Hunt seat equestrian edged by Skidmore, takes reserve show champion team honors

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The Morrisville State College hunt seat equestrian hosted two Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) events over the weekend, earning team reserve championship honors at both, just points shy of show champion Skidmore.

On Saturday, Skidmore recorded 43 team points to claim the show’s top honor, while Morrisville State came in second with 35, narrowly beating Hartwick who registered 33 points on the day.

Seven Morrisville State riders took top honors in their respective classes, including Rachel Kenney (Esperance, N.Y.) who finished atop the open equitation on the flat class. Kenney also qualified for regionals in intermediate equitation over fences.

Emily Overend (Lansing, Ks.) collected the blue ribbon in the intermediate equitation over fences class, while teammates Jessica Gurda (Warwick Valley, N.Y.) and Kaitlin Mays (Newfane, N.Y.) each topped the novice equitation over fences field.

Cherie Shanley (Palenville, N.Y.) took top honors in the advanced walk trot canter class, as Anna Harrigan (Lancaster, N.Y.) kept the Mustangs rolling with a first place finish in the beginner walk trot canter class.

Mikayla Mazur (Camillus, N.Y.) rounded out top place finishers for Morrisville State with the blue ribbon in the walk trot class.

Morrisville State took a commanding presence in the riding arena on Sunday, but fell short as Skidmore edged the Mustangs for show champion honors, recording 49 team points. Morrisville State posted 44 on the day.

Kenney registered two first place finishes for the Mustangs and earned high point rider honors, topping the field in the intermediate equitation over fences class and following suit in the open equitation on the flat.

Six additional Morrisville State riders collected blue ribbons in their classes, including Overend for a second time over the course of the weekend in the intermediate equitation over fences class.

Lane Simonin (Tivoli, N.Y.) registered her first blue ribbon of the season, claiming the top spot in the intermediate equitation on the flat class.

Emma Stock (Walworth, N.Y.) and Alexis D’Auria (Cronton-On-Hudson, N.Y.) topped the advanced walk trot canter classes to claim the blue ribbon, while Mazur repeated Saturday’s performance in the walk trot class.

Avanti Johnson (Parsippany, N.J.) also recorded a blue ribbon on the beginner walk trot canter class.

Morrisville State also had 11 riders place second in their respective classes, assisting with earning reserve team honors, including Gurda, who qualified for the regional championships with her second place finish in the novice equitation over fences class.

The Mustangs return to the riding arena Saturday at Skidmore.