kira Gainey, we caught up on one another’s families and animals before falling asleep. The SAU interns and barn staff were once again at the barn very early. Kira and I arrived around 7:00. I headed to the draw table and Kira joined Pebbles for runs to the store for water and food for the officials, interns and volunteers. The volunteers looked great today in their red shirts. Yesterday the shirts were yellow and I hear there are green and blue shirts for the remaining 2 days. The SAU interns are smartly dressed in khakis and dark blue polo shirts. For each prize ceremony one of the interns carries the prizes and ribbons. A line of 8+ St. Androids smartly dressed, carrying awards, is quite impressive!

The morning at the draw table was slow with the large Cacchione Cup over fences class with 36 riders taking up most of the time. St. Andrews rider Katie Hansen had an unfortunate stop in what was otherwise a very nice round, taking her out of the competition. IHSA recognized all Cacchione Cup qualifiers with an awards ceremony headed up by Bob Cacchione and a representative from the United States Pony Club one of the oldest equestrian, educational organizations in the country. Each rider received a saddle pad with the USEF logo. The top 24 riders returned to test on the flat in two sections, the ride off for the ultimate IHSA title in hunter seat will be tomorrow. Following the Cacchione Cup Kali Cram was 4^th in team intermediate over fences.

After lunch the classes alternated between western and hunter seat flat classes. Shannon Leggett earned 5^th place in the team reining. Shiloh Kozlowski was 4^th in Walk/Trot and Miranda Wright was 6^th in Walk, Trot, Canter both riding for the hunter seat team.  The only hunter seat team rider left to ride is Katie Hansen in the open over fences and on the flat. The students reported that the team is currently tied for 8^th with 3 other schools so if Katie does well tomorrow we could potentially move up. Ashley told me we already have one more point than last year!

With Shannon’s fifth place in the AQHA Cup reining we moved on with the western team competition. The last class of the day was the Western Novice Horsemanship. Brittany Powell drew St. Andrews horse Zoey and placed 3^rd. Shannon is currently in 6^th place for the high point class so the western team is off to a great start!

I left around 8:30 to get dinner, some of the western horses were going back to school, which would be followed by the jumps being set up for tomorrow. The St. Andrews staff and students are in for yet another late night followed by an early morning. (I think they are getting used to this schedule!) The first horse draw is at 7:30 and the day starts with the Collegiate (team) Open Fences.

Saturday has lots going on with classes, the majority of the awards and a competitor’s lunch hosted by NRHA, AQHA and USEF. My job is to help with the draw table and then ship home 6 hunter seat horses when they are done. I will rendezvous with Dale who will drive up early Sunday morning to pick up more horses, we then hand off the trailer one more time for me to return Sunday afternoon to bring home 6 more with Kellie in the other trailer with the remaining horses.

It is now 9:30 and my roommate, Kira is not home yet, as I suspect she is helping set jumps. She is just one of many who have come to donate their time and help St. Andrews host the biggest show in its history! Sarah Rhymer is taking vacation to be here to work the draw table, Audrey Hayden and her Mom are doing the same thing to organize the awards and prizes! There are many other alums, parents and friends of St. Andrews doing the exact same thing!

All I can say is, “Wow, awesome! What a privilege to be a part of the St. Andrews team!”