MTSU Equestrian Outrides Region by Nancy Brannon Rolling hills punctuated by redbuds and jonquils framed the setting for the 2004 IHSA Regional Championship Show hosted by Maryville (Tennessee) College on March 27th and 28th. The scene was dramatically at odds with the competitive energy in the air as nine of the eleven member colleges were represented by riders who had qualified in regular season competition. This show is the springboard to the Zone Championship show, the final level of competition on the quest to qualify for the 2004 National Championships. In all Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association Shows, riders draw horses by lot, most often never having ridden their mount previously. The MTSU Blue Raider Team's successful season held through Regionals, producing six Regional Champions and five Reserves as well as a string of other notable awards. Highlights of the Hunter Seat competition on Saturday included the endurance test that was the Intermediate Flat. Typically a competitive division, Judge Jon Conyers of Amherst, Virginia faced a ring full of riders prepared to demonstrate their technical skills and horse handling techniques. To separate the evenly matched competitors, Judge Conyers resorted to testing at a very high level of both skill and fitness. He put the riders through at least six tests, mostly without stirrups, a test of strength and balance in itself. When all horses and riders had been pushed to their limits, MTSU Equine Team president Kathryn Duncan was the obvious winner. Another highlight was the top level, Open Flat in which four out of the six qualified riders came from MTSU. Racheal Hunt, Junior from New York and Lydia Whitlow, Senior from New Market were Reserve Champion and third. Other MTSU Hunter Seat riders ascending to Zones include Senior Dionne Stigge from Murfreesboro, Champion Open over Fences, Racheal Hunt, Junior from Washingtonville, New York, Reserve Champion Intermediate over Fences, Gwen Diamond, Junior from Hendersonville, 3rd in Walk, Trot Canter, and Deidra Stamper, Sophomore from Kingsport, 3rd in Walk Trot, and Allison Brannon of Murfreesboro, Champion Alumni Hunter Seat. On Sunday Judge Doyle Meadows of Nashville evaluated all Western riders. MTSU's Rusty Rea and Jaclyn Ohman started the day by placing Champion and third in the Open Western, shortly followed by Lydia Whitlow who was Champion in the Advanced. Senior Danielle Nadeau of Murfreesboro had the ride of her life in the Intermediate Western and was Reserve Champion. Allison Brannon repeated her Hunter Seat win in the Alumni Western. Alumni riders provide several types of help and support for undergrads and are welcome in their own class. Additional regional achievements by the MTSU Team include Regional Champion Western Team, High Point Western Rider, Rusty Rea, Regional Reserve Champion Hunter Seat Team, High Point Hunter Seat Rider, Dionne Stigge, Reserve High Point Hunter Seat Rider, Jaclyn Cradduck, Senior of the Year Dionne Stigge, Versatility Award Lydia Whitlow, for placing in both Hunter Seat and Western divisions, and Coach of the Year, Anne Brzezicki. Additional regional achievements by the MTSU Team include Regional Champion Western Team, High Point Western Rider, Rusty Rea, Regional Reserve Champion Hunter Seat Team, High Point Hunter Seat Rider, Dionne Stigge, Reserve High Point Seat Rider, Jaclyn Cradduck, Senior of the Year Dionne Stigge, Versatility Award Lydia Whitlow, for placing in both Hunter Seat and Western divisions and Coach of the Year, Anne Brzezicki. In all, MT has qualified 10 Individuals in 13 slots and a Western Team for the Zone Championships. Zones will be held April 3rd and 4th at Berry College in Rome Georgia. Zones includes all teams from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, and southern Kentucky. The University of the South will represent our region as the Hunter Seat Team. The top two Individuals and the top 2 Teams will qualify from Zones for the National Championship Intercollegiate Horse Show hosted at MTSU's new Miller Coliseum, May 6 - 9, 2004.