First things first: yes, Colorado College actually does have an equestrian team. Despite an existence shrouded in mystery, the CC equestrian club team has put together a hardworking and dedicated group of women this year. Their efforts paid off this weekend as the team hosted their home show at the MM Equestrian Center in Fountain, Colo. Despite the cold weather, the team spent most of Saturday and Sunday outside, competing and ensuring that the show ran smoothly.
“The show went great overall,” said team captain Briana Silver. “The team came together to help everything run smoothly and everyone had some great rides. I really love the team dynamic this year. Not only are we filled with talented riders, but with really fun, helpful, interesting and smart ladies as well. This is a young team with mostly underclassmen, and it never ceases to amaze me how well they adapt and handle all of these new situations. They really are all superstars. While home shows are always stressful, this one was really fun because I got to spend two days around horses and some of my favorite people.”
The CC Equestrian team competes as English riders through the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA). In order to keep things fair, the IHSA requires a lottery to decide which horse to pair with each rider. For each show, nearby teams contribute horses to the lottery.
At the CC home show, eight other schools were represented: CU-Boulder, University of Wyoming, Laramie Community College, Colby Community College, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USAFA, UC-Colorado Springs, and Colorado School of Mines.
Despite facing the possibility of riding an unfamiliar horse, the members of the CC equestrian team had some amazing performances in their individual classes.
Classes are broken into two categories: flat and fences. Fence classes are what most people picture when they think of horse shows, where horses and riders leaping elegantly over tall, brightly colored jumps. Flat classes are walk-trot, beginner and advanced walk-trot-canter, novice, intermediate, and open, with open being the most advanced. Fence classes are only novice, intermediate, and open. What is particularly impressive is that fence riders are not told the fence routine for their jumps until the day of the competition. They have to adapt quickly in order to place well. Points are awarded to the top six riders in each class. CC came away with many top three finishes last weekend.
First-year Sophie Harlam placed second in open fences and first in open flat. Mirroring Harlam, first-year Anna Lang placed second in open flat and first in open fences. Lang also earned “reserve high-point rider” on Sunday, meaning that she earned the second most points that day out of all the competing riders.
First-year Mac Millard secured third in advanced walk-trot-canter. In some of the more beginner classes, it is sometimes necessary to break a large class into multiple groups. This is how CC came away with two separate second-place finishes in beginner walk-trot-canter by first-year Julia Gilman and junior Sereniti Mora. With her second place ribbon, Mora gained enough points to move up to advanced walk-trot-canter.
“Olivia Frey gave a valiant effort in some very large and competitive intermediate level classes, Emma Krakoff got fourth on Novice Flat, I got 4th in Novice fences and fifth on Novice flat, and Anna Lynn-Palevsky got fourth in beginner walk-trot-canter,” said Silver.
The CC Equestrian team is open to any student at any point in the year to join. Members of the team are not required to compete at shows.
The team’s coach, Tracy Powers, is ready to take on brand new riders or experienced riders who want to try out the collegiate level. All that’s needed is a love of horses and the desire to become part of a great community of teammates.