College Equestrians To Host IHSA Show

By Cooky McClung, Kent County News

Chestertown, MD, February 28, 2003 — Shota Goto is the embodiment of the Washington College equestrian club's team. He loves horses, he enjoys each second he spends in the saddle, and he believes the club is not only one of the school's best assets, but the perfect answer to his longtime ambition.

'All my life I wanted to ride, but it was much too expensive to even think about doing in the city,' said the 20-year-old sophomore, who grew up in Tokyo. 'When I found out that I could join a club right here at the college to ride horses, I was very excited about it. The first time I got on a horse out at Airy Hill Stables,' he searches for the English translation; 'I cannot explain the feeling. And it is the same every time I ride.'

Goto, whose parents attended the University of Pennsylvania, began learning English at 12 years old. By age 15, he had decided to come to the United States to attend college.

'I was most interested in studying psychology, which is my major, and to learn better English, which I hope I'm doing,' Goto said. 'After high school, I was given a choice of 20 American schools, and I picked Washington College.'

After arriving in the United States in 2001, Goto spent the summer at the University of Toledo in Ohio taking crash courses in American culture.

'I was part of a group of 15 Japanese students who were all going to different colleges. We went to Toledo to learn some about living in America,' said Goto, 'because it is very nice, but very different from Japan.'

While he enjoyed the Ohio school, Goto said he was glad to come to Chestertown. 'Toledo was a little scary,' he confided. 'There were places I didn't feel so safe. Not like here.'

But he admits adjusting to the American way of life in a small college town turned out to be more difficult than he'd anticipated. 'It was hard for me to make friends,' he said frankly. 'I didn't have a roommate my first year, and although I'd studied English grammar and I'd read English a lot, learning to speak it in conversation was hard,' Goto said. 'In places like the dining hall, where a lot of people were talking all at once, I had trouble understanding the conversation. So it was pretty hard.'

Then he discovered the new riding club and life got a whole lot easier and a lot more fun. Ironically, the push a year and a half ago to form a team capable of competing in the prestigious nation-wide Intercollegiate Horse Show Association originated with Caitlin Patton, then a 14-year-old home-schooled student who was auditing classes at the college. With a plan in place to enter the college that fall, Patton believed being a member of a competitive riding club and majoring in writing would allow her to combine her two loves, and allow her to continue showing her horses. Patton approached Washington College professor Kate Moncrief, also an experienced rider, who agreed to become their faculty advisor. From that moment, the club took form. And took off.

With only a handful of riders who had show experience under their belts, and many more, like Goto, who had never actually been on a horse, the club began honing their competitive edge under the tutelage of coach Sandy Griffiths. A graduate of the Fulmer School of Equitation in England, and an instructor at several top Maryland stables, Griffiths understood the odds of working with a less-experienced team. But, despite their collective lack of experience, Griffiths kept her eye on the prize, envisioning her team as competitive challengers. Last year the fledgling club finished the season in sixth place in its region, beating many larger, more- established programs. More than half their riders advanced to the regional championships, and student Annette Bangert led the team to its first appearance in the IHSA National Championship.

'They've done an incredible job in a very short time,' said Griffiths, who says the club currently includes several 'A' show circuit riders and has drawn applicants eager to attend Washington College because of the riding team.

In addition to making impressive competitive strides in less than two years, the riding club has been the impetus to add a 14-week basic horsemanship course, including riding lessons, to the college's curriculum. Geared to novices, the course is open to riders and non-riders.

Last year several team members added another dimension to their club through an innovative method of fund-raising. Several members, including Kerri Davis and Zena Hense, spent many a chilly night on 'baby watch' during foaling season at Thornmar Farm, one of the country's premier thoroughbred breeding farms, just outside Chestertown.

Currently in the upper rankings of its 14-school region, Washington College hosts its first IHSA show with the University of Pennsylvania team on Sunday, March 2 at their training base, Crimson Stables on Route 291 (Morgnec Road.) Nationally renowned trainer Phil Ake, who has horse farms in Church Hill and New York, and his assistant, Jen Shaw, have offered their expertise to school riders and horses, and have provided equipment and valuable technical advice for Sunday's show, which is expected to host at least a dozen teams.

'This show is a very big deal for us,' said Griffiths. 'It's taken a tremendous amount of effort and coordination, and we're counting on it to be very successful.'

Although he's still a long gallop from inclusion in the top tier of their riders, Goto, who remains one of the club's strongest supporters, hopes to compete on Sunday.

'I'm not experienced yet, and I just walk and trot right now,' Goto explains. 'I'm not very good at riding yet. But I always have a lot of fun on a horse.'

The IHSA show begins at 9 a.m. on March 2. The event is free and the public is invited to attend.

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.

Junior Annette Bangert Leads WC Equestrian Team To First Nationals

Inaugural Year For Equestrian Club And Team

Chestertown, MD, May 8, 2002 — Washington College junior Annette Bangert has led the newly formed Washington College Equestrian Team to its first Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) National Championship. Representing the best in Zone 3, Bangert competed against 16 riders from around the nation and placed fourth in the Hunt Seat Equitation Division at the 2002 Championship held May 4, 2002, at Cazenovia College in Cazenovia, NY.

"The IHSA has many different levels of competition, so that every rider, regardless of skill level, can participate," said Bangert, who hails from Germany and is majoring in art at the College. "I rode in Individual Walk/Trot, which is the beginner class. It was a big class—the two best riders from each of the eight IHSA zones in the country. I was very proud to represent Washington College and such a young team against other schools that have been competing for years."

Bangert's showing received fourth in her class in the nation. Coach Sandy Griffiths, who calls her team "the Cool Running of the Eastern Shore," is confident that the club is poised to become one of the top teams in the region.

"This is a significant accomplishment," said Griffiths. "During the season, our team was up against schools that had been fielding riders for years and never sent anyone to the Nationals. For Washington College to have achieved this in its first year is really something to brag about. I am very proud of the team's performance this year."
Bangert's showing received fourth in her class in the nation. Coach Sandy Griffiths, who calls her team "the Cool Running of the Eastern Shore," is confident that the club is poised to become one of the top teams in the region."The IHSA has many different levels of competition, so that every rider, regardless of skill level, can participate," said Bangert, who hails from Germany and is majoring in art at the College. "I rode in Individual Walk/Trot, which is the beginner class. It was a big class—the two best riders from each of the eight IHSA zones in the country. I was very proud to represent Washington College and such a young team against other schools that have been competing for years."

Washington College riders in IHSA competition finished the season in sixth place for the region, beating many larger and more established programs such as the University of Pennsylvania, Gettysburg College, Arcadia University, Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College and Temple University. More than half of the team advanced to the Regional Championships and all finished in the ribbons. Qualifying for regional competition were Morgan Baker, a sophomore from Centreville, MD; Katie Lerner, a freshman from Silver Spring, MD; Lauren Marini, a senior from Mullica Hill, NJ; and Christine Solle, a junior from Maplewood, NJ. Marini garnered High Point Champion at the Delaware Valley Show and Reserve High Point Champion at Field of Dreams in Chesterfield, NJ on March 3, 2003. Baker was Reserve High Point Champion at the Briarwood Show in Reddington, NJ, on February 24, 2002.

Overall, the Washington College Equestrian Team with just eight riders tallied 188 points throughout the season, finishing behind first place powerhouse, the University of Delaware, which fielded 90 riders and finished the season with 316 points.

The Washington College Equestrian Club is open to all students, regardless of riding ability, and competes in Region 2, Zone 3 of the IHSA, which encompasses schools from Maryland, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, and parts of Connecticut, New Jersey and West Virginia.

Students do not need to own their own horse to be a member—several lease horses are available and students practice on horses provided by Airy Hill Stables outside of Chestertown. Mounts in IHSA competitions are drawn by lots and provided by the show hosts. Students in the club can also participate in educational field trips, monthly trail rides and riding lessons. In addition to competing in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, the Washington College Equestrian Team raises funds for the club by "foalwatching" mares at Thornmar Farm in Kent County. This special opportunity ensures that club members get hands-on experience in the thoroughbred breeding industry working with nationally regarded equine reproduction veterinarian, Dr. Thomas H. Bowman, a five-time Washington College parent.

Washington College Establishes Equestrian Club

Chestertown, MD, May 3, 2001 — As of Spring 2001, Washington College has established an Equestrian Club open to all students. Students Christine Solle '03, Morgan Baker '04, and Lauren Marini '02 will serve as co-presidents for 2001, assisted by Barbara Heck, associate vice president for development, who will act as administrative advisor, and Dr. Kathryn Moncrief, assistant professor of English, who will act as faculty advisor to the club.

"The Equestrian Club allows Washington College students of any level of riding ability, even beginners, to participate in educational field trips, monthly trail rides, riding lessons, and competitions sponsored by the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association," said Heck. "Many students have wanted to establish this club for years. We are proud of how quickly the club has taken root this semester and attracted a large number of interested students."

The Washington College Equestrian Club will function as both a club and as a team. Interested students will be able to compete and represent Washington College in Intercollegiate Horse Show Association competitions. The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association has competitive opportunities for all levels, from beginning to advanced, and students do not have to own a horse to participate, explained Moncrief.

Along with Moncrief and the student leaders, Heck will help the club to gain funding as well. "The program is driven by member fees," Heck said. "Students must pay for their lessons, but the club will also be working to raise money for students who cannot afford to pay for lessons and to fund other club activities."