MORRISVILLE, NY—SUNY Morrisville’s Western equestrian students wrapped up a historically successful season.
Below are some of the highlights:
Mikaela Cormier, of Belchertown, Massachusetts, a junior in the college’s equine science & management program, Western concentration, won the Central New York Reining Horse Association’s Green Reiner Circuit Championship. Riding Smoken Tejon, a college-owned quarter horse, Cormier accumulated the most points over four shows across Central New York and was presented a trophy saddle.
Raevyn Saunders, a junior in the college’s equine science & management program, Western concentration, rode college-owned Patrashas Prince to the Yankee Reining Horse Association (YRHA) Green Reiner Circuit Championship. Saunders, of Ithaca, gained the most points throughout the show season, beating 17 competitors for the top spot. She accumulated the most points during three YRHA shows, hosted in Hamburg, and earned a trophy saddle.
Five students in the college’s equine science & management program, Western concentration, had the college’s first showing at the All American Quarter Horse Congress. The Congress is the world’s largest single-breed horse show, with nearly 25,000 show entries throughout October.
“This was an amazing opportunity for students to participate in a premier horse show experience,” said Serafina Gagliardi, instructional support assistant and assistant coach of the SUNY Morrisville Western Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) team. “The presence of the college at an event such as the Congress helps solidify SUNY Morrisville as a top equine educational institution.”
The show also exposed them to industry professionals, providing networking opportunities for future internships job opportunities.
Blacey Bakutis, of Kendall, and Danielle Cammarano, of Marion, Massachusetts, both seniors, rode in the National Reining Horse Association’s (NRHA) Rookie class at the Congress. Both placed top 30 out of more than 115 entries. The Rookie Reining class is the most competitive entry-level class in the NRHA. In last year’s season, Bakutis and Cammarano earned enough points in the NHRA Green Reiner to be qualified to compete at this level.
Cormier, Saunders and Lea Inhaber of Westbrough, Massachusetts, all competed in the NRHA’s Green Reiner Class. Cormier placed 19th out of 126 entries, a crowning achievement in a competitive Congress class.
“This group of students was stellar and worked so hard,” Gagliardi said. “They were concise and dedicated and put so much thought and energy into everything they did.”
