First-year riding high to Equestrian Nationals

First-year Allison Matthews heading to New York

Exhibiting all the grace and elegance of an Oberlin student, first-year Allison Matthews topped the competition last week in qualifying for the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) national finals. Matthews is a member of the Oberlin College Equestrian Club (OCET).

Competing against riders from large state schools in Ohio, Kentucky and surrounding states, Matthews rode perfectly in taking first place in her zone. The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association divides the nation into six zones, each of which send select riders to nationals.

Matthews had to place well in a number of competitions in order to reach zones. Although Matthews was the only rider to qualify for zones, teammates junior Audrey Wasser, junior Katy Hodjati, and senior Jess Pittman all qualified for regionals by amassing enough points earlier in the year.

Matthews will travel to New York on May 1 to compete in equitation. Equitation is a class of equestrian competition in which the rider is judged on his or her performance.

Some competitions are focused on the particular horse's performance or how the horse and rider interact, but the judging in equitation is based purely on the rider's performance. In order to maintain a level playing field Matthews and the other riders will draw a horse at random and then be judged on how well she clears the fences, how she controls the horse, and on her presence throughout the run. "It is mostly a show," said Matthews, "it helps to bring the crowd into it."

Matthews herself was shocked to reach nationals. "I didn't really think it would happen this year," she said.

Her teammates were not as surprised. OCET president Pittman said "It's really exciting, but if you've seen Allison ride I can't say that it is much of a surprise."

This is the second year in a row that an Oberlin student reached Nationals. Senior Shuna Klaveness competed at Nationals last year in fences, the same division that Matthews will be competing in. Klaveness also has high expectations for her teammates. "She is a really confident rider, and has a great presence," said Klaveness.

Matthews is continuing a family tradition of strong riders. "My mother used to ride, she kind of got me into it," she said.

She began riding at the age of six in her hometown of Farmington Hills, Michigan, and rode with the Michigan Hunter Jumper Association. As a junior in high school Matthews was the state Regular Working Hunter Champion.

Pittman claimed Matthews had a strong chance at nationals. "It all depends on the horse you draw, I think she has a really good chance of taking home first-place. I think anything is possible," she said.

Klaveness agreed that the draw was important. "However, if you're a competent rider you can make it [the horse] look better than another rider," she said.

Matthews just hopes to ride well. "You draw a horse at random, and do the best you can," she said. If her performance at regionals and zones are any indication, she has shown that by doing the best she can, anything is possible.

Tally ho!: Allison Matthews stands with her horse. As a first-year, she will represent Oberlin at Nationals. (photo courtesy of Matthews)