Sweet Briar IHSA coach Ian McCartney has named the members of his 2009-2010 Intercollegiate Horse Show Association team.

In the IHSA format, riders are classified into levels determined by their riding experience and ability. Levels start with beginner classes in Walk, Trot and move up to Open classes in which riders jump fences around 3 feet in height.

IHSA colleges compete in local regions and within a larger geographic zone to qualify for national finals. Riders compete on horses provided by each show’s host school. Horses and riders are randomly paired and they compete without the opportunity to practice together in advance. The system tests riders on how well they can read the horse in a short amount of time, and follow with an efficient and elegant ride.

To make the team selections, Sweet Briar coaches conducted the tryouts using the IHSA format. Riders were assigned a horse to show over fences if they qualified for a jumping level and on the flat — meaning in the ring with no fences. They showed in their classes without warm-up time.

Riders were evaluated by a panel of judges made up of McCartney, director of riding Shelby French and associate director of riding Mimi Wroten.

After initial trials, riders in contention are called back to try out again on a different horse until the judging panel had picked the team.

McCartney said he has a “really good group of riders” this year, selected from a historically large pool of about 60 students who tried out for team. “It was just an incredible strong group and it really made the decisions hard,” he said.

Congratulations to the following riders for making this year’s Sweet Briar IHSA team.

Brianna Belter ’13

Kaitlin Eckenberger ’13

Greer Gordon ’12

Elizabeth Hansbrough ’13

Kendall Harris ’13

Townsend Horvath ’12

Liz Koslow ’13

Kelly MacDonald ’10

Nell Malbon ’11

Heather McPheeters ’10

Victoria Mott ’13

Alysha Norbury ’10

Sierra Palmieri ’12

Emma Rakosky ’12

Zoe West ’13

Deborah Willis ’11

Sarah Winstead ’12

Laura Jane Wolcott ’12

Clarkie Woods ’12

Morganne Young ’11