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Collegiate Eventers Show Their Spirit at Intercollegiate Team Challenge

College teams represent at Poplar Place. Photo by Bethany Beres. College teams represent at Poplar Place. Photo by Bethany Beres.

This past weekend, the fourth annual intercollegiate team challenge took place at Poplar Place Farm in Hamilton, GA.

College eventers from the University of Georgia, Auburn, Clemson, the University of Kentucky, the University of South Carolina Aiken, the University of North Georgia, Columbus State University, and the University of Alabama were present.

Despite a wet cross country day on Sunday, the weekend was a thrilling success for college eventing. College flags and team colors were seen all over the showgrounds. Riders from different teams could be spotted mingling and giving each other support all through the weekend.

Eventing may be the only college sport where athletes from opposing universities come together to support the same goal – helping college eventing grow!

Amongst the good spirits, there was still plenty of competitive riding going on! Saturday was a perfect fall day filled with dressage and show jumping.

Kaitlyn Ruff and Shadowfax. Photo by Bethany Beres.

Kaitlyn Ruff and Shadowfax. Photo by Bethany Beres.

College riders were in the top scores of every division. Sunday, cross country day, was the day of the monsoon. Conditions were less than ideal, but college riders showed their dedication to the sport and persevered through the wind and rain. The weekend ended with many college riders ribboning and new friendships formed.

Final Team Scores

1st – USC Aiken (Nicole Wisniewski, Manon Quilodran, Brendan Quinn)

2nd – Auburn (Sara Ann Thornley, Sallie Johnson, Caroline Rickard, Kristen Horn)

3rd – CSU/Auburn (Maggie Baker, Erin Chalmers, Megan Walker, Aubrey Wagner)

4th – UGA Red Team (Kaitlyn Ruff, Kelly Boltz, Devon Olivier, Katie Harivel)

5th – Clemson (Samantha Messamer, Sarah Pyne, Elizabeth Donohue)

6th – UGA Black Team (Emily Cardin, Emily Cox, Whitney Rowell, Whitney Granberry)

7th – UGA Silver/Alabama (Kendall Lee, Ava Mohiuddin, Heather DiGregorio, Megan Majchszak)

8th – UGA White Team (Johannah Crumpton, Libby Head, Sarah Beth Hood)

9th – UKDET/UNG (Hailey McLaughlin, Cady Solomon, Frances Helen Chapman)

Individual College Rider Results

1st – Sallie Johnson (Auburn)

2nd – Brendan Quinn (USC Aiken)

3rd – Sarah Pyne (Clemson)

4th – Nicole Wisniewski (USC Aiken)

5th – Maggie Baker (CSU)

6th – Kaitlyn Ruff (UGA)

UGA Eventing Enjoys Success in Aiken

Photo via Kaitlyn Ruff. Photo via Kaitlyn Ruff.

What a great weekend spent in Aiken, South Carolina at the Stable View Horse Trials!The University of Georgia Eventing Team was on site volunteering at Stable View’s world class facility on September 26-27 to help ensure the event ran smoothly.

Under the supervision of Stable View’s volunteer coordinator, Melissa Rundt, UGA Eventers, sporting their red and black, could be seen throughout the venue cross country judging, stewarding, and timing stadium jumping. In exchange for their volunteer efforts, Stable View hosted the first UGA Eventing clinic of the school year, cross country with Kristin Schmolze. The horse trials and clinic were both a thrilling success.

The Piedmont Pony Club also had the opportunity to participate in this exciting weekend. Girls from the club served as mounted score runners, galloping their ponies around the cross country course collecting and delivering scores. This is frequently seen in European competitions, such as Burghley, but not commonly seen stateside.

Photo via Kaitlyn Ruff.

Photo via Kaitlyn Ruff.

Saturday night featured a competitor’s party with the theme of “outrageous” with a delicious dinner catered by Aiken favorite, Casa Bella.

Pony Clubbers were decked out in wild colors and horse themed costumes adding to the festive atmosphere of the night. The UGA Eventing team continued their team bonding by spending the night together above the Stable View main barn.

The University of Georgia Eventing Team would like to thank Cindy and Barry Olliff for their support of college eventing and allowing the team to not only use their facilities, but also spend a fun and educational weekend volunteering.

Grab a Ticket to Ride with UGA Eventing

Photos courtesy of UGA Eventing. Photos courtesy of UGA Eventing.

Will’s Park Equestrian Center in Alpharetta, Georgia is getting ready to host their 14th annual Ticket to Ride Benefit Horse Show July 17th-19th. This year, all money raised through the show will go to the University of Georgia’s Eventing Team. The University of Georgia’s Eventing Team strives to make eventing feasible, financially and time wise, for young riders who would normally have to choose between riding competitively or the time and cost of college.

In doing this, they hope to bring more publicity to the sport of eventing as a whole, and also develop more top level riders that can go on to represent the US in international competition. The team has members from the pre-Beginner Novice level all the way up to Advanced and is currently the leader in both team and individual collegiate team challenge wins. This is very exciting event in the equestrian community as three disciplines of riding – Hunters, Jumpers, and Eventers – join hands and hooves.

We highly encourage everyone in the area come out and join in the fun! We estimate around 200 horses will be competing throughout the weekend.

On Friday there will a lot of fun for everyone – classes such as Ride a Buck, Jumper Relay, and Egg & Spoon, a mechanical bull to test your rodeo skills, a raffle with many exciting additions for your tack collection, face painting, and more! Saturday and Sunday will feature competitive Hunter and Jumper classes that are recognized by the Georgia Hunter Jumper Association.

Not a horse person? Not a problem! There will be many awesome vendors and tons of entertainment throughout the weekend. So bring your horse, friends, and family!

It is not too late to donate to a great cause! The UGA Eventing Team is still taking donations for the giveaway and raffle items. If you are interested in being a vendor or donating your time to provide a service at the show, please contact Kelly Boltz or Kaitlyn Ruff (contact information listed below).

This is a great opportunity to get publicity for yourself, your company and/or your product! The UGA Eventing Team always brings a crowd of supporters, parents, and future UGA Eventers, so come join the fun!

For more information on the show and to enter, please visit the Ticket to Ride Facebook page.

​Please contact UGA Eventing Treasurer and event planner, Kelly Boltz, at [email protected] with any additional questions regarding the show. Please contact UGA Eventing President, Kaitlyn Ruff, at [email protected] for any questions regarding the University of Georgia’s Eventing Team.

Third Intercollegiate Eventing Team Challenge Hailed a Success

Another Intercollegiate Eventing Team Challenge has come and gone at Chatt Hills, and many college teams were out competing in what has become a steady favorite event for these young riders. UGA Eventing Vice-President Kaitlyn Ruff sent in this great recap from the weekend's festivities.

UGA's Kelly Boltz and Kat Got Your Luck. Photo courtesy of UGA Eventing. UGA's Kelly Boltz and Kat Got Your Luck. Photo courtesy of UGA Eventing.

Over the past two years, college eventing has experienced rapid growth. More and more colleges are forming eventing teams each year. The USEA has recognized college eventing and is offering a Collegiate Program Membership for the 2015 season. Intercollegiate Team Challenges continue to grow in both number of college riders who participate and spectators present each semester. It is an exciting time to be a college eventer!

Recently, Chattahoochee Hills located in Fairburn, Georgia hosted their third Intercollegiate Team Challenge alongside their October Horse Trial. The University of Georgia, Auburn University, The University of Alabama, Clemson University, The University of North Georgia, and Columbus State University all sent riders to compete.

First place team, the UGA Silver Team. Photo courtesy of UGA Eventing.

First place team, the UGA Silver Team. Photo courtesy of UGA Eventing.

College spirit was abundant during the weekend. Flags and banners displaying team logos and school colors could be seen blowing in the wind throughout the show-grounds. Dozens of spectators in red and black, orange and blue, and crimson red could be seen cheering for their favorite college. Horses and riders were decked out in their school colors, as they rocked around the cross-country course.

The weekend was a great opportunity for college eventers of the southeast to mix and mingle. Auburn University handed out bouquets of carrots to members of other college teams Saturday afternoon. Supportive words were exchanged between members of all teams throughout the weekend. Everyone present was clearly passionate about seeing college eventing, as a whole, continue to grow and experience success.

Libby Head and Voulez-Vous. Photo courtesy of UGA Eventing.

Libby Head and Voulez-Vous. Photo courtesy of UGA Eventing.

Chattahoochee Hills also provided college riders with the opportunity to test their skills on some tough courses at a world-class facility. The cross-country course at each level was maxed out and provided difficult questions for horse and rider. Show jumping was twisty and required optimum control. Despite these challenges, college riders were in the top placing of all divisions.

The weekend concluded with a special college eventing awards ceremony. The top six college teams were awarded ribbons, as well as the top six individual college riders. The weekend was a huge success. The scores of the college teams were very competitive, and riders from each school had many beautiful, flawless rides.

Go Collegeiate Eventing!

Final College Team Placings:

1st Place – UGA Silver Team

Emily Cox
Bailey Fabricius
Emma Watson
Kelly Boltz

2nd Place – UGA Red Team

Kaitlyn Ruff
Shelby Allen
Jorja Miller
Jamie Yale

3rd Place – University of Alabama Event Team

Caitlin Cobb
Angela Lenning
Meagan Majchszak
Julie Ruehl

4th Place – Columbus State University/University of North Georgia Event Team

Maggie Baker
Josephine Draper
Cady Solomon
Katie Harviel

5th Place – Clemson University Purple Team

Haley Doyle
Anna Fogerty
Samantha Hay
Sarah Pyne

6th Place – Auburn Event Team

Betsy Kaywood
Lydia Kennedy
Claire Robinson
Lucia Menozi

7th Place – UGA Black Team

Whitney Granberry
Libby Head
Sydney Lanier
Alex Pistocco

8th Place – Clemson University/Auburn Orange Team

Kaitlyn Bardos
Erica Wind
Bailey Lester
Andrea Glazer

Top Individual College Riders:

1st Place – Sarah Pyne of Clemson University

2nd Place – Shelby Allen of The University of Georgia

3rd Place – Anna Fogerty of Clemson University

4th Place – Kelly Boltz of The University of Georgia

5th Place – Emma Watson of The University of Georgia

6th Place – Andrea Glazer of Auburn University