THE PROGRAM

 

Traditionally among the top riding programs in its region and zone, St. Lawrence University's equestrian team was the reserve national champions for the Miller's Cup and also had an individual national champion in 2000-2001 as they competed at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association National Championship show. In 2003-2004, the Saints sent two riders to the IHSA National Championship where Hallie Britt '06 secured a fourth place finish in the Individual Walk Trot Canter Championship. In 2004-05, the Saints took home the Zone II Championship and finished fifth at the IHSA National Championship.

 

Katelyn Swirbalus '07 was awarded the Rider Sportsmanship Award at the 2005 IHSA Nationals Liz McCormick '06 was the recepient of an Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Alumni Scholarship and Cate Doucette '04 was awarded a senior academic/athletic achievement award in 2004.

 

St. Lawrence competed for the team title at the national championship for the first time since 1992, finishing second behind the University of Findlay with 22 points. The Saint riding team won back-to-back national championships in 1976-77.

 

Ashley Dann '03, Burlington, Vt., won an individual national championship as she took first in Novice Horsemanship over Fences. Dann also won that event in the Zone II championships and was the regional champion in Novice on the Flat.

 

St. Lawrence riders also took two Miller's Cup individual championships and had a reserve champion as well. Jess Niven '01, Studio City, Ca., was the champion in Intermediate Horsemanship on the Flat and freshman Cate Doucette '04, Whitefield, N.H., took the top spot in Walk-Trot-Canter competition. Both Niven and Doucette earned zone championships in the same events. Niven was eighth in Novice Horsemanship over Fences. Jessica Flounders was the Miller's Cup reserve champion in Novice on the Flat and was the regional champion in Walk-Trot-Canter equitation.

 

Alixe Schwartz '01, North Egremont, Mass., Cate Wagner, Westwood, Mass., and Niven along with Jessica Cordova '04, Naples, Fla., and Doucette made up the Miller's Cup reserve national championship team. Schwartz was fifth in the Open Fences competition, Wagner placed sixth in Intermediate Horsemanship over Fences and Cordova was eighth in Walk-Trot competition.

 

St. Lawrence riders have won six individual titles in the last six years and the team has consistently been among the best in the region and zone. The high-point school for the year in each region qualifies to compete as a team in the IHSA show and St. Lawrence has won five Cartier Cup titles as the National Team Champion. Competition throughout the year accumulates points toward regional honors and zone competition. Riders are judged on their ability to handle an unfamiliar horse in a number of events based on riding skill level.Competitions are held in Walk-Trot; Walk-Trot-Canter; Novice, Intermediate and Open Equitation on the Flat; and Novice Intermediate and Open Equitation over Fences. Riders advance through the various classes throughout an intercollegiate season based on point accumulated in competitions. The IHSA also offers western riding competitions in its championship shows.

 

In addition to IHSA competitions, St. Lawrence has competed in the six-team Affiliated National Riding Championship, becoming the first Northern team to win that title in 1998, an in the Tournament of Champions, among other major intercollegiate events. The St. Lawrence riding program also offers riding instruction for riders who do not compete in intercollegiate events. The University's riding facilities include both indoor and outdoor riding rings and extensive riding trails as part of the Elsa Gunnison Riding Hall complex.