The Bloomsburg University Equestrian Team (BUET) was established in 1994 and is made up of a group of individuals who share a common passion; to ride horses and perform against higher competition.Yet, it receives minimal recognition from its student body, who are hardly aware of its existence.
This past weekend, the Western team competed for its first time this season at West Virginia University. The team claimed reserve champions (2nd place) in the first show and tied for the honor (first place) in the second show. Kayla Swarta tied the high point rider at both shows and placed the highest out of all other riders at the competition.
The English style riding team had its first show Sept. 27, where they earned reserve high point team among seven other teams. It was the first time they had achieved the honor since last fall. A number of riders also claimed first place honors for the team, who were Alyssa Wernham, Emily Wohl, Emily Whisel, Elaine Tierney, and Jennifer Bree.
There are about 30 members participating in BUET, half of which are new members who joined this year. "There are some people who have ridden for 16 years or some people that just started this year," said BUET President Jenna Novotni. "Our coach puts you in lessons according to your discipline and what you know how to do, so anyone can join the team."
"I like that I can keep riding and showing," said Freshman Leanna Duduk, who has been riding for the past 15 years. Currently, freshman Jeanett Helmstetter, who has been showing for 14 years, is in the team's highest class; intermediate fences and open flat class.
BUET competes under the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The IHSA was established in 1967 and has grown to a league that allows over 300 colleges and universities in 45 states and Canada to participate. The association divides the schools that participate in the horse competitions into 29 Regions and nine Zones across the country. BUET competes in zone 3, region 4, along with Princeton, Rutgers, and 10 other regional institutions.
There are several classes for riders in the ISHA to compete in. Participants can either start at the beginner level or they are placed in a class according to their experience, or if they have previously competed in horse shows. The English division consists of trotting to jumping with the horses and has 10 different skill levels.
While the Western division uses a different saddle, and its nine levels of competition involve riding patterns that differ from English riding.
To advance to the next riding class, a rider must earn a certain amount of points at shows, which accumulate from season to season.
"Because we have a larger team this year we have a better chance of doing well," said Wernham, who is the team's treasurer and competes in both English and Western divisions.
Scoring in competitions is determined by adding the number of points a team's point riders earn if they place in the top six in their respective class level. Before each show, the team coach, Amie Wolfinger, who instructs at the Ridge Road Stables in Lightstreet, chooses the point riders.
Those riders are considered to have the best chance of succeeding in the class they compete in. After the showing, the points are totaled and a team champion is awarded; reserve champion means the team earned the second highest point total in the show.
BUET has to work harder to compete with the more experienced teams that may have riders in every class, according to Novotni. "A lot of times we will have five riders in walk-trot- canter, but we only have one in intermediate," she said.
The team relies heavily on fundraising to be able to compete; even more so this year, since the Community Government Association at BU cut back some of the team's funds. It costs about $25-50 for each member to show a horse at competitions and members usually practice for an hour each week, which costs $30 a lesson. In addition, each team in the region must host one competition a year, and that can add up to about $3,000 for all of its expenses.
But, the IHSA ensures an equal playing field for all of its participants. Before each competition, riders must draw a random horse that they will show that day. This ensures that whoever wins a competition does so with talent, rather than previous experience on a particular horse.
Shannon Bilder, a sophomore who transferred to BU because of its riding team, said that having to ride an unfamiliar horse on the day of the competition, "separates the riders from the girls."
BUET has the opportunity to show at higher levels if they continue to accumulate points. The high point team or the top three individual riders of each class within a region of the IHSA are eligible to compete against other top regional teams in their zone. The winning team, or top two individual riders of each class in the zone competition, can go onto the National Championship Competition held annually in May.
"As long as we continue to do well, and we are happy with ourselves, that's all that matters," said Jaclyn Smith, the English team's co-captain, who has 16 years of riding experience.
For more information on BUET visit http://orgs.bloomu.edu/buet/.
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