August 2021 Issue

Page 22 August 2021 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN Email: eschfence@gmail.com - Fax: -- WHOLESALE & RETAIL Phone -- By Haylie Kerstetter For many young equestrians, the absence of horses or riding during college is simply not an option. Luckily for these students, countless colleges and universities on the east coast have their own riding teams, often with barns and riding facilities on or within a short distance of campus. These teams provide students with the opportunity to ride often, typically once a week in practice, and ad- ditional days, should the students wish to ride in their free time. Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) provides riders with these opportunities to practice and show with a team, without the need to own a horse. Through IHSA, stu- dents can compete several times each school year and qualify for regional, zone, and national finals individually or for the team. IHSA is based upon the concept of catch riding, where students The Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association equestrian team for Centenary University, Hackettstown, NJ, has placed first in their region for 24 consecutive years and has won the Hunter Seat National Championship three times.. Photo credit: Hana Aksterowicz Riding in College is a Very Attainable Goal for Students randomly draw their horse and compete with no warm up or practice. The team aspect of this type of competition makes every level of rider equal in impor- tance- the walk/trot riders are just as critical to the success of the team as the over fences riders. One of the greatest benefits of being an IHSAmember is the team atmosphere. From team practices to horse shows to team bonding events, IHSA teams are a way for students to meet new people and form close bonds with their team- mates that often last a lifetime. When exploring different colleges and riding options, students should consider the time they are willing to commit to the team and find one that meets their expectations, as well as one within their comfort zone. Joining a team that makes riders feel completely welcomed and “at home”, will make the entire collegiate riding experience all the more enjoyable. Some of the top teams to explore on the east coast include George Washington University (Washington, DC), Centenary University (Hackettstown, NJ), Goucher College (Baltimore, MD), Delaware Valley University (Doylestown, PA), and University of Delaware (Newark, DE). Rep- resentatives from each team were interviewed to gain deeper insight into their thoughts on collegiate riding. Q: Tell me about your team’s accomplishments. Sara Currie (Captain- George Washington University): We finished runner up High Point Champion team for our region in 2019-2020 year which was sadly cut short by COVID, during that same season we won High Point Champion team in three IHSA shows and Reserve High Point Champion team twice! We have very successful riders who regularly place in their own local circuits as well! Tanner Pfeffer (Captain- Cen- tenary University): Our team has placed first in our region every year since 1997. We are typical- ly the top team in the zone and have won the IHSA Hunter Seat National Championship in 2009, 2011, and 2014, and were reserve champion in 2015 and 2017! Jennifer Smith (Coach- Goucher College): The Goucher Varsity Equestrian Team has claimed the IHSA Zone IV Region I Champion Team title for the last 10 consecutive years. We’ve won multiple Zone Cham- pionships, Reserve Champion- ships and several IHSA National Championships. We’ve also been in the top at the American National Riding Club (ANRC) National Intercollegiate Equita- tion Championships. Cory Kieschnick (Equestrian Teams Director- Delaware Valley University): We’ve had a lot of success, particularly over the past 20 years. Most recently, our 2019 team was Zone 3 Champion and were 4th at IHSANationals. We’ve had numerous top ten plac- ings at Nationals over the years, as well as many collegiate cup and individual champions and success in the alumni division, as well. Mary Macmillan (Captain- University of Delaware): Our team has been regional champion for the past several years and we went undefeated in our region in 2018. In 2017 one of our captains placed 5th in the Cacchione Cup at nationals which was an amaz- ing accomplishment. Q: What makes your team unique from others? SC: Our team is really unique as GW is not typically a school that would have such an array of riders due to our loca- tion, so we are really excited to have such a diverse and suc- cessful team despite being a city school! TP: Our team does not have tryouts so we will accept anyone! We try to incorporate everyone from all levels and confidence to our team, and try to foster prog- ress and a better riding education. We keep the horses and the team as the main focus in our activi- ties, and our coaches work hard not just to make us better riders for the ring but also better horse- men and women all around. JS: Being (1) on-campus, and (2) co-ed are definitely the two characteristics that make us “stand out” the most. The stables are about 100 feet from the dorms, which allows the students to fit more riding time into their rigorous course load. They can also get involved in other areas of campus because they aren’t spending so much time driving to and from the barn. Our team is also about 30% male, which is not very common, and we have an equine studies minor. (Continued on page 23)