USU Equestrian team on their way to national competition
For the second time in history, the USU Western Horsemanship Equestrian team qualified for the national competition to be held May 5-8 and will likely fund their own way to Lexington, Ky.
The team will be paying for the trip primarily out of their own pockets due to a lack of funding and the expense of the semifinal tournament. Lauren Doyle, a qualifier in the event, said this will include plane tickets and living expenses, but the team is still dedicated to going.
“It’s not up in the air at all. We’re still going for sure,” Doyle said.
Efforts are being made to raise money, but because of short notice and a slow economy, the club has limited options, said Colette Floyd, head coach of the USU Equestrian Club.
“With such short timing, finals week approaching and preparations being made for the trip, there is a lot of stress put on us,” Floyd said. “As far as fundraising goes with the economy the way it is, there has been a lot of work for very little return.”
The team, as well as many individual USU performers, qualified for the national IHSA tournament by placing second among a group of highly accredited Equine programs in the Western Semifinals in Findlay, Ohio, in March. The tournament was one of three regional competitions held nationwide, each allowing only the top three teams to move on to nationals.
“The Utah State University Intercollegiate Equestrian Team competes regionally in Western Horsemanship, Reining, and English hunter both on the flat and over fences … as a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSAinc.com),” according to the USU Equestrian Club’s official website.
The competition in Lexington will accommodate only a few of the country’s most talented schools, and USU is honored to have been able to qualify, Floyd said.
“It was remarkable. We’ve been to semifinals before, but this is the second time since we have been a team that we’ve made it to nationals,” Floyd said.
Horses will be randomly assigned to both team and individual competitors and judges will award points for rider technique and coordination.
Based on past performances, the team is projected to do well at the tournament, Floyd said.
At last year’s national competition, USU individual competitors almost swept the tournament, winning three out of the top four finalist spots. Jason Romney, a participant as well as the head coach of the western equestrian team, claimed two national titles himself, including the coveted High-Point Rider honor awarded to the competitor with the highest all-around ratings. The team also excelled at this year’s semifinal competition placing second in a group of highly recognized and talented schools, Floyd said.
“This is now something we need to live up to. It has made a lot of people sit up and take notice that USU is a competitor and a valid entity in the equine industry,” Floyd said.
With such a bright reputation, the USU Equestrian Club’s status only seems to be getting brighter.
“The riders are better this year. We’re more prepared, and we have a lot of things going for us,” Romney said.
The accomplishments the team has achieved at previous tournaments have been good publicity for the school, Romney said.
“Because of the recognition that we have had at past events, we have had several students from across the country that have wanted to come here,” Romney said. “When people see us competing all around the country and doing well, it’s huge publicity for the school.”
Although the club has been performing well at many of its events, it is still limited in funds and, according to Romney, could be even better with more money.
“We’re competing against schools that offer full-ride scholarships so we are trying to get some outside help and recognition so that we can be even more competitive,” Romney said.
– kevin.mitchell@aggiemail.usu.edu