IHSA Western Team going to Nationals & Equestrian Celebrities

The IHSA Western Team qualifies for National Championship in April at Middle Tennessee State University, in Murfreesboro, TN.

In the team event St. Andrews (currently 4th in the nation) was Reserve Champion Team with 25 points. Three St. Andrews team riders won their classes at Semi-Finals. Megan Stiles, Kimmy Simonsen, and Kayla Hay. The other team riders contributing points were Kelsey Moody and Shannon Leggett.

In the individual event the riders below earned a spot at National Championship by placing in the top four of their class.

Kayla Hay - 1st - Novice Horsemanship
Kelsey Moody - 3rd - Reining
Jessica Gesel - 3rd - Beginner Walk Jog
Kody Zaagman - 4th - Open Horsemanship

Kayla Hay won 1st place in both team and individual events.

Congratulations to Coach Carla Wennberg and all members of the SAPC Western Team

This week at SAPC we have Dottie Morkis coming for a clinic on Thursday afternoon (I am so grateful that she can fit us into her busy schedule)

Friday we are hosting IHSA Hunt Seat Regionals. Bob Cacchione will be here to cheer on riders from all the schools in our region.

Scott Evans is judging Regionals and then will stay for the weekend to clinic with our hunt seat riders.

Three Equestrian celebrities on one week WOW!

We are still keeping busy!

Last weekend Liz, & Pebbles attended the NARHA Region 3 conference in VA Beach. Liz presented on Friday and Pebbles did a joint presentation with Lorrie Renker on Thursday & Friday. Ida Stavenger from the Dean’s office drove Phil Ratchford, Whitney Powell, Courtney Bertram and Gabby Grubic up to the conference. Everyone visited with a Kim Butterbaugh and Huxley & Boo Boo. (Kim left as SAPC’s stable manager last summer after 4 years with us)

Lindsay and Kira had a group of students at the horse show in Raleigh. Chesnee Faulkner and her new partner Rhett had a great weekend with Rhett overcoming his aversion to big groups and placing in the hack!

This weekend is parents weekend, open house, and, Showing Under the Stars. There will be lots of activity on campus and at the equestrian center with all the visitors. Unfortunately, the 80 degree weather that we have been enjoying is giving way to rain and mid 40s. Hey its March… its sure to change again soon!

Carla wins prestigious award!

Last weekend at the American Quarter Horse Association Convention in San Antonio, Texas, SAPC Western coach Carla Wennberg received the Professional Horsewoman of the Year award. This is a most prestigious award and the highest honor the AQHA can bestow upon someone in the equine industry. Carla serves the AQHA and the equine industry as one of its top rated judges and as a member of the AQHA Judges Committee. For someone as young as Carla to receive this award is most unusual and speaks highly of her reputation, her abilities, and her contributions to our sport.

What are you doing now? (Spring 09 Grads - What are your plans?)

Trying to find out what anyone who ever had any involvement with the Equestrian program is doing now. Not just majors but anyone who ever took a lesson, volunteered for TR or just hung out with the equestrians.

Why do I care? The program has grown since you left (even if you graduated in the fall of 08!) it keeps growing, we need to direct that growth and it seems logical to find out what folks are doing now.

Please answer these four simple questions:

How involved were you with the equestrian program?
When did you graduate?
What did you do straight out of school ?
What are you doing now?

Thanks!