Nationals, success and team unity are the main priorities on the minds of the Equestrian team, according to Dressage team vice president Brittany Wilcox.
Despite an inexperienced team due to the loss of girls to graduation, Wilcox, a junior in arts and design and psychology, said the younger riders have been stepping up in shows and helping the team.
“This is the first year in the Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) for three girls, and they have been great,” she said. “Our inexperience hasn’t hurt us at all thus far; they have contributed a lot to the team.”
The Hunt Seat team also lost several girls to graduation, but according to Loren Kirk, the new members don’t lack in experience.
Kirk, a sophomore in animal science, has been riding horses for 14 years and said although the younger students may not have experience on the actual team, they have their own personal experience. Kirk also brings uniqueness to the equestrian team.
“I’m extremely outnumbered as a guy because both the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association and IDA are the majority women. When I’m outside of school competing, I’m also outnumbered,” he said. “When the judges see a guy, they pay more attention to him because it’s so rare. It’s like if you are at a dog show and a cat walks in. It’s not seen often.”
He hopes that his uniqueness, combined with personal experience, can help the team reach its ultimate goal: Nationals.
Last year two riders went to Nationals, and one of them, senior Kylie Bell, is still on the team, according to equestrian club president Nikki Schweizer.
Kirk, a senior in animal science, said the team’s chances are very promising, and in addition to Bell, other riders have shown they have what it takes to make it.
“The IHSA breaks it down into regions and zones,” Kirk said. “In order to make your way up to Nationals, you have to qualify personally for zones. You have to accumulate enough points from shows to get there.”
It’s very difficult to qualify as a team for Nationals, especially competing against schools such as four-time national champion Virginia Intermont, which is known for its equestrian team.
Kirk doesn’t allow this notion to stand in his way and still strives hard in lessons and at shows.
“I feel more encouragement to prove that we can be a National team,” Kirk said.
The Dressage team may have a better opportunity to make it to Nationals as a team, according to Wilcox. Instead of having a large team like the Hunt Seat, the Dressage team consists of only eight members.
“If we continue to place well, we have a good chance of going to Nationals,” Wilcox said. “It would be great to make it there as a team, but if we can send anybody there, we will be more than pleased.”
Both teams know if they can unite and prove successful, the chances of the equestrian team becoming a varsity level sport will increase.
The club has looked into becoming a varsity-level sport but must establish reliability and competitiveness before the University will provide funds, Kirk said.
“If the club is highly involved with fundraising and community service, it looks stellar to the University,” he said. “We have to be both successful in competitions and fundraising.”
Wilcox said the team needs to consistently get to Nationals before further action can be taken.
“It’s a thought but not a reality until we can solidify success in the program,” she said.
