Hunt seat team places third in IHSA Invitational
Briana Foisia, '13 | Staff Reporter
Issue date: 3/5/10 Section: Sports
The Morrisville Hunt Seat Equestrian Team was invited to the Cornell University Intercollegiate Horse Show Association or the IHSA Hunt Seat Invitational at the Oxley Equestrian Center in Ithaca, NY. The show was held on Feb. 21, Morrisville's team came in third overall for the day.
"The show was very exciting, it was the first show since we got back from winter break and so I think everyone went in with very good expectations." Kimberly Knapp a two-year equestrian team member said about the show. In the show she placed second in beginner walk-trot-canter, which is the description of the class. The class is based on the skill and how much experience the rider has. Walk is the slowest gait, a trot is a two-beat gait faster than a walk and a canter is three beat gait that's slower than a gallop.
"My favorite thing about the show is all of the support you get from your coaches and your teammates. They are all really supportive and proud to be a part of the team." Brianna Drake said. She too has been showing with the team for two years. Drake placed third in advanced walk-trot-canter. The difference between beginner and advanced classes is the experience of the rider.
"The team has done very well and is standing in third place overall. It has been our best year yet. We have several people qualified for regionals." Coach and instructor Lisa Eklund said about this year's team. Two of the regional qualifiers are Grace Falconer, who will be showing in intermediate equitation over fences, and Nicole Hallenbeck, who will be showing in novice equitation on the flat.
"The team members that went to the Cornell show all did their best, we wouldn't be going to a show if we didn't want to put the effort in," Knapp said. "It's not just about those few moments at the show where you get to show off your stuff. It's about all the hard work that goes into practicing in the weeks before the show. So I definitely think the team members did their best."
"The Morrisville team always does its best. We have some of the most amazing riders and everyone is very dedicated to doing the best that they can. The competition is always hard. You are testing your skills as a rider to prove to the judge that you can ride any horse and look good while doing it." Drake said about her teammates.
"I am proud of our team and how hard they work. Erin Eldredge the assistant coach and I have worked hard to improve the program, horses and team over the years and it is showing in the positive feedback and our results both in the horse shows an in student success in internships and jobs." Eklund said of her team.
"The show was very exciting, it was the first show since we got back from winter break and so I think everyone went in with very good expectations." Kimberly Knapp a two-year equestrian team member said about the show. In the show she placed second in beginner walk-trot-canter, which is the description of the class. The class is based on the skill and how much experience the rider has. Walk is the slowest gait, a trot is a two-beat gait faster than a walk and a canter is three beat gait that's slower than a gallop.
"My favorite thing about the show is all of the support you get from your coaches and your teammates. They are all really supportive and proud to be a part of the team." Brianna Drake said. She too has been showing with the team for two years. Drake placed third in advanced walk-trot-canter. The difference between beginner and advanced classes is the experience of the rider.
"The team has done very well and is standing in third place overall. It has been our best year yet. We have several people qualified for regionals." Coach and instructor Lisa Eklund said about this year's team. Two of the regional qualifiers are Grace Falconer, who will be showing in intermediate equitation over fences, and Nicole Hallenbeck, who will be showing in novice equitation on the flat.
"The team members that went to the Cornell show all did their best, we wouldn't be going to a show if we didn't want to put the effort in," Knapp said. "It's not just about those few moments at the show where you get to show off your stuff. It's about all the hard work that goes into practicing in the weeks before the show. So I definitely think the team members did their best."
"The Morrisville team always does its best. We have some of the most amazing riders and everyone is very dedicated to doing the best that they can. The competition is always hard. You are testing your skills as a rider to prove to the judge that you can ride any horse and look good while doing it." Drake said about her teammates.
"I am proud of our team and how hard they work. Erin Eldredge the assistant coach and I have worked hard to improve the program, horses and team over the years and it is showing in the positive feedback and our results both in the horse shows an in student success in internships and jobs." Eklund said of her team.