The Equestrian team competed in its second horse show of theyear at Texas A&M University over the weekend. The team had atotal of 17 points, placing fourth at the show in CollegeStation.
SMU finished one point ahead of Louisiana StateUniversity.
The Mustangs had a good day on Friday but were in seventh placeat the end of the day. On Sunday the girls proved to be talented,jumping three spots to fourth place.
“We were all very nervous because we had never had a horseshow experience like that,” Katie Kotchka, junior captainsaid.
Each rider had to draw the number of a horse out of a hat andimmediately mount the horse without touching the reins. A TexasA&M team member walked them around until they entered the ring.No one was allowed to warm up or jump before they entered the ringmaking the competition difficult and nerve racking for theriders.
Junior Samantha Sheehan placed 5th in open fences to start theday for the team. Sheehan also placed 1st and fourth in equitationon the flat and fifth in hunt seat equitation over fences.
“We all did very well this weekend, and I am very proud ofall my teammates for the time and effort they have invested in sucha new team,” Sheehan said.
Ashley Lewis, a junior business major and nationally recognizedpolo player, just made the switch to jumping this August. Lewistook second place in novice flat and third over fences.
“Ashley is one of the most talented jumpers I have everseen. The fact that she can get around a course, let aloneflawlessly, is incredible,” Sheehan said of Lewis.
Christy Isaacs, a junior from Jacksonville, Fla. followed Lewis,taking a third place finish in the novice flat section II.
“I am very proud of myself. I never expected to be able todo as well as I have,” Isaacs said.
The team practices at the Las Colinas Equestrian Center 20 milesoutside of Dallas.
The team is lead by head coach Jenny Passow of Big Spring, TX.Passow has been an English rider for more than 25 years and has wonseveral awards. Passow attended Texas Tech University and althoughshe did not ride for them, she continued to take riding lessons.Passow is looking forward to watching the team grow and helping thegirls out in any way possible.
Other schools in Texas that have equestrian teams include TexasA&M, West Texas A&M, North Central Texas College inGainesville, Stephen F. Austin, Sul Ross, Tarleton, Texas Tech,Texas A&M at Corpus Christi, Trinity and the University ofTexas at Austin.
The team is on a short break until after the holidays, but thegirls look forward to continuing in the spring semester with theirfirst show of the new year at Oklahoma State University Feb.7-8.
