Our riders may represent Sweet Briar on one or several of the following teams:
The National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) Team
The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) team
The Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) team
Sweet Briar riders compete successfully in local and rated shows off campus in the USHJA Zone 3 region. Qualified students who are not on a team may participate as independent competitors in off-campus activities. Students also enjoy foxhunting, hunter paces and hunter trials with area clubs, including Farmington , Deep Run , Oak Ridge and Bedford County hunts.
Makayla Benjamin ’18 The College hosts several prestigious riding competitions each year, including indoor shows, a hunter trial, hunter pace and the Sweet Briar Horse Show, an annual event since 1926. Less experienced competitors can also ride and compete outside of lessons — our in-house shows let them experience the thrill of competition and build confidence.
Both advanced competitors and beginners enjoy a full calendar of riding activities throughout the year. Whether competing independently or on a team, participating as a recreational rider or working behind the scenes as an organizer, students at every level help make riding events a success.
Recent Awards
ODAC
2022 Reserve Champion Team
2021 ODAC Champion Team ODAC Rider of the Year ODAC Scholar-Athlete ODAC Coach of the Year
2020 ODAC Scholar Athlete of the Year 26 Riders on ODAC All-Academic Team
2019 ODAC Champion Team ODAC rookie of the year ODAC Rider of the year ODAC Coach of the year Three all conference ODAC Riders
2018
2017
2016
2015
2013 Scholar Rider Athlete of the Year — Elizabeth Hansbrough '13
2012 Champion Team Coach of the Year — Mimi Wroten
2011
NCEA
2022 Single Discipline National Championship Runner-Ups Two Honorable Mention All America Flat Riders
2021 Single Discipline National Champions National Championship Fences Most Outstanding Player One All Championship Team Fences Rider One First Team All America Fences Rider One Honorable Mention All America Fences Rider Three Honorable Mention All America Flat Riders
2020 NCEA Farnam All Academic Riders - 2 First Team and One Second Team
2019 NCEA Quarterfinals in jumping seat equitation over fences at nationals NCEA top 10 seed jumping seet NCEA Team sportsmanship award
2018 Team Sportsmanship Award Equitation Over Fences — Top 10 Seed
ANRC
2022 5th Place Novice Team 6th Place National Team
2014 Novice Champions Reserve Individual Novice Champions — Alexandra Markmann '17
2013 Novice Champions National Reserve Champions Individual Novice Champions — Kathleen Drake '14 Reserve Individual National Champions — Olivia Smith '14 Reserve Individual Novice Champions — Brianna Belter '13
2010 Novice Champions National Reserve Champions Reserve Individual National Champions — Morganne Young '11
ECAC
2022 Single Discipline Conference Championship Team - South Region Coach of the Year Freshman of the Year Fences Rider of the Year Fences
2020 ECAC Rider of the week 6 times ECAC Freshman rider of the year ECAC All Team Flat Rider and Fences Rider Four riders received ECAC All Academic Awards
IHSA
2021-2022 3rd Place Collegiate Cup Team at IHSA Nationals National Champion Individual Open Flat Zone IV Reserve Champion Team
2019-2020 IHSA Zone 4 Region 4 Champion Team 11 Riders received IHSA National All-Academic Awards
2018-2019 IHSA Nationals 8th palace team IHSA Zone 4 Reserve Champion Team IHSA Zone 4 Region 4 Champion Team
2017-2018
2016-2017 Champion Zone 4 Region 2 — Open Equitation Over Fences Reserve Champion Zone 4 Region 2 — Cacchione Cup Rider
2015-2016 Reserve Champion Zone 4 Region 2 — Cacchione Cup Rider Reserve Champion Zone 4 Region 2 — Open Equitation Over Fences Reserve Champion Zone 4 Region 2 — Walk-Trot Equitation
2014-2015 Reserve Champion Team for Zone 4 Region 2 Reserve Champion Zone 4 Region 2 — Advanced Walk, Trot, Canter
2013-2014 Reserve Champion Team for Zone 4 Region 2 National Reserve Champion — Intermediate Equitation Over Fences Champion Zone 4 Region 2 — Cacchione Cup Champion Zone 4 — Novice Equitation on the Flat Champion Zone 4 — Intermediate Equitation Over Fences Champion Zone 4 Region 2 — Intermediate Equitation Over Fences Champion Zone 4 Region 2 — Novice Equitation Over Fences Reserve Champion Zone 4 Region 2 — Open Equitation on the Flat Reserve Champion Zone 4 Region 2 — Open Equitation Over Fences Reserve Champion Zone 4 Region 2 — Novice Equitation on the Flat Reserve Champion Zone 4 Region 2 — Advanced Walk-Trot-Canter
2012-2013 Reserve Champion Team for Zone 4 Region 2 Champion Zone 4 — Novice Equitation Over Fences Champion Zone 4 Region 2 — Cacchione Cup Reserve Champion Zone 4 Region 2 — Intermediate Equitation on the Flat Reserve Champion Zone 4 Region 2 — Novice Equitation Over Fences
2011-2012 Reserve Champion Team for Zone 4 Region 2 Champion Zone 4 — Novice Equitation on the Flat Champion Zone 4 — Intermediate Equitation on the Flat Champion Zone 4 Region 2 — Novice Equitation on the Flat Reserve Champion Zone 4 Region 2 — Intermediate Equitation on the Flat Reserve Champion Zone 4 Region 2 — Open Equitation on the Flat
