Equestrian team not just horsing around

October 27, 2009

By The Independent Record

Carroll College's students are known for their ability and willingness to take on new roles and responsibilities. They're also known for their great sports teams.

A group of students have now found a way to combine the two, and formed a new equestrian team. Competing in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), Carroll's new team competes with college students from Montana, Idaho and Utah in seven yearly horse shows, focusing on hunt seat equitation, equitation over fences, western equitation and reining.

Each rider arrives at every show with everything they need except their horses. Rather than bringing mounts they have been training on for years, these riders must draw a horse moments before they enter the ring, and are judged not only on how well they ride, but how they handle potentially stressful situations.

The "Frequent Flyers", as Carroll's team calls themselves, kicked off their first IHSA show recently in Twin Falls, Idaho, and they more than lived up to Carroll's tradition of dedicated, caring and talented athletes. Kirsten Svennungsen placed first in two of her three classes for the weekend.

Cait Budde and Jared Engels also walked away with first place standings during the show. Freshman Maddie Ross not only placed first in her Intermediate fences division, but managed an overall high point rider win after an intense ride off with a student from UMW. Jennifer Coleman and Katie Stiffler both performed strongly, each taking second place in their respective classes.

The team tied for reserved high point Saturday afternoon, putting them in second place among six experienced colleges: Rocky Mountain College, University of Montana, University of Montana Western, Montana State University, Utah State University and the College of Southern Idaho.

The team's next show will be held in Missoula on Nov. 7-8.

For additional information on the team, contact team captain Cait Budde at .

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