Riding competes at nationals
By: Dana Drugmand
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Sports
The Mount Holyoke equestrian team wrapped up the 2008-09 season last week with a solid 6th place finish at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Nationals at the Tennessee Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The team competed with more than 350 colleges in the Hunter Seat classes. Ten riders and one alumna represented the Lyons in competition.
Emme Johnston '10 led the way with a first place victory in the Walk-Trot-Canter individual event. Kim Nichols '11 competed for the team in the Walk-Trot-Canter and placed 5th. Captain Amanda Pettengill '09 captured 3rd place in the Open Equitation on the Flat, and Cassie Herman '09, who was also competing for the Caccione Cup in the Open division, finished 4th in the Open Fences.
A group of almost 45 supporters, including parents and team members who weren't riding, traveled with the team to cheer on the riders. "It is a really great feeling to be riding in the show ring and know that your teammates are in the stands cheering you on. Even though I was competing as an individual, I still knew that my team was behind me 100 percent," Johnston said. The blue-ribbon winner also described her path to first in the Walk-Trot-Canter. She was one of four in the event qualifying for further testing and judging. Once the judging concluded the placing for the class was announced. "When 4th through 2nd place had been announced, I knew I had won the class!" she said, adding, "winning a blue ribbon at Nationals was amazing!"
Competition, however, is not all about winning. It's also about having fun, and the riding team's experience at Nationals was no exception. "We also did a lot at Nationals other than riding," said Liz Tripp '11. "We went line dancing, toured around the area and had many fun dinners. On Saturday we were able to watch the Parade of Horses, where all 137 horses used in Nationals were shown to the audience. Overall, it was an amazingly fun experience to be with such an awesome team at Nationals."
Head Coach CJ Law was quite impressed and proud of the accomplishments of the team this year. She said, "The team had a goal of getting to Nationals and they accomplished that goal. All of the riders rode well at Nationals and made me so proud of all their hard work and dedication that they put into making this year such a success."
Pettengill also had complimentary words for her team. "Every single rider did a beautiful job representing the team and I am so proud of how supportive everyone was of each other," she said. The captain added, "I have to say that it was one of the most fun trips that I have ever had on this team. Line dancing with CJ in Nashville was priceless!"
The team is looking forward to another successful year and will be preparing to make another run for Nationals, which will be held in Kentucky next year.
Emme Johnston '10 led the way with a first place victory in the Walk-Trot-Canter individual event. Kim Nichols '11 competed for the team in the Walk-Trot-Canter and placed 5th. Captain Amanda Pettengill '09 captured 3rd place in the Open Equitation on the Flat, and Cassie Herman '09, who was also competing for the Caccione Cup in the Open division, finished 4th in the Open Fences.
A group of almost 45 supporters, including parents and team members who weren't riding, traveled with the team to cheer on the riders. "It is a really great feeling to be riding in the show ring and know that your teammates are in the stands cheering you on. Even though I was competing as an individual, I still knew that my team was behind me 100 percent," Johnston said. The blue-ribbon winner also described her path to first in the Walk-Trot-Canter. She was one of four in the event qualifying for further testing and judging. Once the judging concluded the placing for the class was announced. "When 4th through 2nd place had been announced, I knew I had won the class!" she said, adding, "winning a blue ribbon at Nationals was amazing!"
Competition, however, is not all about winning. It's also about having fun, and the riding team's experience at Nationals was no exception. "We also did a lot at Nationals other than riding," said Liz Tripp '11. "We went line dancing, toured around the area and had many fun dinners. On Saturday we were able to watch the Parade of Horses, where all 137 horses used in Nationals were shown to the audience. Overall, it was an amazingly fun experience to be with such an awesome team at Nationals."
Head Coach CJ Law was quite impressed and proud of the accomplishments of the team this year. She said, "The team had a goal of getting to Nationals and they accomplished that goal. All of the riders rode well at Nationals and made me so proud of all their hard work and dedication that they put into making this year such a success."
Pettengill also had complimentary words for her team. "Every single rider did a beautiful job representing the team and I am so proud of how supportive everyone was of each other," she said. The captain added, "I have to say that it was one of the most fun trips that I have ever had on this team. Line dancing with CJ in Nashville was priceless!"
The team is looking forward to another successful year and will be preparing to make another run for Nationals, which will be held in Kentucky next year.