In the Zone

Rider’s Equestrian Team has certainly been earning its spurs. After impressive performances in their zone’s shows this fall, four of the team’s members have qualified for Regionals in the spring.

Tracey Gould ’12, Emily Harris ’12 and Katie Peck ’13 will all head to the Zone 3-Region 2 Regionals on Saturday, March 17, at Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, Pa.

Harris, the team’s captain and one of the two members who qualified for Regionals last year, said that two more members could potentially qualify in the two shows leading up to Regionals in March.

“Our girls are really hard working. They have really been pushing,” said Harris about the team’s performance. “We have a really great set of girls who want to be on the team. Everyone contributes 110 percent. Our coaches spend a lot of their time trying to make us better, and I think it has really paid off.”

In addition, Harris said the team members support each other by giving advice and critiques during shows. “I still learn a ton during horse shows. I think it’s a really big teaching moment. I think we all really work well together,” she said.

In Zone 3-Region 2, Rider University competes against Arcadia University, Bucks County Community College, Delaware Valley College, Franklin & Marshall College, Gwynedd-Mercy College, Penn State Berks, Princeton University, West Chester University and York College of Pennsylvania. In order to qualify for Regionals, riders need to earn 36 points in their class, which they can accumulate from semester to semester.

Peck qualified for Regionals at the first horse show hosted by Rider and Arcadia on September 24 at Red Wing Farm in Hilltown, Pa.

“Last year, I was four points away from placing in Regionals,” said Peck, who rides in the in the Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter category. “One of my goals was to qualify for Regionals before I graduated from Rider. I felt proud to reach that goal at the beginning of my junior year.”

Gould advanced from the Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter category to Novice Flat this year, starting  the semester with 28 points. She placed first in her category and gained seven points at the September 24 show. Gould earned an additional five points when she placed second at the October 23 show at Delaware Valley.

Meanwhile, Harris found out that she had qualified for Regionals at the last weekend of shows this semester, November 19 and 20. This year, Harris advanced from Intermediate Flat to the highest level Open Flat.

In order to advance to Zones on April 1 at Delaware Valley, the equestrians will have to place third or better. Then if they place in first or second, they would qualify for Nationals in at Hunt Horse Complex in Raleigh, N.C. 

One difference between collegiate and other horse shows is that riders are only assigned to a horse the day of the show.

“It is a big transition to go from riding horses you are comfortable with to being assigned a random horse the day you are competing,” said Gould, who has been riding since she was 13. “You have to be prepared to ride whatever type of horse you draw. Usually, the only information you receive is the horse’s name, color, height, and if you can use a crop.”

Harris, who has been riding for as long as she can remember, said drawing a horse from a hat is a challenge, but a great way to become a better rider.

“You have to push yourself,” she said. “You learn different habits of horses, and you have to learn to cope with it.”

Rider University’s Equestrian Team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), the largest intercollegiate equestrian organization in the United States, with 29 regions in nine zones, representing 300 colleges. IHSA features Hunter Seat Equitation, Western Horsemanship and Reining. Members of Rider’s Equestrian Team take lessons at Buckingham Valley Farm in Buckingham, Pa. About 16 members make up the team, and riders of all levels are welcomed to join.

“If you have a passion for horses and a drive for riding, it’s great,” Harris said. “We want everyone to be part of it.”