During the Hunter Seat Team Competition at 2005 IHSA Nationals, Miami of Ohio sophomore Jennifer Hutson (center) earned a first in team open fences and a third in team open flat. Hutson would account for more than half of the red hawk's team points.

AIDED BY THREE BLUE RIBBONS, THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS REPEAT

Sunbury, OH - For the first time in twelve years IHSA Nationals took place in the state of Ohio. And for the sixth season in a row, two schools from the state of Ohio qualified for the team competition, or "Collegiate Cup" championship as it is also known.

Schools from the state of Ohio have faired well in national hunter seat team competitions. The University of Findlay won it all in 2001 (the only season in IHSA history both the english and western National Champions were from the same school) while Ohio University won in 2002, to date the only time the bobcats have ever qualified as a team to ride at Nationals. Findlay was Reserve National Champion last season, losing by only one point. In addition, Miami of Ohio would make their eighteenth team appearance in 2005. The red hawks have often scored double-digit numbers at Nationals, including each of their past three appearances.

Besides Findlay and Miami of Ohio there were fifteen other teams with hopes of being 2005 National Champions. Only five of these fifteen teams had not reached Nationals last season, including both Zone 2 entries. Skidmore College, which had won five National Championships in the 1990's, made only their second appearance since 2000. Saint Lawrence University, the 2001 Reserve National Champions behind Findlay (and co-winners of 2005 Zone 2 Zones) continued a trend where they make it to Nationals on odd-numbered years, returning for the first time since 2003. Kansas State qualified for the second time in school history. Like Saint Lawrence, it was the wildcat's first appearance since '03. College of Charleston had not made it this far since 2001, while the University of Connecticut ended a thirteen year drought with their first trip to Nationals since 1992. The ten schools returning from the 2004 competition in Murfreesboro, Tennessee included Mount Holyoke College, winners of 2005 Zone 1 Zones in come-from-behind fashion, looking to improve on a five-point showing last season; The University of the South, making their third consecutive appearance, having finished second to College of Charleston at Zone 5 Zones; The University of Wisconsin at Madison, winners of Zone 9 Zones, and the only Zone 9 school to compete at Nationals each of three seasons since their Zone was created in 2002; Penn State University, like University of the South and Wisconsin at Madison, making their third consecutive appearance; Delaware Valley College, runner-up at Zone 3 Zones to Penn State, hoping to improve on their one-point performance in 2004; Fresno State, Zone 8 champs for the third season in a row, hoping to improve on an eleven-point performance in 2004; Texas A & M, also with eleven points in 2004, hoping for once not to be upstaged by the aggie western team; Colorado State, Zone 7 Zones winners, competing for what may be the last time, owing to the decision of the school to drop their riding team following the 2004-05 season; Hollins University, winner of Zone 4 Zones, with the longest current streak of Nationals hunter seat team appearances with eight, and Virginia Intermont College, second to Hollins at Zones but winners by a 27-26 score over Findlay at 2004 Nationals. Virginia Intermont had four riders back from last season's team competition, three of which would ride at least once at the same level as in Murfreesboro.

The schedule of classes was nearly identical to that of 2004 Nationals, with no changes to the order of hunter seat team sections. Though the entire show was held indoors at Eden Park Equestrian Complex, the sun was out most of the time and temperatures rose into the seventies more than once. Following individual intermediate over fences (which opened Nationals for the second year in a row), the Team Competition started with novice over fences. Though all who competed at 2005 Nationals received a participation ribbon upon registration, the goal of those entered in the team competition was to earn another ribbon - sixth or higher - to put their team on the scoreboard. After all seventeen riders had completed the course, judges Sue Ashe and Linda Esau did not ask for any testing. Announcer Keith Bradley asked the riders to return to the ring and the placings were given. Sixth went to Jessica Yankus of Delaware Valley College, ironically duplicating the ribbon teammate Emily Casali won in the same division on opening day at 2004 Nationals. Courtney Clark, a Skidmore sophomore from Pleasantville, New York was fifth. Penn State sophomore Lauren Wright, who rode at 2004 Nationals in team novice flat, put the nittany lions on the board with a fourth. College of Charleston freshman Julia Nichols made her Nationals debut a memberable one, earning the yellow ribbon. Liz Dubrowski of Findlay had been the final rider to jump the course, but certainly came in far from last. The oiler sophomore from Wilton, Connecticut earned the reserve ribbon.

When the final placing was announced, it seemed as though 2004 Nationals had never ended. Virginia Intermont sophomore Kristina Macey took the blue ribbon, giving the cobras an early 7-5 lead on the oilers. Unlike the majority of her teammates, it was the first ride in an IHSA National show for Macey.

Following two individual over fences classes, the jumps were removed and team intermediate flat took place. As would be the case in most of the flat classes, Esau and Ashe excused a large number of riders halfway through the division. Eight of the seventeen riders remained, and as each cantered one-by-one they were called into the middle of the ring. It was surprising how calm most of the crowd was, as the order of which each rider was called in indicated exactly where that rider would place. Saint Lawrence got on the board as senior Whitney MacDonnell was sixth. Wisconsin at Madison also earned points via Lindsey Willard, who was fifth. Findlay became the first team to earn points in consecutive classes, as sophomore Leigh Murray was fourth. Ann Marie Reubin put Texas A & M on the board with a third, while Diana Rosenbaum's reserve ribbon gave Mount Holyoke as many points through two divisions as the lyons had earned at 2004 Nationals through eight.

Keir Brookes of Colorado State drew 'Jox' for the team intermediate flat division. The tandem won the class, putting Colorado State and Virginia Intermont in second place one point behind Findlay through two divisions.

The blue ribbon went to Colorado State sophomore Keir Brookes. From Denver, Colorado, Brookes became the first Colorado State rider to win a team class at IHSA Nationals since Megan Raczka won team novice flat at 1999 Nationals, when the rams came in second overall to Skidmore. With Findlay the only team thus far able to earn points in each of the first two divisions, it seemed for the moment as though anyone could win. Colorado State, which entered 2005 Nationals having tied Stony Brook University for most consecutive Region Championships with sixteen (Centenary College also tied this record in 2005 - Editor), twice came in second at Nationals during the 1990's and had reached Nationals all but one season since 1990. Could the team with no foreseeable future in the IHSA go out as Champion?

Team novice flat followed intermediate. Wright, Yankus, Laura Hansen of Texas A & M and Tiffany Nunan of Colorado State had shown in team novice fences earlier in the day, and Nunan finished inside the top six at sixth this time. Mount Holyoke sophomore Marie Hilliard moved the lyon's overall point total to seven with a fifth. Kate Bacon of Saint Lawrence was fourth while third went to Findlay freshman Natassia Hovey, giving the oilers points in each division so far and twelve overall. Miami of Ohio got on the board courtesy of freshman Diane Silcox, who won the reserve ribbon.

Though she had finished fifth in the division a year ago, Virginia Intermont junior Nora Harris got to compete in team novice flat again this season. The Winsted, Connecticut resident did not disappoint, winning the second blue ribbon for the cobras and putting them two points ahead of Findlay. Would the same two teams go down to the wire in '05?

Following a pair of individual hunter seat classes and both flat sections of the Cacchione Cup, the team walk-trot-canter brought day one of 2005 Nationals to a close (and at a record pace. The final placing was announced at 4:19PM, one minute shy of seven and a half hours since Heather Hurst of Hollins had been the first rider into the ring). When the placings were finally announced two more teams would get onto the scoreboard for the first time. Sixth went to Kansas State sophomore Macie Ayers while another sophomore, in this case Skidmore's Katherine 'Kate' Hugo was fifth. From Marblehead, Massachusetts, Hugo was the second pink ribbon winner for the aptly-named thoroughbreds but would not be the last. Delaware Valley College freshman Lauren Vile was fourth. Vile would be one of two riders at 2005 Nationals to earn team points in both the hunter seat and stock seat team competitions, placing sixth in team advanced western two days later. Caroline Nobo gave Mount Holyoke points in three consecutive classes with a third. Virginia Intermont junior Rachel Ellis had won the team walk-trot-canter division at 2004 Nationals; This season she stepped back to reserve. The good news for Virginia Intermont was that their nineteen points put them seven ahead of Findlay and eight ahead of Mount Holyoke at the end of day one.

Lindsay Little of Hollins (far right) was the only one of five recent members of the East Tennessee 4-H Club to compete at IHSA Nationals and not ride for Middle Tennessee State. From left to right are Emily Burkey, Theresa Whitlow, Lori Puckett, Amy Snoderly of the blue raiders and Little.

The rider who won the blue ribbon had quite a few friends from another school on hand to help inspire her to victory. Emily Burkey, Theresa Whitlow, Lori Puckett and Amy Snoderly of Middle Tennessee State competed at least once each in their own right during the four-day show. Coincidentally all four were members of the East Tennessee 4-H over the past three seasons, as was Lindsay Little of Hollins University, winner of team walk-trot-canter. From Maryville, Tennessee, Little became the first Hollins rider on the board and perhaps put her team in the running. With four team classes still to come, it would be subjective to say which teams were still realistically alive for the championship. Some might say Hollins was alive being twelve back. Others might say a fifteen point lead was not insurmountable, and that all the schools with four points had a chance provided the cobras suddenly stayed out of the ribbons. A lot would depend on the strength of the open riders, as two of the remaining four divisions were open level. Through one day it was Virginia Intermont 19, Findlay 12, Mount Holyoke 11, Colorado State 8, Hollins 7, Miami of Ohio 5, Delaware Valley 4, Charleston 4, Saint Lawrence 4, Skidmore 4, Texas A & M 4, Penn State 3, Wisconsin at Madison 2, Kansas State 1 and three others still looking for their first point.

Though day two of Nationals started at 8:37AM, the first team class of the Friday session did not commence until almost noon, owing to the length of the over fences phase of the Cacchione Cup Competition. Five of the 29 riders to compete in the Cacchione class would score points in the team competition before it was over, including four riders who would secure points in both team open level divisions. However the first team class of the day was intermediate fences. Somewhat surprisingly, only two of the seventeen riders entered (including Brookes) had competed in team intermediate flat the day before. More than half of these intermediate jumpers would ride only one time at 2005 Nationals, though in some cases, it was not their first time competing at an IHSA Nationals show, or in team intermediate fences for that matter. Sixth was awarded to Lauren Demmel of Kansas State, a junior from Littleton, Colorado who had competed in the exact same division at 2003 Nationals. Leyla Mundy of Fresno State had two prior Nationals team rides, having placed fifth in team novice fences in '03 and out of the ribbons in team intermediate flat last season. The senior from Santa Barbara, California equaled her '03 ribbon with a fifth here. The next three placings went to riders making their Nationals debuts. Saint Lawrence sophomore Hannah Stonefield was fourth, Erin Richardson of Hollins was third, and freshman Hawthorne Hart of Skidmore was second. In each case their points kept their team in the running, at least until the final intermediate fences placing was announced.

Virginia Intermont's Kimberly Hezzelwood was no stranger to IHSA Nationals or team intermediate fences. In fact it would be one year ago tomorrow that the senior from San Clemente, California had won the very same division. Hezzelwood also rode in the division at 2003 Nationals, finishing out of the ribbons. Though seventeen teams all had mathematical hope entering the division only nine retained that hope, as Hezzelwood won team intermediate over fences for the second season in a row. Virginia Intermont now held a commanding lead, fourteen ahead of Findlay and fifteen ahead of both Mount Holyoke and Hollins. The cobras had 26 points, one shy of their final total at 2004 Nationals, with three team classes still to come. To make matters more difficult for the competition, three-time Cacchione Cup qualifier Erika Jewell would ride for VI in two of these classes.

Earlier in the day, Jewell, Miami of Ohio's Jennifer Hutson and Mount Holyoke's Kyla Makhloghi all secured places within the top seven of the Cacchione Cup Competition, meaning each would return for the testing phase of the Cacchione class on Sunday morning. Jewell, Makhloghi and Hutson were also entered in team open flat, the sixth of twelve classes held during the Friday session (three other Cacchione competitors, Jennifer Betts of Penn State, Jennifer Champagne of Hollins and Stephanie Glass of Texas A & M also took part). As had been the case with previous flat classes, a certain number of riders were excused roughly halfway through the division. When the dust settled sixth place went to College of Charleston freshman Emily Hummel. Hummel was one of many Charleston frosh to excel in 2004-05, which could bode well for the long-term future of the cougars (there were only four seniors and three juniors on the 2004-05 32-person College of Charleston roster - Editor). Fifth place went to Glass, already assured of eighth place in the Cacchione Cup, and who would place fifth or higher in each of her individual and team classes. Colorado State's Alex Ansteth was fourth, putting the rams into double digits with eleven. Hutson was third, but the Miami of Ohio sophomore would improve on this placing before the show was over. The number of teams still in the running for a National Championship shrunk from nine to two, as Jewell took the reserve ribbon. It would be the highest placing for the Virginia Intermont junior at 2005 Nationals.

Makhloghi, a junior from Putney, Vermont, would have as good a Nationals as any hunter seat rider. Though only ninth in individual open fences on Thursday morning, Makhloghi would place no lower than second throughout the rest of the competition. Makhloghi won team open flat, making Mount Holyoke the only team with a mathematical chance of catching Virginia Intermont. The cobras (a nickname VI Head Coach Eddie Federwisch cannot stand) led the lyons (a nickname which derives from Mary Lyon, who formed the Massachusetts school in 1837) by a 31-18 margin. Though first looked pretty safe for Intermont, the race for reserve was still very much a contest, with Colorado State, Findlay and Hollins all within seven points of Mount Holyoke.

The third and final hunter seat team division of the day took place four classes later. Some around the IHSA object to the fact that team walk-trot is the seventh of eight team classes, due to the fact that the lowest-level riders compete at such an important moment within the competition. Some feel this division should take place earlier, and that the intermediate and open riders should handle the make-or-break divisions toward the end. For the second season in a row the division was seventh, and for the fifth season in a row both team open divisions were among the final three team divisions, sort of balancing things out. The division was over and done with in less than half an hour, making it perhaps the fastest class of the entire show. Sixth went to Skidmore's Pearl Higgins, a senior from Sturbridge, Massachusetts who put the thoroughbreds into double digits with their tenth point. University of the South freshman Bradley Waffa was fifth, putting the tigers on the scoreboard for the first time (at this point, only the University of Connecticut had yet to score). Fourth went to Kansas State freshman Lianna Bodlack, whose older sister Erin is also a member of the wildcat team. Bodlack's three points gave Kansas State a total of five, a vast improvement over the wildcat's previous Nationals appearance in 2003 when they scored only a point. Texas A & M freshman Katrina McLeod was third, the Rockport, Texas resident raising the aggie point total to ten. Like Delaware Valley's Vile, McLeod would score points for the aggie stock seat team, placing fourth in team beginner western the next day. Saint Lawrence sophomore Katelyn Swirbalus scored the highest ribbon of the show for the saints, as the Hanover, Massachusetts resident took the reserve ribbon. Saint Lawrence now had twelve points, their best showing since scoring 22 and earning reserve at 2001 Nationals.

From Stowe, Massachusetts, Mount Holyoke sophomore Danielle Johnson won the Team Walk-Trot division. Mount Holyoke scored the most points of any hunter seat team on the second day of Nationals, moving from eight back to six behind Virginia Intermont headed into the final division on Saturday.

Mount Holyoke has historically done well both individually and in team competitions at Nationals in the walk-trot divisions. Sara Roysten won individual walk-trot at 2004 Nationals, as did Lessa Millard in 1997 (after this article was posted, a Mount Holyoke graduate e-mailed to point out that we overlooked another recent Mount Holyoke individual walk-trot winner. Janet Obee took first place for the lyons at 2002 Nationals in Cazenovia, New York - Editor). In 2000, Elisa Panetta-Villareal won team walk-trot for the lyons, who went on to win the National Championship. Though many schools had a shot to catch Mount Holyoke before the division started, sophomore Danielle Johnson put a stop to that, winning the division and bringing the lyons closer to Virginia Intermont than the rest of the pack. At the end of day two the race for first was still up in the air. Virginia Intermont had 31 and needed only two points to assure an outright repeat of the National Championship. Mount Holyoke had 25 points and needed another first from Makhloghi plus no more than a sixth from Jewell to gain a tie. There was a real logjam below second, with Saint Lawrence at 12, Findlay (with no points in the last four classes) at 12, Colorado State at 11, Hollins at 11, Skidmore at 10, Texas A & M at 10, Miami of Ohio at 9, College of Charleston at 5, Kansas State at 5, Delaware Valley at 4, Penn State at 3, Fresno State at 2, University of the South at 2, Wisconsin at Madison at 2 and the University of Connecticut still looking for their first point. Would the huskies avoid the shutout? Would Mount Holyoke stage one of the great comebacks of all time??

The final team class would also be the first class of the Saturday session. Team open fences contained even more Cacchione qualifiers than team open flat, as Jewell, Makhloghi, Glass, Betts, Champagne, Hutson, Melisa Voytershark of Delaware Valley and Ashley Woodhouse of Skidmore were chosen by their respective coaches to ride in the division. Woodhouse was another of the final seven who made the cut in the Cacchione Class and would compete in the work-off for that prize immediately following team open fences.

One-by-one each rider jumped the course. It was apparent that Makhloghi had had one of the best rides, but Jewell's ride was perhaps as good and if not, then certainly worthy of points. The placing which caused the most commotion was not for first in this division but for sixth! Heather Callahan, daughter of University of Connecticut Head Coach Janice Callahan and the UConn entry in the division earned sixth, getting the huskies on the scoreboard and also resulting in the entire UConn entourage running full tilt to give Heather Callahan a group hug! (A rather humorous printing error in the front of the 2005 IHSA Nationals Show Program indicated that Callahan and John Pigott, the latter of whom rode for the University of Vermont from 2000-04 and won the 2003 Cacchione Cup, were BOTH entered in team open over fences for the huskies.) After a brief delay, announcer Bradley awarded fifth to Woodhouse, giving Skidmore a total of 12, putting them in a tie with Zone rival Saint Lawrence, just as the final point total at Zone 2 Zones had resulted in both schools tieing with 42. Woodhouse, a sophomore from Minneapolis, Minnesota would fair even better one class later, becoming 2005 Cacchione Cup Champion and only the second Skidmore rider after Lindsey Phibbs in 1999 to win that honor.

Fourth place iced the repeat championship. Jewell, who would place fifth in the Cacchione, earned the white ribbon, moving the cobras to 34 points. Coach Eddie Federwisch, Assistant Coach Margaret Jones (who did not attend 2004 Nationals but got to see her team win it all this time) and the other cobra riders could ready themselves for the presentation of the championship trophy and several prizes courtesy of Weatherbeeta, who sponsored the team competition.

Glass, a senior from Spring, Texas, placed third, though it would not be her final ride as she would place third again in individual open flat. When added to the other ten aggie points, the total of 14 turned out to be the highest ever scored by a Texas A & M hunter seat team at Nationals. Second went to Makhloghi, who would place second to Woodhouse in the Cacchione. Makhloghi would win the individual open flat outright, giving her two blue ribbons and two red ribbons over the final two days of hunter seat classes. Hutson won team open fences, raising the Miami of Ohio team total to 16, which turned out to be good enough for third place.

Following team open over fences came the Cacchione work-off. Following the Cacchione work-off came the yearly Parade of Teams. Following the Parade of Teams came the Hunter Seat Awards Presentations. Each team tenth or higher was invited out into the center of the ring to pose for pictures and to receive their ribbons. Several teams finished in ties for their placing, including a three-way tie for fifth between Saint Lawrence (who appeared to have the most non-riding team members in attendance), Skidmore and Findlay. First year Hunter Seat Head Coach Linzy Woolf had to be happy that her Texas A & M aggies finished fourth (their highest-ever hunter seat placing), as some thought several significant aggie seniors had graduated in 2004. Thanks to Hutson, who scored eleven of the red hawk's 16 points, Miami of Ohio interim Coach Erika Githens could claim third for her team. Mount Holyoke Head Coach C.J. Law had been through many a parade and awards ceremony before today, though we at Campus Equestrian are not sure how many times the lyons have finished reserve at Nationals (Mount Holyoke won Nationals in 1986 as well as 2000). Last out into the ring was Virginia Intermont, known often simply as "Eddie's Team," 34-30 winners over Mount Holyoke and the first hunter seat team to repeat as champions since Skidmore in 1995 and 1996. At the urging of Jones, 1989 Virginia Intermont graduate Ashton Phillips joined the team and coaching staff for the awards presentation. A regular in the alumni divisions at Nationals since 2002, Phillips finished fourth in alumni fences this season.

Kimberly Hezzelwood (left) and Head Coach Eddie Federwisch had already posed for similar-looking pictures at 2004 Nationals, as the Virginia Intermont rider won team intermediate over fences at both IHSA Nationals shows. Coincidentally, Virginia Intermont won the National Championship both seasons, this time by a 34-30 margin over Reserve champions Mount Holyoke.

More Nationals comings and goings: The 2005 IHSA Lifetime Achievement Award went to longtime Miami of Ohio Head Coach and former red hawk rider Jim Arrigon. Among the many things that Arrigon has accompished since 1978 include riding on a National Champion IHSA Stock Seat Team (the 1978-79 red hawks); Coaching Murray State to the 1984-85 Stock Seat National Championship; Coaching Miami of Ohio's hunter seat team to Nationals fourteen times in seventeen seasons; Running countless IHSA 'Tournament of Champions' series shows since 1993, and most recently getting involved in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, bringing a format similar to the IHSA to high schools and middle schools. Surprisingly to some, Arrigon stepped down from coaching the red hawks earlier this spring over differences with the Miami of Ohio administration. Though he was no longer coaching the team, the red hawks pulled away from host Findlay and Ohio State at Zone 6 Zones on April 17th and won with 47 points. One of the Miami of Ohio riders on the 2005 team was Jim's son Matt, who competed in team intermediate fences and along with IHSA Founder and Executive Director Bob Cacchione, former IHSA National Treasurer George Lukemire, Zone 6, Region 1 Region President Ollie Griffith and Gwen Arrigon (Matt's Mother and Jim's Wife) presented his Father with the Lifetime Achievement Award and a director's chair, also inscribed with the Lifetime Achievement Award insignia.

Too efficient for their own good: The Parade of Teams used to start IHSA Nationals, but in 2000 the parade was moved to the Saturday session so as many english and western riders as possible could take part. This year's parade started out normally enough, with Zone 1 entering the ring as the announcement of each school in each region began. However right after Zone 9 had completely made it out onto one side of the ring the riders in that same zone started leaving! Then Zone 8 made a beeline for the exit, then seven, then six, etc. The decision was made prior to 2005 Nationals that all who participated in the parade would be excused as soon as the list of schools in each region had been completed. In contrast, the practice up until this season was for the riders to remain in the ring while Cacchione would deliver the welcome speech and introduce a few dignitaries and sponsors. Riders from some of the low-numbered Zones were happy about the change ("We didn't have to stand out there through all the introductions," said one anonymous member from Zone 3) while those in higher numbered Zones thought it was almost pointless to march out with the Zone banner for only about three minutes. This writer feels if the IHSA is to continue with the short version of the parade, then at least alternate from high numbered Zones to low numbered Zones every other year (under this concept, Zone 9 would come out first next season).

The last word on Colorado State: They started out with a horsemanship program before they had an IHSA Team. That changed in 1988, when a Colorado State student convinced instructor Betty Lou Little to enter several riders in an IHSA show in Indiana! Colorado State's first appearance in an IHSA show was a successful one, as the rams won the first and second show over a back-to-back weekend. Rather than continue flying to the midwest, Little spearheaded the move to extend the IHSA west into Colorado and Texas, and during the 1989-90 season what is now known as Zone 7 was formed. The Colorado State hunter seat team would win what is now known as Zone 7, Region 1 every season from 1989-90 through 2004-05. During that time future IHSA coaches such as Jerry Liberatore (at Cal Poly - Pomona), Tana Rawson (at Texas A & M) and Tiare Wells (the current ram Head Coach) would compete for the school from Fort Collins. In 1989 Little, who coached the rams into the mid 1990's, told the IHSA that she looked forward to hosting Nationals one day. That day was only six years away, as the rams put on 1995 Nationals, considered by many one of the best National shows of the decade. After Little came Heather Schoning, who guided the hunter seat rams to reserve at the 1997 and 1999 National Shows. The 1994 Colorado State stock seat team tied Texas A & M for the National Championship. During the past seventeen years several Colorado State riders won individual national championships: Mary Antinora (1992) in novice flat; Amy Black (1995) in open western horsemanship; Dave Skelly (1995) in beginner western horsemanship; Molly Reindollar (1995) in alumni over fences; Kristen Mikulas (1997) in alumni western horsemanship and Tana Buckner (1999, who by mid-2000 had married Mr. Rawson), also in alumni western horsemanship. Despite all this success, in 2005 the powers that be at Colorado State decided to make changes, and one move was to no longer field an equestrian team to compete in IHSA (or other college) shows. Considering the 2004-05 team knew their fate, the fact that Colorado State tied Hollins for sixth should be good news for CSU fans. This writer asked several current rams if any movement existed on campus to form a club team, such as what happenned at the University of Georgia when that school initially went NCAA-only. No one seemed to think it was in the immediate future, so for now Ansteth's fourth in team open flat were the last points in a golden era. The loss of the ram team will be felt immediately in Zone 7. So significantly large was Colorado State to Region 1 that without their presence in 2005-06 three teams from Zone 7, Region 2 will have to move west into Region 1 just to fill the gap (Texas Tech, Sul Ross State and West Texas A & M are the schools being shifted - Editor). Though it is sad that the team will cease to be, we at Campus Equestrian would like to wish everyone involved with the Colorado State program - past and present - the best of luck and we sincerely hope that someday the team is re-born to compete in the IHSA once again.

---Steve Maxwell

The Hunter Seat Team Class-by-Class Results. The first four classes listed were held Thursday, May 5th, the next three were held Friday, May 6th, and the final class was held Saturday, May 7th. The judges for all hunter seat classes were Sue Ashe and Linda Esau:

Team novice equitation over fences: 1. Kristina Macey, Virginia Intermont College. 2. Liz Dubrowski, University of Findlay. 3. Julia Nichols, College of Charleston. 4. Lauren Wright, Penn State University. 5. Courtney Clark, Skidmore College. 6. Jessica Yankus, Delaware Valley College.

Team intermediate equitation on the flat: 1. Keir Brookes, Colorado State University. 2. Diana Rosenbaum, Mount Holyoke College. 3. Ann Marie Reubin, Texas A & M University. 4. Leigh Murray, University of Findlay. 5. Lindsey Willard, University of Wisconsin at Madison. 6. Whitney MacDonnell, Saint Lawrence University.

Team novice equitation on the flat: 1. Nora Harris, Virginia Intermont College. 2. Diane Silcox, Miami University of Ohio. 3. Natassia Hovey, University of Findlay. 4. Kate Bacon, Saint Lawrence University. 5. Marie Hilliard, Mount Holyoke College. 6. Tiffany Nunan, Colorado State University.

Team walk-trot-canter equitation: 1. Lindsay Little, Hollins University. 2. Rachel Ellis, Virginia Intermont College. 3. Caroline Nobo, Mount Holyoke College. 4. Lauren Vile, Delaware Valley College. 5. Katherine Hugo, Skidmore College. 6. Macie Ayers, Kansas State University.

Team intermediate equitation over fences: 1. Kimberly Hezzelwood, Virginia Intermont College. 2. Hawthorne Hart, Skidmore College. 3. Erin Richardson, Hollins University. 4. Hannah Stonefield, Saint Lawrence University. 5. Leyla Mundy, Fresno State. 6. Lauren Demmel, Kansas State University.

Team open equitation on the flat: 1. Kyla Makhloghi, Mount Holyoke College. 2. Erika Jewell, Virginia Intermont College. 3. Jennifer Hutson, Miami University of Ohio. 4. Alex Ansteth, Colorado State University. 5. Stephanie Glass, Texas A & M University. 6. Emily Hummel, College of Charleston.

Team walk-trot equitation: 1. Danielle Johnson, Mount Holyoke College. 2. Katelyn Swirbalus, Saint Lawrence University. 3. Katrina McLeod, Texas A & M University. 4. Lianna Bodlak, Kansas State University. 5. Bradley Waffa, University of the South. 6. Pearl Higgins, Skidmore College.

Team open equitation over fences: 1. Jennifer Hutson, Miami University of Ohio. 2. Kyla Makhloghi, Mount Holyoke College. 3. Stephanie Glass, Texas A & M University. 4. Erika Jewell, Virginia Intermont College. 5. Ashley Woodhouse, Skidmore College. 6. Heather Callahan, University of Connecticut.

Hunter Seat Team Totals: