Michigan autumn days are perfect for horseback riding.
“We leave early in the morning and get to the stable when it is still crisp. We see the horses in the pasture. It gives you a whole nother dimension to your life at college that is privileged,” said junior Lillian Quinones, president of the Hillsdale College Equestrian Club.
The Equestrian Club participated in its first two-day show in Chelsea, Michigan last weekend. The team competes against regional schools such as Albion and Adrian Colleges, Ferris State, Michigan State University, University of Michigan, and others.
Despite the colder weather, rain, and wind, team secretary junior Gianna Marchese was pleased with how the team performed. Nine team members competed, and each one placed.
“One rider brought back a blue ribbon and there were a few thirds and fourths as well,” she said. Marchese earned the blue ribbon and “pointed up” to the next level, Beginning Walk Trot Canter.
The team practices at their head coach Danielle Cole’s barn, the Premier Equestrian Center LLC in Hudson, Michigan. Seven new members, five of whom are freshmen, joined the team this year. Most are English-style riders, but two ride Western. The team shows in both events at varying levels from beginning to advanced.
They will compete in their next show on Oct. 11.
Quinones, who rides English style, described the challenges that come at the show. Before the round, the rider will pull a horse’s name out of a bucket, and that is the horse that the rider must use.
“It can be a horse’s name on a popsicle stick, or even on a rubber ducky,” she said.
Co-president junior Danielle Ciarelli said that riding on an unknown horse allows judges to evaluate on the position and skill of the rider alone.
“You don’t get to practice on them, you don’t get to do anything,” she said. “You are not even allowed to adjust anything, your teammates have to.”
Quinones said that the rider may only touch the reins when they enter the arena.
“That can be stressful, because you can’t totally deny that there is a living being under you, and that the horse is a better or worse partner in the ring,” she said.
The goal of each rider is to place in the events and to “point up:” riders earn 1-6 points for each ride, and can point up, or advance to the next skill level, after 36 points. Quinones said that, to point up during the season and qualify for regionals, riders need to place high in nearly every ride.
“It’s hard to point out during the season,” she said.
The challenges of the semester include finances and acclimating the new riders. The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, which is the body of college riders, charges an extra fee if the rider does not provide their own horse. Other fees include the annual club fee, travel and hotel expenses, as well as gear.
“Its very exciting that we have all these fresh riders, we want that,” Quinones said. “But it is expected that it will take some time to adjust.”
Marchese said that they are also working toward both team and individual rider growth this season.
“As a team, the goal is to encourage your teammates to make the best of their ride no matter what and to always rejoice in their ride regardless of the ribbon they get,” she said.
Quinones said she hopes to point up and advance to the next level individually, and that her team members might advance to regionals.
Ciarelli said that since last year, even the beginner riders have advanced.
“Everyone helps each other,” she said. “It’s a small enough team that it is not competitive within the team.”
