Western team qualifies eight for Regional Championships

The Morrisville State College western equestrian team qualified eight riders for the Regional Championships held later this season, as they claimed reserve high point team and high point team honors at the double show held Saturday in Morrisville.



Catherine Howland (Rutlandtown, VT) qualified in the open reining class, while Elizabeth Scott (Chittenango, NY) will represent Morrisville State in the advanced western horsemanship class.



Nicole Blanton (Callicoon, NY) and Reilley Mastroe (Homer, NY) each qualified in the novice horsemanship class. Megan Collins (Ontario, NY), Heather Cousins (Burnt Hills, NY), Kelly Hunter (Red Hook, NY) and Amanda Meyer (Equinunk, PA) each will represent the Mustangs in intermediate horsemanship II class.



In the first of the two shows on the day, Cobleskill topped the Mustans to earn high point team honors, tallying 29 team points to Morrisville's 23. Five riders earned top honors in their respective riding classes, including Tabitha Fargo (Ripley, NY) and Stephenie Montanaro (Hagamna, NY) in the novice horsemanship class.



Morrisville State swept the blue ribbons in the intermediate II class, as Hunter, Meyer and Paul Alexander (Truxton, NY) each collected first.



In the second show of the day, Morrisville State tallied 31 team points to edge Cobleskill (23) for high point team honors. Howland was high point rider for the show, with Megan Freemantle (Middlefield, CT) earning reserve high point honors.



Howland had a season best first place showing in both the reining and open horsemanship classes, while Scott collected top riding honors in the advanced class.



Mastroe was top rider in the novice horsemanship class.



Meyer and Meghan Moriarty (Adams Center, NY) each claimed the blue ribbon in the intermediate II class, while Christie Carlson (Chestertown, NY) took the top spot in the intermediate I class.



Morrisville State returns to the riding arena February 11.