College of Charleston Women’s equestrian won their Spring Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) home show held on Saturday Feb. 28, 2015 at Storybook Farm on Johns Island, S.C., posting a 10-point win over second-place Clemson and the rest of the Zone 5 Region 3 field.
“It’s quite an accomplishment to go undefeated in the regular season given all the factors that the riders face in riding unfamiliar horses,” said head coach Bob Story. “The team continued to compete at a high level which is what I expect.”
Senior Eliza Hay won Open Fences. Junior Victoria Bauer won Intermediate Fences. Freshman Jackie Ludsted won Novice Flat (sec. B) and Freshman Madison King won Advanced Walk, Trot, Canter (sec. A). The day ended with Freshman Emily Rees and Sophomore Hannah Robinson each winning their sections of Walk Trot.
The following day, The College sent 12 riders to the Region 3 Finals, also hosted by the Cougars at Storybook Farm. Of those riders, five different CofC riders advanced in seven different classes and will represent The College as individuals at the Zone finals.
“The regional finals have the best riders from across the region competing, and it’s quite impressive to qualify for seven out of the 16 spots that move on to the Zone 5 Finals” said Story.
The Zone 5 Finals qualifiers include Senior Eliza Hay who was the Regional Champion in both Open Flat and Open Fences. Senior Malka Fox-Epstein was the Intermediate Flat Regional Champion followed by Junior Kelsey LeBuh who was Reserve Champion in Intermediate Flat. Junior Victoria Bauer was the Regional Champion in both Novice Flat and Novice Fences. Sophomore Hannah Robinson closed out the day with a Reserve Championship in Walk, Trot.
The IHSA Zone 5 Finals Horse Show will be held March 28, 2015 at the Savannah College of Art and Design. The individual qualifiers will need to be first or second in their class to advance to the IHSA National Championship Horse Show, and the Cougars will need to place in the top two spots as a team to advance to the IHSA National Championship Horse Show being held at The Big E in West Springfield, Mass., April 30-May3.
