The Bethany College Equestrian Team is hosting their annual horse show at Oglebay Stables on Sunday, October 16. It is their only home show of the season. The event, sanctioned by the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) will host schools such as Allegheny College, West Virginia University, and the University of Pittsburgh to compete against Bethany for the blue.
It will be a full day of hunt seat equitation with over ten classes in total. Depending on skill level, riders will be placed in either “over-fences” (jumping) or “on the flat” (no jumps) and will be judged based on not only their ride but also their position and communication with the horse. Scores will then be tallied and judged altogether for the titles of either high point rider, high point team, reserve HP rider, and reserve HP team.
The show begins at 11:30 a.m. and will take place at the outdoor arena, weather permitting.
Hunt Seat Co-Captain and Equine Club President Emma Richmond has high hopes for the show and believes her teammates are confident and ready to represent Bethany well.
“We’ve been practicing in the arena at least once a week for the past month and a half, so we are already comfortable with our surroundings. We also know the horses that will be in the show, since we’ve been riding them. We know their quirks and how to ride them, which we can use to our advantage,” Richmond says.
The hunt seat team consists of eight collegiate women and one alumnus, who have all placed well in past events with Bethany.
Operations Manager at Oglebay Stables and Equine Club Advisor Amy McGreal also says the young ladies stand tall against other teams in the region, citing how Bethany’s program offers something many others cannot.
“An active member of the team has the ability to ‘free-ride’ [ride on their own time for extra practice] any of the stables’ horses, at no additional cost,” McGreal explains.
Any college student can compete with IHSA regardless of skill or financial status, per their founding principles, providing a wonderful opportunity for Bethanians, male and female alike.
The event is free and open to the public.
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