Riding in a Snow Globe!

The St. Andrews Equestrian Program hosted our spring semester dressage show Saturday.  Being in the covered with the snow coming down we felt like we were in a snow globe! The snow did not stop the almost military precision of the show organization and certainly enhanced the atmosphere of the show! (Have you ever watched snow fall to Rhapsody in Blue? Thanks to Eq. staff member Andrew Michael we had a superb movie sound track all day long.) Riders from all disciplines worked together to prepare the horses, time warm up rides and run tests between the judge and the scoring office. If you have never attended an event at the equestrian center you have not witnessed the “events management machine” in action; our students rise to the occasion magnificently. Sophomore Claire Pollard served as Horse Show Chair to organize and coordinate the workforce.

The St. Andrews dressage team ended the day in third place. Senior Lindsey Agaliotis (who drew the first ride of the day) had an outstanding ride earning 78.108% and the high point rider award for the day. Although a 78% in academia earns a grade of a “C”; in dressage this is considered an outstanding score. (Dressage riders are usually very happy with scores around 65%.) Lindsey had several scores of 9 out of 10 for various movements on her test which was also the most advanced test that was offered in today’s competition. The dressage team travels to Averett University next weekend for a double header to end the 12/13 competitive season.

Dressage Seat Equitation has been added successfully in other IDA regions so we decided to try it out. It is currently not a recognized class but we hope to have a national championship division in the near future. The format is the same as any equitation class where riders are judged on their position and effectiveness. (The horse is not judged just the rider.)

 

First Level Lindsey Agaliotis stands in second place with 18 points one point behind the regional leader with 4 riders chasing them with 13 points. At Upper Training Brianna Carter is tied for second place with 12 points trailing a 20 point lead. At Lower Training Sarah Jones leads the region with a one point lead of 16 points. At Intro Kristen Parker maintains her commanding lead of 21 points with the closest challenger at 12 points. Our last two shows are next weekend and will decide who goes to Nationals at Mount Holyoke College in April.
 

Regional Points

Averett 23
St. Andrews 22
NCSU 18
Elon 10
Longwood 2

Results Feb. 16th
First Level Test 2
1^st Lindsey Agaliotis 78.108% High Point Rider – her best score ever!
5^th Abigail Skillman 62.837%

Training Level Test 3

3^rd Hannah Firth 66.2%
6^th Brianna Carter 61.4%

Training Level Test 1

3^rd Sarah Jones 72.291%
4^th Megan Pustarfi 68.541%
6^th Bridget Newman 63.958%

Introductory Level Test B

5^th Logan Teeter
 

Dressage Seat Equitation

Class 1.

2^nd Claire Pollard
4^th Elizabethe Weeks

Class 2.

1^st Kristen Parker
2^nd Logan Teeter