Equestrian Team
About the Team
Related Links
- Intercollegiate Horse Show Association
- Eastern Amateur Arabian Horse Show Circuit
- American Appaloosa Association
- United States Equestrian Federation
- United States Dressage Federation
- Arabian Horse Association
- American Quarter Horse Association
- American Paint Horse Association
- National Barrel Horse Association
- National Reining Horse Association
Overview
The Equestrian Club at Washington College is open to all students, regardless of riding ability or experience. Students may choose to be a part of the club, which holds regular meetings, organizes trail rides and participates in horse oriented activities.
Students may also join the Equestrian Team, which is the competitive branch of the club. The Washington College Equestrian Team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. The team competes in Zone 3 Region 2 and attends about 10 intercollegiate hunt seat shows per year and the same number of western shows.
Unlike other college sports, IHSA allows riders of all levels to compete at IHSA sponsored shows. Unlike traditional United States Equestrian Federation shows, host schools provide the horses used in intercollegiate competitions, so neither members of our club or team are required to own their own horses. The hunt seat team rides out of Worthmore Equestrian Center with coach Chris Bilgelow. The western team is currently riding at Wye River Kennels in Queenstown, MD with David Walbert.
For more information
Washington College Equestrian Team President: Jamie Frees
Hunt Seat Coach: Chris Bigelow
Western Coach: David Walbert
On-Campus Advisor: Jonnie Jenkins
History
The Washington College Equestrian Team was established as hunt seat team in 2002 and was founded by Caitlin Patton an '05 local student of WAC.
Throughout the years, the team has had the incredible help of Kathryn Moncrief, Barbara Heck, Sandy Griffiths, Phil Ake, Jen Shaw and Rebekah Hardy. The team was third in its region, remained in top 5 for its first three competing years and competed at hunt seat Nationals in its first year. In 2005, the western team was established with the help of Coach David Walbert. The western team has sent two riders to regionals, one to zones, and also competed at Nationals in its first year with Team Captain Staci Banks representing the team. Although it is a newly established, the team has done well to make itself known and continues to grow.