Equestrian students in midst of busy April
Just as schoolwork seems to be winding down, equestrian organizations at William Woods University are heating up.
Bachelors in equestrian studies students have a busy schedule this month to cap off the year, including home shows in Fulton, and shows from Missouri to Tennessee.
“We are wrapping up a fantastic year with four major shows, one in each discipline,” said Jennie Petterson, Equestrian Studies Division Chair.
Every weekend in April has an exciting event — sometimes several — going on.
The beginning of the month welcomed Richard Shrake, who held a clinic on Saturday in the UPHA arena for students and members of the community. On Sunday, Shrake judged the William Woods Western Club Spring Horse Show, and featured hunt, saddle seat and western classes. Maggie Mathews and “Lonestar’s Zipsational” took home Grand Championships.
And this same weekend (April 6-9) the William Woods saddle seat horses and team headed to the National Equestrian Center in Lake St. Louis, Missouri for the Bridlespur Kickoff Show with Assistant Professor Sarah Track. Students competed in a variety of saddle seat classes, and a western horse and rider also competed at the event.
For the Bridlespur Kickoff show, Betsy Krutek and “Reaganite” were the Amateur Park Grand Champions; Joey Neuman and “Steelin A Dream” were Amateur Park Champions and Reserve Grand Champions; Amanda Isoda and “Callaway’s Never Wanted More” were the Open English Pleasure Grand Champions; Shelby Scanlan and “RGT major Tom” were Arabian English Pleasure Champions and Open English Pleasure Reserve Grand Champions; Alyssa Wedell and “Orr’s Fired Up” were the Amateur Park Pleasure Reserve Grand Champions; and Alix Polydoros and “The Kingmaker” were Reserve Champions in the 3-Gaited Show Pleasure Novice horse/Novice Rider.
William Woods’ Hunter Jumper group attended the Spring Time Encore “A” Show in Germantown, TN from April 13-17. Students competed in a variety of Hunter Jumper divisions, excited to have headed back to a wonderful competition facility.
In Germantown, Morgan Holmes riding Omnistar (Odis) earned a first place and reserve champion in the Meter .90, and second place in the Low/Child Adult 1 meter jumpers; Vonla Glassman riding Pass the Chip (Chip) earned two thirds in the Meter .90 and a 4th and 5th place in the Low Child/Adult 1 meter jumpers; Megan Shahinian riding Golden Years (Cash) earned four 2nds O/F in the Low Open Hunters, and 2nd Under Saddle in the Low Hunters, as well as Division Reserve Champion; Annie Graber riding Remington Van Beau (Remi) earned a 6th, 5th, and 6th and 4th over fences in the Performance Hunters; and Jennifer Koch riding Timeless (Timmie) won Division Champion, five 1st in the Low Hunter, and 2nd, 3rd, and 7th in the Modified Adult Hunters.
April 16-17 brought the annual recognized WWU Dressage Show to the UPHA arena, drawing exhibitors from all over Missouri. The show has consistently been recognized by the Missouri Horse Show Association as a STAR event.
This year’s judge was Cindy Canace, owner of Puddingstone Farms in Blairstown, New Jersey, and USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold Medalist.
Marie D’Angelo and Sterling earned Champion, Introductory Level; Ashley Sundin and Rubinato earned Champion, Training Level; and Brianna Jaeger and Rembrandt earned Champion, Third Level. The top three Training Level horses were William Woods University horses: Rubinato and Ashley Sundin (scores of 69-72%); Gigolo and Meaghan Liles (scores of 67-70%); Bruno and Lauren Thompson (65-67%).
Other notable results from the Spring Dressage Show:
- Rubinato and Ashley Sundin earned the overall high score of 72.885%.
- Silvano and Ciera Cordero earned Bronze medal scores at their Second Level debut
- Rembrandt and Brianna Jaeger earned Bronze medal scores at their Third Level debut
- Take Over and Brianna Jaeger earned Silver medal scores at their Fourth Level debut
To close out the month, Western horses and instructor Liz Haben will attend the Heart of America Buckskin show in Carthage, Missouri from April 30 – May 1. This event features American Quarter Horse Association, American Paint Horse Association (APHA) and Buckskin classes. William Woods will take 10 horses to the competition.