Following solid results at its season-opening shows at Middlebury College and the University of Vermont last weekend, the Dartmouth equestrian team continued to impress at Dartmouth's home show on Saturday, taking second place at the Dartmouth Riding Center in Etna, N.H. This season marks the first time in the team's history that it is NCAA compliant, allowing riders certain advantages previously only offered to other College varsity athletes.
Dartmouth was led by Olivia Cameron '13, who was named the reserve high point rider of the day an honor given to the second-place finisher in the individual point standings. Cameron, an engineering transfer student from Skidmore College, finished first in the open flat event and second in the open fences event.
"Olivia has been so consistent through the first three shows of the season," team co-captain Cristina Herren '12 said. "She's so great to have on the team this year."
While Cameron rode particularly well, the Big Green had a host of other strong performances on Saturday.
Herren finished first in the open fences event, Emily Estelle '15 finished first in the novice flat event, Courtnie Crutchfield '13 placed first in the walk/trot event and Maya Johnson '14 won the advanced walk/trot/canter event.
In the overall team score, Dartmouth finished as the reserve high point team, the equivalent of second place. The University of New Hampshire won the show overall.
Other schools competing with the Big Green in Zone 1, Region 2 of the Intercollegiate Horse Association include Colby-Sawyer College, Bates College, Bowdoin College, Colby College, the University of Maine, Castleton State College, New England College, Endicott College, Middlebury and UVM.
"We're very happy with our shows so far," Herren said. "We've finished within the top five teams in every show this season and [UNH] was really strong on Saturday, so we're pleased to have finished second at home."
Because the team is now NCAA compliant, it is allowed access to the Floren Varsity House for training, a privilege that riders believe will allow them to further hone their skills.
"We have two strength training sessions every week," Cameron said. "Working the core, inner thighs and doing squats and dead lifts really helps with your position on the horse."
Herren joked that "the chocolate milk available after workouts is a big plus" that comes with using the Floren Varsity House.
In addition to two strength training workouts each week, the team does four mounted practices on horses and two coach-led workouts each week. Riders agree that the time on the horses is invaluable to becoming better equestrians.
"The best thing to do to prepare is really to ride as much as possible," said Janna Wandzilak '14, who has already qualified for the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Regional competition. "While conditioning helps with my position, there is nothing else that can make up for time on a horse."
Cameron, who has been riding horses since age four, said it takes years to gain the experiential knowledge needed to ride a horse competitively.
"There are so many factors that you have to keep track of when you're riding," Cameron said. "Your foot position, your hands, your eyes, your posture. It takes years to develop the awareness to adjust to situations while on a horse."
At shows, riders are randomly assigned to a horse as a method of controlling the competition. On show day mornings, riders are given a period of time to observe the horses. Many riders scribble notes about any odd tendencies the horses have, and some teams keep binders full of scouting reports on horses at venues where they compete most often.
"Whenever you're trying to control a 1,200 pound animal, it is a good idea to study up on the personalities and quirks each horse has," Herren said. "With some horses you have to be really sensitive, while with others you may have to be very firm. It's a nerve-wracking sport because you never know what you're going to get."
The Dartmouth equestrian team consists of 15 riders, which Wandzilak said adds to the Big Green's comraderie.
"We're a tight bunch of riders that's really focused on supporting one another and winning shows," says Wandzilak. "Hopefully we'll get some more of the team qualified for Regionals."
The Big Green continues its quest for points this weekend, riding at Colby Sawyer on Saturday and UNH on Sunday.
