Three UF Equestrian Teams Head to National Competitions

Three equestrian teams from The University of Findlay will head to national competitions in late April and early May.  The teams represent the riding disciplines taught at the University: hunter/jumper, dressage and western.
The western and hunt seat teams will travel to Harrisburg, Pa., to compete in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) national championships May 2-5.  Western team coaches are Cindy Morehead, Clark Bradley and Emily Cramer, with graduate assistant Andrew Wolf.  The hunt seat team is coached by Stella Prescott and Eileen “Bud” Roberts.
Celebrating its 40^th anniversary this year, IHSA provides collegiate riders the opportunity to compete individually and as teams in equestrian competition.  It was founded on the principle that any college student should be able to participate in horse shows regardless of his or her riding ability or financial status.  More than 8,300 students and 370 colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada compete in IHSA events.
The University of Findlay’s western and English teams were both National Champions in 2001.  This is the only time that both teams from one school have won together.  The western team was National Champion in 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2010.  UF’s hunt seat team was Reserve National Champion in 2008 and 2010.
Four students on UF’s Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) team will travel to Mt. Holyoke College in Hadley, Mass., for the Association’s national finals on April 27-28.  Kelly Theisen is head coach. UF’s dressage team took the IDA National Reserve Championship in 2012.
At IDA shows, collegiate riders in teams of four compete at Introductory, Lower Training Level, Tests 1 and 2; Upper Training Level, Tests 3 and 4; and First Level.  The IDA is divided into regions for the purpose of intercollegiate competition, and individual and team points are earned towards regional standings and qualifications for national finals.
Representing The University of Findlay at national finals:
Western Team Members – Bekah Irish (senior) reining; Ashley Winters (freshman) open horsemanship; Makena Lawrence (junior) advanced horsemanship; Erica Druker (soph./junior) novice horsemanship; Ali Gokey (freshman) intermediate horsemanship; Emily Shaefer (freshman) beginner horsemanship.
Western Individual Qualifiers – Bekah Irish (senior) open reining; Melissa MacDonald (junior) advanced horsemanship; Jared Detrick (junior) advanced horsemanship; Katie Davis (senior) novice horsemanship; Erica Druker (soph./junior) intermediate horsemanship; Zac Brown (freshman) intermediate horsemanship; Tori Trbovich (sophomore) beginner horsemanship.
Hunt Seat Team Members – Jessica Ohlinger, Chrissie Kausrud, Bethany Ockwell, Katie Pohlman, Erin Verscheure and Sarah “Sunshine” Winterroth
Hunt Seat Individual Qualifiers –Olivia McConnell as the region’s Cacchione Cup Qualifier, Jessica Ohlinger in open flat and Melissa McDonald in novice flat
Dressage Team Members – Courtney Previte (First Level), Carly Trimble (Upper Training), Sierra Lindsey (Lower Training), Monica Martineau (Introductory)
Monica Martineau, IDA Region Champion and Carly Trimble, Region Reserve Champion, will also compete as individuals.