Wednesday, Mar 28, 2012
The Rider University Equestrian Team continues their ride to the top, with team co-captain Emiline Mylod ’13 advancing to Zones, the highest competition level before nationals. She will now compete against two top riders from every region within their zone on April 1.
by Andrea Panno '12
Striding to strive, the Rider University Equestrian Team continues their ride to the top, as team co-captain Emiline Mylod ’13 made it to Zones, the highest competition level before nationals.
Mylod advanced to the Zones after placing in the regional competition at the Delaware Valley College Equestrian Center on March 17. She will now compete against two top riders from every region within their zone on April 1, and if she places first or second, Mylod will advance to nationals in Raleigh, N.C., to face the top two riders from each of the eight Zones in the entire United States.
“Making it to Zones is a huge accomplishment, and I’m so happy that I was able to make it there before I graduate,” said Mylod, a Business Administration major.
Prior to the regional competition, riders must first qualify by “pointing” out of their class. Mylod pointed out of the Intermediate Flat and is now showing in Open Flat, which is the most advanced level. After riding horses for 18 years and competitively showing them for 15, Mylod is literally ‘in the zone’ and making big strides for the team as a whole.
“This is a huge accomplishment for our team, as this success makes it the third year our team has made it to this level,” explains president and captain, Emily Harris ’12, an Accounting and International Business major. “It’s starting to tell the other teams that even though we are a newer, smaller team in this field, we can still compete against the larger, more well-known schools.”
In preparation for the competition Mylod has not only been doubling up on her lessons with trainer, Debbie Purowitz, of Buckingham Valley Farm in Buckingham, Pa., but has also been riding her own horse, Augustus, as often as possible for extra practice.
“One of my concerns for Zones is about which horse I will draw. It is completely random and we are not allowed to warm up. We mount the horse and begin our class,” Mylod explained. “I can practice as much as I want leading up to the competition, but it’s difficult because you don’t get a chance to feel how the horse moves, you just have to ride and try to keep good equitation.”
While there are many challenges and factors that go into preparing both mentally and physically for the competitions, the support system that the team brings to the events can be the greatest contributor to such success. For this reason, the entire Equestrian team will be attending Zones to support Mylod.
“I am so proud of everyone on this team since we have slowly been working our way to the top,” Harris said. “Everyone has worked incredibly hard to be where we are, and we are so excited to go to Zones and support Emiline!”
Rider’s Equestrian Team is a member of the IHSA, the largest Intercollegiate Equestrian Organization in the United States. Team members of all abilities compete in Zone 3 Region 2.
For more information about the Rider University Equestrian Team or how to get involved, please visit http://www-usr.rider.edu/%7Eequestrian/.
