Equestrian takes first-ever ribbon

The Equestrian team earned their first team ribbon ever by finishing second at Ohio University on Saturday, in the highest finish ever by the team.

This feat was more impressive considering that it is a team of 11 riders who were competing with schools such as Lake Erie College that send more than 60 riders.

Riders compete in two categories, Flats, which doesn't involve jumping over fences, and Fences. The challenge is all about horse control. "Get what you want from a horse and look good doing it," senior Jess Pittman said.

Flats consists of six divisions from walk-trot, beginning walk-trot-cantor, advanced walk-trot-cantor, novice, intermediate, open. Fences has three divisions: novice, intermediate, and open.

In the competition in addition to showing their equestrian skill, riders are forced to show their compsure and adaptability as they have never ridden the horse they show in.

"It takes a good amount of skill to ride an unfamiliar horse on jumps," Pittman said.

Strong finishers for Oberlin included first-year Allison Matthews who placed first in intermediate Flats, co-president first-year Robin Mooney who placed second, and double-degree junior Katy Hodjati who also placed second in intermediate flats.

Both Hodjati and Matthews, because of their results were placed up to open for Sunday's competition. Hodjati pointed up to open after moving over 35 points total in the intermediate division over her career. Matthews as a first-year, had to ride before the other coaches at the event, before being placed in open. First-years are rarely placed in the highest division, so Matthews had to impress the other coaches to compete in the open division.

In Fences, junior Leslie Goldman placed second in novice and senior Shuna Klaveness placed first in intermediate. Hodjati placed second in open.

To make the team's accomplishment even more impressive, the equestrian team placed second without having an entry competing in every category. At the same time they were given an advantage over the larger schools as each team has to select only one "point rider" in each division of riding, before the event whose place will count in the team's placing.

Pittman attritibuted the team's high placing to luck, and wisely selected point riders that placed very well in their division. In addition five of the eleven people the team placed were first-years, and the team has been keeping more riders, who place in the higher categories.

In the second day of competition, the team only competed in Flats. According to Hodjati, it was the first time the team filled all the divisions.

Sophomore Bonnie Fletcher placed second in novice, first-year Robin Mooney placed third in intermediate, and Pittman placed first in walk trot, were some of the stars of the day.

Pittman's placing pointed her up to walk-trot-canter.

The weekend ended with the equestrians best finish, and lots of good expectations for this year.

"For the first time we had team spirit," Hodjati said.