The equestrian team competed in two shows this past weekend, traveling to Alvernia University on Saturday and Rutgers University on Sunday. The team finished third and fourth respectively, both out of 10 teams.
“The team has been giving 110%, which is all you really can do,” sophomore Olivia Ortiz said. “At the end of the day, it also depends on the horses you draw on the day of the show.”
In college equestrian sports, riders are grouped into divisions based on experience. All riders compete in flat classes, which focus on control, posture and communication with the horse through its different gaits. More experienced divisions also compete in fences classes, where riders navigate a course of jumps.
At Alvernia, the team’s vice president, junior Ava Gustafson, claimed first place in the open flat division, while sophomore Lucy Collins followed closely behind in second place. Sophomore Alida Smith and senior Lily Bentley both finished in second place in their respective novice classes.
“My horses were great this weekend, and I’m really proud of the team,” Bentley said. “We all rode really well.”
Sophomores Paige Miller and Rachele Mazzella-Di-Bosco won first place in the pre-novice and intro division, respectively.
The team accumulated 28 total points on Saturday, and Gustafson was named Reserve High Point Rider, recognizing her as one of the top two competitors of the day.
Sunday saw the team finish with 16 points in the back half of the doubleheader.
“Competing back-to-back days was a little challenging,” Ortiz said. “We were all exhausted on Sunday.”
Bentley led the way with a first-place finish in novice flat, while junior Anica Kim followed suit with a pre-novice win. Collins also jumped to a second in open fences.
Sophomore and team president Benjamin Morris competed in both open flat and open fences on Sunday, earning third and sixth place, respectively.
“Ben has done a wonderful job keeping up team spirit and making sure everyone feels prepared for the shows,” Bentley said.
Following the weekend’s action, Lafayette sits at third in its collegiate region with 115 points, trailing Delaware Valley University and Bloomsburg University.
The team is gearing up to compete in another show hosted by Moravian University on Sunday before closing out the season at Scranton University and Kutztown University.