Sweet Briar came out of this season’s third meeting of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association’s Zone IV, Region II teams with two riders headed for regional competition and a good overall finish.
Hollins University hosted the show on Oct. 20, where SBC scored 29 points for a fifth-place finish despite missing a few riders from the team.
Mollie Linden ’10, Renn Goldberg ’11, Morganne Young ’11 and Paige Kaylor ’10 were either showing or demonstrating at the ANRC National Invitational Horse Show at Sweet Briar; the College was hosting the American National Riding Commission event the same day.
“Minus those riders, we still had a very good day,” SBC’s assistant IHSA team coach Emily Casali wrote in an e-mail after the show.
“We’re happy to report that two riders qualified to ride at Regionals this spring,” she said. “Novice Flat rider Katie Bird ’09 was the winner in her class and was promoted to Intermediate Flat. Katie also rode to a fifth-place ribbon in Novice Fences. Kristin Dillon ’10 was also a winner, qualifying for Intermediate Flat and moving into Open Flat.”
The day began with Open Fences. Sarah Fishback ’10 hoped to draw a horse she had competed on previously.
“She was not so lucky, but had a beautiful trip on Glen Heirloom and finished in fifth place,” Casali said.
Intermediate rider, Heather McPheeters ’10 had a strong ride aboard City Lights and won her Intermediate Fences section. She also came in fourth place in Intermediate Flat.
Other Novice Fences riders included Erin Aufox ’11, who was fifth, and Erica Palmisano ’11, who finished sixth. Aufox, also on Glen Heirloom, rode in Novice Flat as well, coming in third.
Caitlyn Lindsey ’11 rode in Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter and finished fifth.
To wrap up the day, Walk/Trot rider Melissa Ramos ’10 finished her class with a big smile, Casali said. She took second place, her highest ribbon to date.
The University of Virginia was victorious, winning with 37 points, followed closely by Washington and Lee with 35 points.
Sweet Briar’s team will ride again at Bridgewater College’s horse show on Nov. 3.
