The Seton Hill University (SHU) equestrian team is currently in second place in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (ISHA) Zone 3 Region 3, behind West Virginia University.
There are 15 members of the 2007-2008 equestrian team. The team will compete in
nine competitions between September and March – six in the fall and three in the spring.
By Katie Manni
Staff Writer
The Seton Hill University (SHU) equestrian team is currently in second place in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (ISHA) Zone 3 Region 3, behind West Virginia University.
There are 15 members of the 2007-2008 equestrian team. The team will compete in
nine competitions between September and March – six in the fall and three in the spring.
The team competes in the English shows that including jumping and trotting. The competitions range from most experience to least experience. These competitions include open overfences (O/F) and flat, intermediate O/F and flat, novice O/F and flat, advanced walk trot canter flat, beginner walk trot
canter flat, and walk trot flat.
A gait is a form of distinct movement that a horse makes. The four beat movement, the walk, is when the four legs are placed to the ground in regular succession. A trot is defined by the move of lifting the legs in different order or pattern, particularly diagonal pairs. A trot is similar to a human’s jog. The walk, trot and canter combines the three speeds of gait.
It addition to team points, individual riders in the Open O/F and flat collect points to compete in the Cacchion Cup. The person at the end of the season goes to Nationals and represents the region.
During the overfences and flat competitions, the riders are judged on their ability to control the horse and preventing knockdowns of obstacles and maintaining proper riding poise.
Erin Albert, a sophomore, and Mary Clark, a junior, are currently the only riders to compete in both the flats and jumping and are eligible to place as high pointers.
“At our previous match at the Pitt (University of Pittsburgh) competition we both were high pointers and had a ride off. It was one of the first times that both riders were from the same school,” said Clark.
“It was great for Seton Hill to have two high-point riders from the same school to have to ride against each other,” said Albert.
To make competitions more interesting and fair, teams arrive early in the morning and watch the horses that will be ridden but it is not known who will ride each horse. A drawing is pulled to determine the match-up and riders are allowed to mount the horse prior to their class. Few adjustments can be made but riders are not allowed to walk or practice in this time.
“This is what makes it interesting, because the first time you do anything on that horse is when you are in the ring being judged on your position and how well you ride and adapt to the horse,” said Albert.
Ali Sedlacko, a junior, has moved to the Novice division and she needs eight more points to move into the Intermediate. Points are determined by placement in competitions with more points for higher placing.
“SHU will be hosting our regional competition (along with the other teams) in
March…and are also talking about hosting a regular horse show next fall at our coach’s barn where we ride for lessons,” said Sedlacko.
Some other colleges in ISHA Z3R3 include University of Buffalo, Slippery Rock University, Bethany College, Edinboro University, University of Pittsburgh,
Allegheny College, Washington & Jefferson College, Saint Vincent College, California University of Pennsylvania, Westminster College, and Clarion University.