The Seton Hill University (SHU) women’s equestrian team hosted their last horse show of the regular season on March 9th. The team held the show at Pheasant Hollow Farm in South Park, PA, a facility owned by the parents of one of the team’s co-captains, Erin Albert, a junior.
By Chelsea Oliver
Sports Editor
The Seton Hill University (SHU) women’s equestrian team hosted their last horse show of the regular season on March 9th. The team held the show at Pheasant Hollow Farm in South Park, PA, a facility owned by the parents of one of the team’s co-captains, Erin Albert, a junior.
“The show we hosted this past weekend was very successful. We had amazing weather, and everything ran smoothly thanks to help from the entire team, our sponsors, and everyone else who pitched in,” said Jenni McGee, a sophomore.
“The show went really well. We had great attendance and the team worked very hard to pull off this difficult event. Hosting a show is a lot different than just attending one,” said Mary Clark, a senior.
For the event, the team had six girls showing; Albert in the divisions Open Under Saddle and Open Over Fences, Clark in Intermediate Over Fences, Julie Cyr, a senior, in Intermediate Under Saddle, Amanda Garlitz, a sophomore, in Novice Under Saddle and Novice On the Flat, Marie VanMannen, a sophomore, in Advanced Walk Trot Canter, and Josey Miller, a sophomore, in Beginner Walk Trot Canter.
“On this day we had two team members ‘point out,’ or accumulate a total of 35 points in their respective divisions which will qualify them for our regional competition and move them into a higher riding division,” said Garlitz, co-captain.
Garlitz and Clark, the two team members who pointed out during the March 9 show will join their teammates; Albert, Cyr and senior, Adriana Cano, who qualified for Regionals prior to the show this past weekend.
“The success of the day can be attributed to the hard work of the full equestrian team in the running and managing of the show. We are now boasting a full 15 member roster and the team is currently ranked third out of 16 teams in the region,” said Garlitz.
“Although after this show the team as a whole is pretty much finished with competition, there are several members who have qualified for Regional Finals,” said Garlitz. “After regional finals is the Zone competition and then Nationals.”
As the women wind down to the end of another successful season they are looking towards the future for the team as a whole. “The team has taken a more active approach to recruiting and hopes to bring in a few strong freshman riders to replace the seniors graduating this coming May,” said Clark. “We have a very talented group of young women and hope to keep moving forward in competition so we can continue to rank up with the largest schools in our Region.”