By Jade Scott
Editor-in-Chief

As the end of the 2010 semester approaches both Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Equestrian teams, Hunt and Western, have wrapped up their fall season and look ahead to their first shows of the New Year.
The Hunt Seat team ended the season at a show on Nov. 20 and 21, hosted by Taylor University and Ball State University at Black Dog Farms.
Since both days of shows were located in an in-door arena, weather was not a problem.
“As a whole it went really well because it was run very well,” said Jennifer Kieras, freshman. “It made a difference that we were all there together as a team instead of being separated like we are when we host a show.”
The Nov. 20 show resulted in SMWC as the High Point Team.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Open Fences:  Alex Amos-3rd

Intermediate Fences:  Whitney Mahloch-1st, Darby Hall-2nd, and  Hannah Reeley-3rd

Novice Fences:  Chelsey Sears-2nd, Ali Mahloch-  3rd, and Hannah Bardo-6th

Open Flat:  Whitney Mahloch-2nd, and Alex Amos-5th

Intermediate Flat:  Darby Hall-5th and Hannah Bardo-6th

Novice Flat:  Chelsey Sears-1st, Ali Mahloch-2nd, Bethany Erli-2nd, Cortni Bigley-3rd, and Lauren Broderick-5th

Advanced Walk-Trot-Canter:  Abigail Paul-4th

Beginning Walk-Trot-Canter:  Tracey Dykstra-1st

Walk-Trot:  Whitney Damron-3rd

The Nov. 21 show once again resulted in SMWC as the High Point Team.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Open Fences:  Alex Amos-3rd and Whitney Mahloch-6th

Intermediate Fences:  Hannah Reeley-3rd and Darby Hall-4th

Novice Fences:  Lauren Broderick-2nd, Ali
Mahloch-2nd, Bethany Erli-5th, and Hannah Bardo-6th

Open Flat:  Whitney Mahloch-2nd and Alex  Amos-6th

Intermediate Flat:  Hannah Reeley-1st and Hannah Bardo-3rd

Novice Flat:  Ali Mahloch-1st, Chelsey Sears- 2nd, Jennifer Kieras-3rd, Cortni Bigley-3rd, Lauren Broderick-4th, and Bethany Erli-5th

Advanced Walk-Trot-Canter:  Abigail Paul-2nd

Beginning Walk-Trot-Canter:  Tracey Dykstra- 3rd

Walk-Trot:  Whitney Damron-2nd

“With this season ending I feel that it has overall gone well,” said Paul.  “I have personally pointed up into a new division, qualified for regionals in Western, and I am close to qualifying for regionals in Hunt Seat.”
Several members of the Equine teams ride in both Hunt and Western shows.  Those riders would be Karen Cannon, freshman, Tracy Dykstra, freshman, Ali Mahloch, freshman, Whitney Mahloch, junior, Abigail Paul, senior, Jordyn Perrott, junior, and Chelsey Sears, senior.
“Sometimes it is annoying to switch back and forth between Hunt and Western because of the different body positions,” Paul said.  “But in the end I am getting more experience and more riding time.”
The Western team ended their fall season on Nov. 13 at a show in Brookston, hosted by Purdue University and Purdue-Calumet.
The weather seemed to cooperate for the morning show but as the day went on it began to rain.
“We had to make sure that the horses were taken to either the barn or back to the trailer if they were already done for the day,” said Katrina Muhs, freshman.  “This was because we didn’t want the saddles getting wet and we just wanted to make sure the horses were in good condition.”
In the morning show Purdue University came away with the High Point Team with 22 points, SMWC came in right behind with Reserve Team at 18 points, and Morgan Purdy was named the High Point Rider.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

Reining: Morgyn Purdy-1st

Open Rail:  Morgyn Purdy-5th

Advanced: Chelsey Sears-2nd and Ashley Bruner- 4th

Novice: Erika Stanley-2nd, Victoria Toy-3rd, Jordyn Perrot-4th, and Ali Mahloch-6th

Intermediate II: Tracey Dykstra-1st, Karen Cannon-2nd, Emily Theising-2nd, Katrina Muhs- 3rd, Abigail Paul-3rd, and Madison Haruff-6th

Walk Trot: Jena Thralls-2nd, Logan Fry-3rd, and Kaitlyn Wainscott-5th

The afternoon show once again resulted in Purdue University coming away with the High Point Team with 26 points and SMWC with the Reserve at 16 points.

The individual results are as follow:

Advanced: Whitney Mahloch-3rd

Novice: Jordyn Perrott-1st, Erika Stanley-1st, Ali Mahloch-5th, and Victoria Toy-5th

Intermediate II: Katrina Muhs-1st, Karen Cannon-1st, Abigail Paul-2nd, Tracey Dykstra-4th, and Maidson Haruff-6th

Walk Trot:  Logan Fry-1st and Kaitlyn Wainscott- 2nd

Western will return in January with its first show of the new year hosted by SMWC on Jan. 29. The Hunt Seat team will have its next show on Feb. 5-6 at Black Dog Farms, hosted Taylor University and Ball State University.

Dec.6, Equine, Jade Scott