43rd Annual IHSA National Championships May 6-9 at the Kentucky Horse Park By L.A. Pomeroy On the rear window of the white Centenary College van en route from New Jersey to Lexington, Kentucky was written: “654 miles. 23 people. 1 reason.” The reason was Centenary’s defense of its Collegiate Cup High Point Hunter Seat Team title at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) National Championships, held May 6-9 at the Kentucky Horse Park. As the team Collegiate Cup qualifiers began, Centenary delivered a victorious opening stroke, when Julie Connors won the IHSA Perpetual Trophy in Novice Equitation Over Fences. But while everyone was watching the front-runner, another team shrewdly navigated through the classes and, by the end of team competition, had usurped the presumed favorite. The riders from Skidmore College and upstate New York horse racing mecca Saratoga Springs lived up to their motto, 'Built Ford Tough’ (as in coach, Cindy Ford). Skidmore was eight points ahead (28 points overall) in the final tally for the 2010 IHSA High Point Hunter Seat Team Collegiate Cup. Centenary College and University of Findlay (Ohio), tied for reserve at 20 points each. The thoroughly thoroughbred Skidmore College had won the cup in 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, and 1999. The 2010 win marked the 21st century win of the Collegiate Cup for Cindy Ford’s team. “This was always the goal,” said Ford, who has coached Skidmore since 1991 and was joined by assistant coach, Belinda Colgan. “We have a great team of solid riders who made every ride count. These are students who are achievers in the classroom and they put the same effort into their riding.” Ford, IHSA regional president for Zone 2, Region 3, also said she appreciated the win-win benefits of new partnerships, like that between IHSA and the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA). “The support of organizations like USHJA gives us even greater credibility and opportunities for sponsors to participate in supporting intercollegiate riding.” USHJA hosted an Open House for IHSA and friends at its new offices and museum at the Kentucky Horse Park. A shared handshake and enthusiasm between the organizations’ leaders, Bob Cacchione for IHSA and USHJA president, Bill Moroney, fueled an evening of optimism for the achievements and future of American hunt seat riders. Mount Holyoke’s Lindsay Sceats Wins Cacchione Cup For Mount Holyoke College of western Massachusetts, there’s rarely been a championship dry spell. Under coaches C.J. Law and Gilly McPhee, the Lyons have won two Collegiate Cups (2000, 2006), and produced one USEF/Cacchione Cup winner, Laena Romond (2002). This year their hunter seat team captain Lindsay Sceats was added to the Cacchione Cup’s list of champions. Before hunter seat judges Don Stewart and Susie Schoellkopf, Sceats earned a total score of 175 points. Second place (172 points) went to Savannah College of Art and Design in South Carolina with Kelse Bonham. “Lindsay is so consistent and matter-of-fact. Even in the midst of preparing for medical school, when the going gets tough, she can put her nerves down deep,” said Law, Mount Holyoke’s head coach and IHSA Zone 1 chair, about her student’s win. Her Lyons teammates were ebullient: “Lindsay really wanted this. She worked so hard. This is the best possible happy ending. She juggled her duties as captain and rider really well.” The tired and happy 2010 USEF/Cacchione Cup winner said, “I wanted to ride in college and here I am. IHSA has made it so much fun to ride for a team. These are forty of my best friends.” First presented in 1972 (to Duncan Peters, University of Connecticut) and named in loving memory of Marty Cacchione, father of IHSA co-founder and executive director, Bob Cacchione, the annual presentation of the Cacchione Cup to the high point individual hunter seat rider has been one of the most prestigious events on the Nationals program. IHSA retired its original Cacchione Cup in a special Friday evening celebration at the International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park, and unveiled a new trophy, created by figurative metal sculptor Kathryn Capley, and produced by Hodges Badge Company. Romney Reins in Titles Lines from a Pink Floyd song, “Come in here, dear boy, have a cigar. You're gonna go far” were applicable to Jason Romney as he came down Cigar Lane and entered the Kentucky Horse Park Indoor Arena. By the show’s conclusion, the Utah State University marketing major drew one of the best reining horses for the NRHA Open Reining class, and had the talent to fire up that horsepower and smoke his competition. Before Western judges Charlene Carter, and Bonnie Jo Clay, Romney and the 14.3hh chestnut, Wenloch Haidabilly scored 144 points on NRHA Pattern 9 to cinch the class and its 2010 NRHA Morrison Bronze Reining Trophy, NHRA Pewter Reining Trophy, and Tex Tan Saddle provided by AQHA. The duo finished seven-a-half points ahead of reserve titlist, Alexandra Jones (136.5 points) riding for Berry College of Georgia. Rounding out the positions were fourth place Kelsey Moody (135 points), riding for St. Andrews Presbyterian College in North Carolina, and fifth place Jillian Staurowsky (134 points) for the University of Delaware. “I had a phenomenal horse. I watched him in the warm-up and got a little nervous because he was a cool horse. I knew right away he would be a very good draw,” Romney said of the horse known as “Little Bill.” It was the second time in four years that Romney had qualified for the IHSA Nationals. He started showing halter horses at age seven, and trains at USU under coach Rebecca Lewis. “I think IHSA is an incredible opportunity to get involved in reining and work with great coaches and horses. The teamwork is a huge plus. I love IHSA and the camaraderie I get with the other riders. It’s made for great friendships,” Romney said. The following day Romney turned in a 139-point performance on Pattern 5 in the final phase of the AQHA High Point Western Rider standings to bolster his overall score to 211 points. He cinched a second Tex Tan saddle, and the 2010 IHSA/AQHA High Point Western Rider trophy. The Reserve award went to Sabrina Wilson of Stanford University. Findlay’s Dominance Continues In 2001, the University of Findlay (Ohio) became the first school in IHSA history to win national championships in both Western and Hunter Seat. The Western team captured championships again in 2005 and 2007, when Findlay’s Travis Womer became the first rider to win Western and Hunter Seat Individual titles. Findlay was also the first school to have IHSA High Point riders four years in a row: Jake Bowman (2005), Travis Womer (2006, also the first IHSA High Point rider to win both the Open and Reining classes), Trevor Dare (2007) and Katie Morehead (2008). With head coach Cindy Morehead, and assistant coach NRHA and AQHA Congress Halls of Famer Clark Bradley at the helm, the Oilers again successfully defended their 2009 title. Findlay scored 31 points overall, (defeating Ohio University by 10 points), thanks to winning rides by students like Andrew Wolf, winner of the AQHA Open Reining Pattern class on Mark Turner’s 14.2-hand chestnut mare, Party Girl. “She can get a little 'chargy’ in the run-downs, and when you ask, you’d better be prepared for her stop, but overall, she was an easy going ride,” Wolf said. In team competition, Heather Kiesewetter won the Intermediate Western Horsemanship, and Spencer Zimmerman captured first place in the Novice Western Horsemanship. In individual competition, Heather Kiesewetter won the Beginner Western Horsemanship; Ashley Wolf was victorious in the Intermediate Western Horsemanship; Madison Hallas was the top placer in the Novice Western Horsemanship; and Ashley Drown was first in the Advanced Western Horsemanship. Katie Morehead was third overall for the AQHA Western High Point Rider Award. Riding Forward The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association encompasses 31 Regions in nine Zones, with 376 teams in 45 states and Canada. More than 8,650 students participate in IHSA Hunter Seat Equitation or Over Fences, Western Horsemanship, or Reining. “The vision,” said Bob Cacchione, IHSA founder “has always been to keep this in a college network. We have seen growth since 1997, but never imagined we would reach this far or grow so much. The command has come from IHSA, and we have heard it loud and clear, to continue to push career success in our young people, and to grow with our colleges and our sport.” In 2011, the 44th edition of the IHSA National Championships will return to Lexington, KY and the Kentucky Horse Park. “Hosting the Nationals in the Horse Park’s new Indoor Arena, recently constructed for the upcoming World Equestrian Games, was absolutely exciting,” Cacchione added. “The riders competing here represented the premier riders from each region and zone and delivered an exciting contest. Sportsmanship, team spirit, safety and fun have remained the objectives of this organization since its inception, and we invite full time undergraduate college students, regardless of their financial status and/or riding ability, to learn and enjoy the thrill of riding competition.” “We share IHSA’s enthusiasm for encouraging young men and women in their pursuit of excellence, in equestrian competition and horsemanship. So we believe that the IHSA Nationals and the Kentucky Horse Park are a perfect team,” agreed John Nicholson, KHP executive director. For more information about the IHSA, visit www.IHSAinc.com, their Facebook page, or on Twitter@IHSA.inc.