IDA Nationals Wrap Up

St. Andrews hosted the Intercollegiate Dressage Association National Championships this weekend at the Equestrian Center. Please congratulate Greta Friesen on her 5th place in First Level Test Four. Greta worked hard to qualify for Nationals at the highest level offered and she rode to the best of her ability today. Riders must qualify for these championships. IDA has 54 member schools and over 600 members. 20 schools and 70 individuals were represented at the championships with competitors traveling from all over the country from as far away as California and even two riders from Canada.


Carla says that “it takes a village” and organizing a show of this caliber certainly falls into that category. Members of the IDA team and event management interns worked tirelessly to prepare the horses and the facility. IHSA team members and the TH club supported their fellow equestrians at workdays, during the Highland Games on Friday and throughout the weekend. Our students raised nearly $1,000 in sponsorships for the show. They assisted in program design and preparation, provided entertainment, served as liaisons for vendors and competitors and worked with the caterers, the photographer, IDA officials and served as scribes for the judges. In short our students rose to the occasion and served as leaders and team players.


Thank you to everyone who helped with this weekend’s national championships. Everything ran smoothly even when the weather threatened to “rain on our parade” early this morning.


Our students were great ambassadors for SAPC this weekend, please congratulate them when you see them.


To see pictures of this weekend's events go to

http://www.fairfieldphoto.com/photocart/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery= 21780

Individual Results - Introductory Level Test B

1. Averi Frederiksen, Virginia Intermont – 69.25
2. Lauren Sweezey, Otterbein College – 67.75
3. Jennifer Durden, Johnson and Wales – 64.25
4. Katie Lopresti, Averett University – 64.0
5. Allison McGee, University of New Hampshire – 63.75 – tb win
6. Sarah Pizzie, Delaware Valley- 63.75
7. Amanda Ross, Mt. Holyoke- 62.5
8. Megan Marcinkewicz, Lake Erie College – 62.0
9. Rachel Yeo, Michigan State – 59.5
10. Emily Shannon, University of Florida – 58.25
11. Diane Susdorf, University of Findlay- 57.5
12. Michelle Berry, Stanford University- 56.75

Individual Results - Training Level Test Two

1. Claire Almon, Virginia Intermont – 70.36
2. Patty Muench, University of New Hampshire – 69.11
3. Abby Zezeski, Virginia Tech – 68.21
4. Mary Applegate, Albion College – 66.43
5. Kim van Der Weijde, University of Florida – 66.25
6. Julie McNellis, Johnson and Wales – 66.07
7. Chelsea Killiner, Delaware Valley – 65.18
8. Brianna Stonick, University of Massachusetts – 64.64
9. Kaitlin Allen, University of Findlay – 63.04
10. Sarah Roney, University of Guelph – 60.36
11. Colleen Grant, Otterbein – 59.29
12. Lauren Quincy, California Polytechnic - 59.11

Individual Results - Training Level Test 4

1. Kaitlin Young, Michigan State – 72.60
2. Dylan Handy, University of Findlay - 72
3. Laura Thompson, Averett – 69.2
4. Nick Blieler, Delaware Valley - 68
5. Sarah Singleton, Central Michigan - 67
6. Casey Hoatson, University of New Hampshire – 66.6
7. Kayla Burroughs, Johnson and Wales - 65.4
8. Taylor Ruth, University of Florida – 63.4
9. Shoshana Lucich, Mt. Holyoke – 62.8
10. Emma Heald, Otterbein – 61.20
11. Brianna Husby, California Polytechnic – 60.60
12. Gigi Good, Virginia Intermont - 60.60

Individual Results - First Level Test 4

1. Jessica Forend, Johnson and Wales - 66.71
2. Lindsey Carmack, University of Findlay – 65.66
3. Eliz Mirson, Virginia Intermont – 65.26
4. Mary Evert, Otterbein – 65.13
5. Greta Friesan, St. Andrews - 64.87
6. Johanna McKeen, University of Guelph - 64.61
7. Nichole Garder, Delaware Valley – 64.34
8. Alavia Rizzi, University of Florida - 62.89
9. Choloe Cosonove, Johnson and Wales – 62.63
10. Caroline Fowler, Oberlin - 61.97
11. Meredith Baker, Mt. Holyoke -57.89
12. Katrina Faris, California Polytechnic – 57.76

IDA Nationals Pictures

You can view pictures of IDA Nationals at Fairfield Photography.

http://www.fairfieldphoto.com/photocart/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery= 21780

Team Results

1. Virginia Intermont - 37
2. University of Florida – 33 * tb winner 65.37%
3. Virginia Tech. – 33 – * tb 65.26%
4. University of Findlay – 33 – 64.70%
5. Mt. Holyoke - 31
6. Johnson and Wales - 29
7. Delaware Valley - 25
8. California Polytechnic - 24
9. Otterbein - 22
10. University of New Hampshire - 21
11. Albion- 17
12. Michigan State University - 11

Team Competition - Results of Introductory Level Test B

1. Amanda Ross, Mt. Holyoke-71.5
2. Daine Susdorf, University of Findlay – 67.25
3. Kelly London,Cal Polytechnic -66.25
4. Ariel Smith, University of Florida – 65.5
5. Carra Barskey, Virginia Tech - 64.25
6. Sarah Pizzie, Delaware Valley- 64.0
7. Lauren Sweezy, Otterbein – 63.5
8. Allison McGee, University of New Hampshire – 63.00
9. Chelsea Dressler, Virginia Intermont – 62.75
10. Megan Sharalier, Michigan State – 61.5
11. Allyson Olson, Albion – 58.5
12. Jennifer Durden, Johnson and Wales – 57.0

Team Competition - Results of Training Level Test One

1. Patty Muench, University of New Hampshire – 69.78
2. Claire Almon, Virginia Intermont – 68.48
3. Kim Van Der Weigle, University of Florida – 68.04
4. Julie McNeils, Johnson and Wales – 66.09 tb winner
5. Macy Drinkhause, Otterbein – 66.09
6. Rachel Knopf, California Polytechnic-65.65
7. Mignon Johnston, Mt. Holyoke – 65.43
8. Mary Applegate, Albion - 64.35
9. Christy Jones, Virginia Tech – 63.48
10. Chelsea Killinger, Delaware Valley – 63.04
11. Kaitlin Allen, University of Findlay – 60.43
12. Jayne Bailey, Michigan State University – 58.48

Team Competition - Results of First Level Test Three

1. Dylan Handy, University of Findlay – 70.4
2. Gigi Good, Virginia Intermont – 69.0
3. Caroline Johansen, University of Florida – 68.8
4. Heather Ryan, Johnson and Wales – 67.2
5. Anna Graves, Virginia Tech – 67.0
6. Nick Bleiler, Delaware Valley – 66.2
7. Kaitlin Young, Michigan State University – 63.8
8. Allison Robins, Albion – 63.2 tb winner
9. Kaitlin Spak, Cal Poly – 63.2
10. Shoshana Lucich, Mount Holyoke – 61.0
11. Emma Heald, Otterbein – 59.4
12. Casey Hoatson, University of New Hampshire - 59.2

Team Competition - First Level Test Three Results

1 Erin Bullard, VA Tech, Benji, 66.29
2 Elizabeth Mirson, VA Intermont, Benji, 66.14
3 Jessica Forend, Johnson & Wakes, Tate, 66
4 Merideth Baker, Mt. Holyoke, Abraxis, 64.71
5 Nichole Gardner, Delaware Valley, Abraxis, 64.14
6 Lindsey Carmack, Findlay, Leggs, 60.71
7 Mary Evert, Otterbein, Tate, 59.57
8 Brittany White, Albion, Abraxis, 59.43
9 Leah Guidry, Florida, Benji, 59.14
10 Adrienne Klamt, Cal. Poly. Leggs, 58.86
11 Adriana Lafave, New Hampshire, Leggs, 55.14
12 Alex Adrian, Michigan State, Tate, 50.86

Horse Selection etc.

Horse selection went well for the team competition. We have 4 strong groups of well matched horses and several equally as strong alternates ready to go for tomorrow’s team competition!

After lunch, the teams participated in the Highland Games. Kilts, plaid shirts and sashes faced off in soccer, tug of war, sheep dog trials, caber tossing, hay throwing and designing and building their own version of the Loch Ness Monster!

After registration for the teams, folks went back to their hotels to clean up for dinner in the Party Palace. (The indoor belonging to our Ride-Like-A-Knight therapeutic horsemanship program.) Matching plaid shirts, berets, and creative outfits sat down to a variation of the Scottish staple Shepherd’s pie (a fabulous vege and cheese concoction), and traditional Carolina barbeque.

The annual meeting followed with updates on rule changes and the required election of officers. With business completed, the teams stepped out into the court yard for the team draw. A toned down duck pond (we are using the big one for the individual draw tomorrow) on the picnic table served us well.

Region I returned to the Party Palace for our Regional Awards. As well as the regional winners, we awarded the Regional Team Sportsmanship Award to East Carolina University and the regional horse of the year to Dan from Averett. Regional art contest winners were Liz Mirson from Virginia Intermont for her T – shirt design and Donna Fowble from St. Andrews for her program cover and poster design.

At 7:30 everyone met in Avinger Auditorium for Dawn Jensen’s presentation on Reining in Runaway Nerves: Understanding and Coping with Performance Anxiety.". What a great primer for the weekend!

Tomorrow the parade of horses starts at 7:30. The actual competition starts at 9:30.

IDA Nationals - Starts Today

IDA Nationals starts today with the horse selection at 9:00 a.m. This will be followed by the Highland Games at 1:00 p.m. which includes a caber toss, Gaelic dancing, and opportunities to play with Nessie the Lock Ness Monster. Registration for competitors starts at 3:00 p.m. Dinner is at 5:30 p.m. followed by the annual meeting and then everyone moves to Avinger auditorium for Dawn Jensen’s presentation "Reining in Runaway Nerves: Understanding and Coping with Performance Anxiety."

Tomorrow things get started early with the parade of team horses at 7:30, opening ceremonies, and competition beginning at 9:30 with First Level Test Three.

Results will be posted in this space during the weekend.

First Ride - LIke - A - Knight Horse Show

This Saturday, April 17th, Ride - Like - A - Knight hosted its first horse show. The show was kicked off by a demonstration including jumping by Betsy Kaplan and her horse Tucker, Barrels by Kellie Garrabrant and her horse JJ, Vaulting with Big John and Heather Jackson and Kendall Fout as well as dressage with Greta Friesan and Leggs. Bailey also had a retirement ceremony, after 30 years service to the college and 14 years of service to the TH program he deserves it:) All riders performed a rail class and a trail class for judge Kellie Garrabrant with the guidance of announcer Mike Kryzsak (an alum working in the local school system). All the horses were the vision of perfection, receiving blue ribbons and metals for all riders they helped. Many families that had never been to the equestrian center where able to watch their children ride and enjoy the facility. Many thanks to all the volunteers and Megan Ellis who organized the event!

The ANRC team is at Sweet Briar College competing at the National Championships and those of us left at home are gearing up for IDA Nationals next week end.