For a relatively young team, run by junior president Becky Rudolph, sophomore secretary Caitlin Jackson and sophomore publicity manager Rebecca Green, the Oberlin College Equestrian Team (OCET) has gotten off to a great start this year. OCET competes in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) at other colleges around Ohio. Each show is a day long, allowing for two shows per weekend. Different members of the team compete in different divisions, depending on skill and experience level.

OCET competed in four shows over the past two weekends. First they traveled to Ohio State University on Oct. 30 and 31, and then to Lake Erie College for the weekend of Nov. 6 and 7. Overall, the Oberlin team did exceptionally well, placing third at OSU and fourth and fifth at Lake Erie.

At the OSU IHSA Rudolph qualified for high point rider by winning first place in both of her classes. She won overall reserve champion and qualified to compete in the regional horse show finals by pointing out of Intermediate division into Open, the highest division that members of the IHSA can compete in. Rudolph continued her success at Lake Erie as she won her very first Open jumping class.

In addition to Rudolph’s blue ribbons, first-year Cecilia Galarraga placed first in Intermediate over fences, first-year Erin Romberg and first-year Rebecca Levi each got a first in their advanced walk trot canter classes and Jackson took a blue ribbon as well in her Novice Flat Class. The entire team placed very well in all their classes, in all divisions.

“Oberlin has the highest ratio of ribbons to riders in the region,” reported coach Dayan Birchler, who has been coaching the team ever since it was founded in 1980.

The team this year looks great, and for the first time ever is eligible for the Cacchione Cup, which is awarded to one team at the end of the season. To qualify a team needs to have at least one active rider showing in each IHSA division, all the way from Walk Trot to Open. This is the first time the team has had a rider for every division and they are excited about continuing a successful show year when they compete again in the spring.

“This team has a ton of potential, there’s not one rider on it who isn’t very competent,” said Rudolph. All of the equestrian team officers are very proud of how well everyone has performed and how much fun the team has had along the way.

OCET always welcomes new members. No riding experience is necessary. For more information, check out the OCET web page at www.oberlin.edu/stuorg/ocet.