March Update

Time flies in the spring! Spring break was a great catch up time for everyone involved with the Equestrian Program. March 8th the semester resumed with the Awards Convocation on Friday the 12th. Rachel Buckler was recognized by the Equine Studies department for her outstanding contributions to the equestrian program and Philip Ratchford was recognized for his leadership in the therapeutic riding program. Both these students have high GPAs and demonstrate in their daily lives what it means to be “in college”. Congratulations to our student leaders.

Scot Evans spent three days with hunt seat students and staff that weekend helping to prepare riders for IHSA Regionals and ANRC. He is always a breath of fresh air and inspires everyone to do their best. It was also parents weekend and we were delighted to host a reception at the Equestrian Center on Saturday evening. Greta Friesen’s Mom gets the award for the biggest surprise by flying in from Hawaii to be with Greta for the weekend. She arrived as the choir was preparing to sing at the Awards Convocation leaving her daughter almost speechless!

This weekend we were going in multiple directions again. Liz, Pebbles and 8 students travelled to West Virginia for the NARHA regional conference. The conference was hosted by Stonewall Resort provided excellent meals and hospitality for the participants. Speakers from all over the country including California and the Midwest presented on various subjects including recent research on human behavior and human mechanics in a therapeutic riding setting.

The dressage team went to a dressage show in Pinehurst and had a fun relaxing day, riding well and working on their Farmer’s tans! Hannah Soloway and Gordon and Jessica Cusaac and Nikkita earned good scores and ribbons at training level, Donna Fowble and Winston placed in 4th in First Level Test Two and Greta Friesen and Leggs placed 2nd in the upper level mixed division earning 65% in Fourth level Test One.

Meanwhile…back at the ranch Peggy, Ashley, Lindsay, Heather and Marsha had IHSA Hunt Seat Regionals. All the horses were superstars, the hunt seat and western teams did a fabulous job of preparing the facility and the horses; the show ran very smoothly with several riders qualifying for IHSA Zones in April. Congratulations to the following riders who will go to Virginia Tech April 11th to compete at the Zone finals to earn a spot at IHSA Nationals.

Leah Davison - 1st Place - Walk Trot
Jenn Callahan - 1st Place - Walk Trot Canter
Andrew Michael - 2nd Place - Novice over Fences
Audrey Bolte - 1st Place - Intermediate Flat
Rob Jacobs - 2nd Place - Intermediate Flat

This weekend we are hosting IHSA Western Semi Finals. This show runs for three days and is the qualifying event for IHSA Nationals in May. Carla and Torre and the western team are busily preparing the horses and Dale is getting the ring fixed for the reining horses. We also have an open house on Saturday so it should be anther busy weekend!