Lorrin Mortimer and the University club equestrian team placed second at the Silverthorn Farm Sept. 21.

Club equestrian team places at opening show

By: AUTUMN MCBRIDE

Posted: 10/1/08

The University's Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Equestrian team, finished second in overall team points at its first show of the season on Sept. 21 at the Silverthorn Farm in Athens.

Berry College placed first overall with 30 team points with Georgia nipping at its heels with 29. Georgia was led by junior Lorrin Mortimer, the No. 3 rider in the country, who finished in the top three individual riders for the day.

At any IHSA Horse Show, riders of all levels have the opportunity to compete from the Beginner Walk-Trot classes to advanced Open classes.

According to Erin Brown, the team's show manager, in all shows, the host team provides horses for all of the competing schools. The morning of the show, all riders draw their horse's name out of a hat. Just before it is time to enter the show ring, riders mount their horses and compete with little to no warm-up.

Judging is based on how the rider controls the horse. They compete in the class in which they placed during tryouts.

As a rider earns ribbons, they earn points. If a rider earns 32 points in a single show, the rider will "point-out" and move up to the next class in the next show.

Because each team may have multiple riders in the same class, a "point rider" will be chosen to not only collect individual points but points that go towards the team total.

Much of the team's success can be contributed to the tutelage of head coach Ginny Smith, a University alumna who competed for the varsity team and owns Silverthorn Farm, where the team practices and competes.

"[Smith] is incredibly supportive and spends more time than she probably has to work with us week after week to prepare us for upcoming shows," said team captain Clare Hatfield. "…she sees the team as an opportunity not just to improve our riding skills, but professional and life skills as well."

Smith has been riding and working with horses longer than most of the team members have been alive, said Brown.

The club team differs from the varsity team in format and circuit of the shows, Mortimer said.

"We are simply two separate teams," said Mortimer. "We compete against different schools and in different locations."

In recent years, the IHSA team has made a big name for itself. The team has qualified for multiple "Tournament of Champions" competitions in New York, New Jersey and Virginia.