As most Geneseo students began their Spring Breaks the Geneseo Equestrian Team traveled to St. Lawrence University and Cazenovia College to compete in the last regular competitions of this academic year. Geneseo Equestrian Team competes in Zone 2, Region 2 of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) against eleven other schools. Most of the schools that Geneseo rides against are varsity teams, which practice multiple times per week. Geneseo Equestrian members have one lesson per week at Leg Up Stables, just outside the village of Geneseo. Riders of all skill level compete on unfamiliar horses, provided by the host school, without any warm-up time provided. This format is designed to give all riders an equal “luck of the draw”.

Saturday March 6th, at St. Lawrence University, Geneseo competed against ten other schools and finished in an impressive fourth place overall. Leslie Miller began the day by winning her jumping class. Julieann Ragone and Marcy Rice kept spirits high by both placing 2nd in their jumping classes. Late in the afternoon Audra Smith also placed 2nd in her flat class. Multiple other team members received 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th throughout the day.

Sunday March 7th, at Cazenovia College, Geneseo ended their regular season as a Reserved Champion Team, finishing only one point behind Cazenovia, a team that has multiple National Championship titles. Again, Leslie Miller started the team off well by winning both her jumping and flat classes. Later in the day Miller competed in a ride-off with two other riders and was named the Reserved Champion Rider of the day. This standing also placed Miller as the Reserved Champion Rider of the year in Geneseo’s region. Kim Nosek, Nicolle Santillo and Janice Washburn all placed 2nd in each of their jump classes. Later in the afternoon, Julie Sahler and Holly Skuce helped the team clench the Reserved Champion title by each winning their classes. Throughout the day Geneseo riders continued to steadily accumulate team points.

Several members of the team have qualified to advance to Regionals on March 27th, which will be held at Cazenovia College. Please congratulate, and extend good wishes, to the following students who will be advancing on to represent Geneseo in Regional competition: Vanessa Brown, Anne Haggarty, Leslie Miller, Julieann Ragone, Audra Smith and Janice Washburn.