Equestrians Win Three-Show Weekend

Written by Cory Chandler

Texas Tech University’s Equestrian Team returned home with another set of awards after the latest Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Western Show, hosted by North Central Texas College in Gainesville.

The team, fresh off of victories at West Texas A&M, spent the weeks between shows practicing in hopes of continuing the successful streak.

The weekend held three shows for team members – two on Saturday and a third on Sunday.

Texas Tech received top honor as High Point Team for both shows it competed in on Saturday.

During the first show, Alicia Daugherty received High Point Rider for her first-place ribbons in Open Reining and Open Western Horsemanship. She again took High Point Rider for her first-place finish in Open Reining and second-place in Open Western Horsemanship during the second Saturday show.

All competing team members received ribbons Saturday: Daugherty, Chelsea Campbell, Kelsey Lieurance, Rhea-Claire Galubenski, and Shanelle Wynne all garnered first-place ribbons in their Western Horsemanship classes in the first show. For the second show Campbell, Jessica Jarvis, and Cristina Talcott all took home coveted first-place ribbons in the Western Horsemanship. Amanda Cage, Jarvis and Stacy Jobe received second-place ribbons.

Texas Tech equestrians fared well Sunday as well.

The team earned Reserve High Point Team honors, and Daugherty again won the High Point Rider title for her second-place in Open Reining and first-place in Open Horsemanship. Jessica Rugely received a first-place ribbon in the Intermediate II Western Horsemanship, while second-place awards went to Daugherty, Campbell, Brittany Ehlert, and Wynne in their respective Western Horsemanship classes. All competing members won ribbons, which added to the team’s point tally.

The Equestrian Team continues to work toward achieving its goal of qualifying for the 2009 IHSA National Championship. The team next will travel to Louisiana State University for a Nov. 15-16 hunt seat show and then to a Nov. 22–23 western show hosted by West Texas A&M University.

Robin Morris, a graduate student in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences, coaches the team. For more information visit the team Website at http://www.orgs.ttu.edu/techequestrianteam/.

CONTACT: Robin Morris, coach, Texas Tech University Equestrian Team, (806) 742-2805, or robin.k.morris@ttu.edu.