Zone Finals

Hosting Zones presented a whole new level of chaos than hosting a regular show for either IHSA or IDA. There was no room for error, everything had to be perfect! We spent all week preparing the horses and the barn. All the riders (those who qualified individually and the eight selected to represent the team) rode at any spare moments and even the not so spare moments. Regular PE lessons were cancelled to give the riders the extra rides.

Before long the big day was here. The four best teams in the Zone piled into the arena as did countless individual qualifiers...

Horse draw was set...

Gift baskets were out...

The ring had been dragged...

The National Anthem sung...

And soon enough my class was up! (Collegiate Cup Novice Flat) I ended up drawing the one horse (out of four) that I have not had the opportunity to ride before: Panama, a horse from Stonehill College. He was a tough ride but we placed second.

And with team riders placing no worse than second all day, MHC won!

Meanwhile, over at UMASS, the MHC Dressage team was competing in the last show of the season. MHC Dressage clinched the regional title, again, and secured a spot at Nationals!

OHIO AND TENNESSEE HERE WE COME!!