Equestrian team riding way to top

By Jason Dattilo
Sports Editor

Central Kentucky is world famous for its thoroughbred horses, but equine activity is not limited to the multi-million dollar business of race horses. The UK equestrian travels to horse shows around the region competing against teams from various colleges, including Midway, Morehead State and Tennessee.

The equestrian team at UK competes as a club sport and is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. The 40 participants pay a $10 membership fee entitling them to compete at college horse shows around the nation.

As a club sport, the team has to cover all its own expenses from lessons to travel time. The squad doesn't have its own barn or animals so team members are forced to pursue individual instruction on their own.

UK head coach Shelly Mann operates out of Champaign Run, a local barn, and teaches lessons in Hunt seat riding, Hunt seat is basically an English style of riding that includes the jumping of fences. The saddle in Hunt seat is of English design and includes a saddle horn.

Most of the instruction in Western riding takes place at the High Point Equestrian Center in Georgetown, Ky. In Western riding, participants are judged on a variety of techniques from trotting, walking and cantering. Jumping is not part of a Western competition where participants use a hornless saddle.

"The two events are judged totally different," said junior team member Kate Schwegman. "(Judges) want the Western horses to be slower, calmer and head low. They want the Hunt horses to be more forward."

When teams travel to shows, they use horses provided by the host school. Participants draw the name of a particular horse and are forced to compete without ever riding or even seeing the animal.

"You're led out into the ring and you ride," Mann said. "It can be kind of scary."

The Cats have competed at four shows so far this season and are preparing for the postseason tournaments next semester.

Regional competition is scheduled for the end of March at Tennessee. Hunt seat riders finishing first, second or third move on to zone competition. The top two riders at zones move on to national competition slated for the first week in May in Hollywood, Calif.

In Western competition the top two riders in the regional show advance to nationals.

"They get better every show," Mann said. "We got a lot of people who have never horseshowed before and they're winning ribbons."

"We've had a lot more team spirit this year," said Julie LaFleur, the team's president. "Everybody goes out to the shows and supports everybody else."