Competing at the first Intercollegiate Horse Show Association English Competition, hosted by the University of San Diego at Sweetwater farms in Bonita, Calif., the UCSD equestrian team placed third under the Toreros and Cal Poly Pomona on Nov. 20. Senior Kayti Mathewson placed first in the intermediate flat class, and senior Katy Wanner took first in the walk/trot class.
Even though no English rider pointed out, or gained enough points to move up into the next class, the team was optimistic.
“We were phenomenal,” senior captain Kate McComas said. “Everyone placed and rode better than I’ve ever seen them ride.”
Besides being the first English competition of the season, it was also the first competition for freshman riders Mae Chase-Dunn and Mckell Gregory.
“I placed last or second-to-last place, but it was definitely a learning experience,” Chase-Dunn said.
Chase-Dunn, a veteran rider since childhood, has never competed before.
“I will learn to figure out the drill [of competitions],” Chase-Dunn said. “It went fine; I didn’t really know what was expected, but I definitely know what areas I need to practice more.”
Gregory, another rookie to competitions, first showed a friend’s horse this summer.
“IHSA is much different because it’s not on a horse you know,” Gregory said.
Gregory is looking forward to moving up from the walk/trot class, in which she placed fourth at the Nov. 20 competition.
“I want to keep showing and gaining points,” Gregory said. “Hopefully I’ll move up and get to practice what I’ve been working on in lessons.”
The equestrian team also competes in Western-style competitions, placing third on Oct. 16 and first on Nov. 6, to rank No. 2 in the region.
At the Nov. 6 competition, McComas placed first and pointed out (scored enough points to advance to the next level) in the advanced horsemanship class and is currently leading the region in her class. Sophomore Lindsey Minor crushed the competition and placed first, pointing out of both open horsemanship and open reining classes. She also won the High-Point Western Rider honor. Minor already qualified for Regionals in the advanced horsemanship at the Oct. 16 Western competition. Senior Katherine Shafer placed second in the intermediate-I horsemanship class while senior Mark Chaussee, the only male on the team, also placed second in the walk/jog class.
The Tritons will host an English competition on Dec. 4 and Dec. 5 at the Ridgemar Equestrian Center in Del Mar, Calif.
