Nine of the best equestrian teams in the Zone gathered at the Dartmouth Riding Center on Saturday for the New England Classic, an invitational put on annually by the Dartmouth team. Fresh off intense post-season competition at Regionals and Zones, the invite provided a more relaxed atmosphere, as evidenced by the bright decor sported by many of Dartmouth's horses throughout the day.
"The NEC invite this weekend was a fun, relaxed show because the points didn't count for regional totals and we were riding at home on our own horses," said Kate Wooler '08. "In that spirit, our horses were even dressed up in costumes and wore leis around their necks."
"Invitational shows are a little different from our normal season shows. We get to compete against schools that we don't normally face," added co-captain Abby Donahue '06. "There is more of a focus on fun."
As with regular season shows, riders compete in teams of eight. Dartmouth competed two teams, the Mighty Moose and Klassic Keggers.
The Mighty Moose, which included national qualifiers Tim Malone '07 and Daisy Freund '08, finished fourth. Co-captain Janelle Moerlein '06 won a blue ribbon in Intermediate Flat while classmate Malone took second in Open Fences. Freund finished third in Open Flat and Wooler placed fifth in Intermediate Fences.
The Klassic Keggers rode to a sixth place finish, with a red ribbon for Donahue in Open Flat, fourth place for Elyssa Gelmann '06 in Intermediate Fences, fourth for Amanda Watson '09 in Novice Fences and a fifth for Taylor Smith '06 in Open fences.
Three other Dartmouth riders brought home ribbons while filling in spots on the Middlebury team.
Elizabeth Bissell '08 placed first in Intermediate Fences, Tami Martin '08 placed third in Intermediate Flat and Jeff Brown '05 took fifth in Walk/Trot/Canter.
Mount Holyoke College also entered two teams into the competition, Team Napoleon and Team Pedro. In addition to their team victory at the invite, Mount Holyoke had celebrated a win at Zones on April 8, earning a trip to Nationals in Pennsylvania in May.
Zones, which was held at Mount Holyoke, also proved successful for several Dartmouth riders. Freund put in a strong ride over fences, earning herself a red ribbon and her own trip to nationals.
"I feel great about getting through Zones, which I failed to do last year and I happen to love showing at Harrisburg so it will be nice to return there this time riding for Dartmouth," Freund said. "Nationals was thrilling last year. As serious as we all take it there was a ton of energy and school spirit and playfulness...and as someone who has ridden mostly outside of the college circuit, it is all very unusual but really fun."
Malone, who had already qualified for Nationals by winning the Cacchione Cup for the region, took fourth in Open Flat and second in the Cacchione Cup Challenge class, in which he competed against the high point riders of three other regions in Zone One. In addition, Moerlein placed sixth in Novice Fences and Bissell finished eighth in Intermediate Flat.
"I am really looking forward to cheering Daisy and Tim on at nationals. They both have worked really hard all year to earn qualify and I know that they will represent Dartmouth well, competing with the best riders in the country," said Donahue.
This week the team will prepare for their final show of the year, the All-Ivy Invitational, which will be hosted this year by Cornell University.
"The all-Ivy show is always one of my favorites. Our biggest rival is Cornell, so we need to go there determined to win, despite their home show advantage. It will be a bittersweet show for the seniors, because it is our final time riding for Dartmouth," said Donahue.
Preparing for the show aside, the team will also spend the week brainstorming ways to avenge a prank that Cornell pulled on the Big Green last year -- which involved writing "Cornell rules" in mustard on car windshields.
"As for Cornell this weekend, I think they'll be hearing from us. No one gets away with smearing condiments on our cars," Freund said. "If anyone can come up with a creative retaliation, it's the Dartmouth equestrian team."
