Clemson Equestrian Team has a very successful year!

We missed Katie Maxwell of Sovan Hill Enterprises at this year’s Mother’s Day Show! She is a big supporter of this show and its efforts! She brought 18 horses last year to the show so her presence was missed this year! She had a very good excuse for not being there though – she was coaching the Clemson Equestrian Riding Team in Califorinia!!! Katie is the coach of the Clemson Riding Team and is very proud of the team. The Clemson Equestrian Team competed at the IHSA (Intercollegiate Horse Show Association) Nationals May 8-10. Clemson had three individual riders compete in the three highest divisions at Nationals. All three finished in the Top Ten including an 8th place in the prestigious Cacchione Cup and a win in Open Over Fences. The win makes the Clemson Equestrian Team National Champions in the Open Over Fences Division. The three individuals competing for the team were Ashley Phillips in Intermediate; Charlotte Powers in the Cacchione Cup and Sarah Spainhour in Open. A team competes at regular season shows. Team members who earn enough points to qualify for a try to get to nationals first compete in the Regionals. At the Regionals, the rider must place among the top three riders in the region in their division. Then, they move on to the Zone competition. The top three riders from each region in the zone compete for the top two placings. If a rider is first or second in their division competing against the top riders in the zone, they go to nationals. Just getting to the national competition is difficult. The top ten riders in each division at the Nationals are recognized. The Cacchione Cup is a competition for the high point open rider of each region. There are 30 regions in the country. The class is run like the USEF Medal finals and is, in fact, recognized by the USEF. Clemson had the high point open rider in the region and represented Region II Zone V in the Cup. There are 24 members on the hunt seat show team and approximately 38 on the team all together. The kids raise their own money for lessons and to support the horses. The team's mean GPA is far above average. Most of the team members are high achievers in school (going on to vet school, med school, etc..). Also, one of our fundraisers this year is helping to put on a George Morris clinic at Garrison Arena (on campus) this winter right after GM returns from being the chef d'equipe at the Olympics.
Congratulations Katie and the Clemson Riding Team on a very busy and successful year!

photo 1 - Jumping - Charlotte Powers

photo 2 - Sara Spainhour thanking her partner