NORTHAMPTON, Mass. – The Mount Holyoke College equestrian team opened defense of its zone and regional titles in fine fashion on Saturday, finishing first of eight teams to earn High Point Champion honors at the Smith Horse Show. There were a number of outstanding finishes on the day.
Junior Hannah Thornton led the day with a win in Open Fences, while senior Alexa Lohrer also won her section of Open Fences. Senior Felicia Harrsch came in third overall. In Intermediate Fences, senior Nell Maynard on and junior Maddi Shortt won their respective sections. Additionally, junior Abby Raucher came in second and senior Flynn Vickowski rode to fifth-place.
In Novice Fences, juniors Anne Waldo and Jess Murray won their sections, with first year Cam Carter riding a third place finish in her IHSA regular season debut.
Next came the flat classes as Lohrer rode to a win in Open Flat, putting her in line for High Point rider. Thornton and Maynard followed with second place rides in their sections of Open Flat, while Harrsch was third and first year Bridget Finnerty made her regular season IHSA debut riding to a fifth-place finish.
In Advanced Walk-Trot-Canter, junior Sam Stone and first year Emma Blades, in her IHSA debut, swept the division, while in the beginner section of Walk-Trot-Canter, the Lyons went 1-2-3 with senior Robin Barson in her IHSA debut winning, junior Maneh Kotikian coming in second, and first year Liana Ghiron, also in her IHSA debut, in third.
Next came Intermediate Flat, where Waldo and senior Ella Pittman won their sections and put Waldo in line for a ride-off against Lohrer for High Point rider. Junior Heather Zadra and first year Emily Allard in her IHSA regular season debut came in third in their sections of Intermediate Flat, while Carter rode to fifth place.
In Walk-Trot, junior Callie Calder rode to a first place finish. In the last division of the day, Novice Flat, first year Allee Platanitis won her IHSA debut. Sophomore Colbie Chinowsky, also in her IHSA debut, placed second, followed by a third place finish for Shortt, and first year Sarah Felman was fifth in her IHSA regular season debut.
At the end of the day, MHCEq claimed the High Point College title with 47 points, nearly a perfect score. Lohrer and Waldo then rode in a ride-off for High Point rider. After a no stirrups test, Lohrer came out on top and claimed High Point honors, while Waldo was named Reserve High Point rider.
In addition, the following riders qualified for Regionals in the spring:
Sam Stone - Walk-Trot-Canter
Anne Waldo - Novice Fences
Nell Maynard - Intermediate Fences
Ella Pittman - Intermediate Flat
Mount Holyoke looks to follow on its strong showing next weekend as it hosts the second show of the regular season on Saturday at the Mount Holyoke Equestrian Center.
Final College Standings:
High Point - Mount Holyoke College, 47 points
Reserve High Point - Smith College, 29 points
3rd Place - UMass, 23 points
4th Place - Springfield College and Williams College, 22 points
5th Place - Amherst College and Westfield State University, 18 points
6th Place - Mass College of Liberal Arts, 3 points
Story courtesy of Anne Waldo, Mount Holyoke Equestrian rider.
