College Equestrian Team Hosts First Intercollegiate Horse Show In Chestertown March 2

Chestertown, MD, January 17, 2003— The Washington College Equestrian Team and Club, in cooperation with the University of Pennsylvania Equestrian Team, will co-host an Intercollegiate Horse Show on Sunday, March 2, 2003, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Crimson Stables on Route 291 (Morgnec Road) in Chestertown. This is the first official qualifying Intercollegiate Horseshow Association (IHSA) competition sponsored by Washington College and held locally. The event is free and the public is invited to attend.

Currently ranked fourth among 14 schools in IHSA Region 2, Zone 3, the Washington College Equestrian Team will field twenty riders at the March show. Riders will compete in hunt seat equitation, which focuses on the riders' skills in walk, trot, canter and jumping. “Scoring is based on the riders' abilities,” said team coach Sandy Griffiths, “not the horses, and I am confident that our riders will earn enough points to qualify for a place in the IHSA Regional Competition later this year.”

In 2002, the Washington College riders finished the season in sixth place for the region, beating many larger and more established programs. More than half of the newly formed team advanced to the Regional Championships, and student Annette Bangert led the team to its first IHSA National Championship, placing fourth in her class in the nation for hunt seat equitation.

The Washington College Equestrian Club is open to all students of any riding ability, even beginners, and allows students to participate in educational field trips, monthly trail rides, riding lessons, and competitions sponsored by the IHSA. Students do not have to own their own horses to participate in the club activities or IHSA competitions. The IHSA has competitive opportunities for all levels, from beginning to advanced, and horses are assigned by a straw draw at each competition.