Last Home Show for Seniors

by Kirsten Farley

SAU IHSA Hunt Seat Show

February 22, 2014

Last Show of the Regular Season

 

When you think of college, you think of the four best years of your life. At St. Andrews, equestrian students not only get to have the college experience but they get to ride as well, which for many of our riders is the most important thing in their life. That is why this blog is dedicated our seniors. This past weekend was our last regular season show, and it was at SAU. For many it was just another show, for some though, this show marked the end of their collegiate riding career.

“The hardest part is to realize this is the seniors’ last show and that they won’t be here next year. It is hard to believe that it seems like just yesterday they were freshman, but I have seen how far their riding has progressed you can truly tell that they are seniors,” said director Peggy McElveen when she was asked about her take on the last show of the season. Parents, friends and other family members of some of the seniors came out to watch as these riders took the ring one last time.

I talked to a few of the seniors to ask them about their experience with IHSA. “I was so grateful to be able to qualify for Regionals and Zones my junior year. I feel like I have really progressed my riding abilities through IHSA, now it’s time to put these new skills to practical use,” was Alexandra Fullerton’s response to what she took away from the last four years of IHSA. Fullerton pinned 4^th on her flat and 1^st in her over fences in the show.

Keli Van den Heuvel, who earned 3^rd, looked back at the biggest highlight from this season that happened for her. “I received my very first, first place on one of my favorite horses at SAU, Feeney. After I went to tell Matt, we both smiled and said ‘I can finally graduate!’ It was a very heart-warming moment for me; I can leave SAU this spring feeling proud of what I accomplished this season.”

Shiloh Kozlowski, who pinned 3^rd, reflected on the past four years saying she was so glad for all the friendships she developed with great people, the chance to ride for some of the best coaches in the country, and making it to IHSA Nationals two years in row because of their help.

Tara Algeiri, who earned a 1^st and 2^nd place at the show, summarized it all by saying “It’s been a crazy experience being on this team. Today’s show is really bittersweet because it is the last time I can watch my friends ride and cheer them on.”

Seniors Racheall Dockery and Jake Hobson also competed in Saturday’s show. Dockery had a challenging ride in her novice flat and earned a 4^th and Jake pinned 2^nd on Big John in Walk Trot.

The team over all had a good day, sharing High Point Team with East Carolina University coached by Alum Alie McGraw.

Weather Challenges!

The weather has created many challenges this semester. Last week school closed Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. and did not reopen until this Monday because of snow and ice. The horses were shut in the barn for all of that time. The power went out so the barn staff had to use the generators to fill water buckets, which prolonged the process significantly with the hose on the Boarders side taking 5 minutes to fill one bucket! The hay trailer that was dropped at the beginning of the week had to be emptied, so in addition to the challenging conditions 600 bales of hay had to be moved and stored. It was a tough week all around for these that were on duty. Liz Dulski served as staff barn taxi with her Four Wheel drive truck, Andrew and Rob stayed at the Farm House to take care of night check and to be on the property if the weather prevented others from getting to work. By the weekend when the temperatures rose and the ice melted everyone was exhausted. Many thanks to the hard working equestrian staff that went above and beyond to ensure that the horses were well cared for last week.

Just for a change of pace, today we have severe storms forecast which caused Peggy to close the barns from 10 – 1 to all students. We hope to have practice this afternoon ready for the IHSA Hunter Seat show tomorrow, the Dressage team traveling to Averett University and the clinic for western riders on Sunday with Kelly Sap.

Hope the weather settles down soon! 

Behind the TH Covered looking at the Sensory Trail

IHSA Hunter Seat Show at St. Andrews Feb. 8th, 2014

by Kirsten Farley, Social Media Intern

The first IHSA Hunt Seat show of 2014. All of the hunt seat team was at the barn by 6 AM, still pitch black out and only a mere 42 degrees. All of us went into action bringing in horses, putting tack out, checking water, and sweeping the aisles until they were spotless. Then we all went to work getting our assigned horse cleaned up for schooling and having them out at the ring for their rider to prepare them for the day to come.

10:00 rolls around and everyone, horses and team members, make their way to the far end of the ring. The weather forecast called for rain that day so we cut the ring down so the horses could be under the covered arena out of the “rain.” However, because we were so well prepared, of course it did not rain at all the entire day. As a whole the entire day ran rather smoothly, only the first two classes showed that some of the horses were still a little fresh with the hustle and bustle of the show and the chill factor, but they all settled as they worked. The judge kept the show moving along quickly, which we all thoroughly enjoyed since the show was done by 3:45 PM.

The team as a whole won High Point Champion, with junior Cami Glaff as High Point Rider and sophomore Caitlyn Woychick earning Reserve High Point Rider for the day. Everyone walked into the ring and rode their best and it showed. SAU now has 11 riders qualified for Regionals: Cami Glaff, Tara Algieri, Kirsten Farley, Regina Barasch, Rachaell Dockery, Kelsey Kocher, Keli Van den Heuvel, Nikki Napoleone, Danielle Eads, Madison Edwards and Julie Griffin.

Keli Van den Heuvel, Cami Glaff, Alexandra Fullerton, Caitlyn Woychick, Jessica Story, Michelle Eld, Nikki Napoleone, Grace Wadford, Betina Gore, Danielle Eads, Amy Wrozek, Mary Thomson, Gabby Schmidt, Tara Algieri, and Shiloh Kozlowski all earned a first place in their class(es).

Kirsten Farley, Caitlyn Woychick, Samantha Taylor and Reba Merritt all earned a second place. Regi Barasch, Kelsey Kocher, Abi Skillman, Rachaell Dockery, Courtney Anderson, and Madison Edwards all earned third place. Kelsey Kocher, Sloan Stuntz, Janelle Petruska, Samantha Garriques and Kathryn Owens were fourth. Regi Barasch, Abi Skillman, Julie Griffin, Brianna Harrison, Danaye Mokma all earned and fifth with Alexandra Fullerton and Keli VDH receiving sixth in their flat classes.

For some this show represented their first IHSA competition ever. For others it meant qualifying for Regionals and pointing out of their division. Others it was receiving their first IHSA career blue ribbon showing that all of their hard work is paying off. No matter what it was, everyone came out a winner for some reason or another.

The greatest part about this show, however, was that everyone was there for one another throughout the day. The team was there to help when someone needed it the entire day helping the show run without a hitch and rather smoothly as well.

Pre-Vet Internship Series

We are starting a new regular feature written by students in the Pre-Vet Internship program. They will be sharing their experiences in the internship program as they work with Dr. Kellam to care for the horses at St. Andrews.

Quincey’s Eye Enucleation

By: Cami Glaff and Keli Van Den Hevual

 Quincey is one of our sweetest, most talented horses in our Hunt-Seat program. Before Quincey came to us, he sustained an injury in his left eye that created a good amount of scar tissue and left him partially blind. Last semester, he came in from the pasture one morning with a puncture wound right in the middle of that unhealthy left eye.

       

    Dr. Kellam determined that the puncture was fairly deep into the cornea. Because the puncture was located directly in the middle of his unhealthy scar tissue, we were concerned that the healing process would be long and not without difficulties.
            We treated him for a month; administrating antibiotics multiple times a day, in addition to banamine for the swelling and pain. One morning we came in to find that Quincey’s eye had rupture from a combination of the pressure and infection, and him itching the area.
            It was then decided that Q’s eye would have to be removed. In order for him to have a happy and healthy life Dr. K performed an enucleation of Quincey’s eye. It was a 5 hour surgery with 3 hours of after care. The experience was incredible; we were able to assist Dr. K in an important procedure. Being that up close to it all, we had the opportunity to see every little detail that was happening during his surgery. We also helped by monitoring Quincey health during the whole procedure. Seeing an operation like that from start to finish was amazing, we had the chance to fully appreciate the hands-on learning experience.
            After the surgery, it was very time consuming to look after Quincey while he adapted to having only one eye. We took shift at the barn that lasted 5 hours at a time, in order to monitor him safely. Of course Quincey did not want to help us out. He immediately starting rubbing his eye, and eventually rubbed some of his sutures out. This made our job more complicated; we had to watch him even more closely than we did before. Quincey eventually stopped rubbing, so that his eye could completely heal over without any more setbacks. He is currently fat and happy, and adjusting well to his new one-sided sight.