The SUNY New Paltz Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) team competed this past weekend on Feb. 29 at the All-Region IHSA Show at the Crosswinds Equestrian Center in LaGrangeville. The Lady Hawks were up against Centenary University, Drew University, Marist College, Sarah Lawrence, United States Military Academy, Vassar College and William Paterson University.
The competition started out in intermediate fences, the highest level New Paltz has shown on the team, where fourth-year Katie Zacharda placed fourth on Fee with three points. Next, Zacharda came in on Redemption in the next highest level, placing fifth with two points. Third-year transfer Anna Fiore competed on Quantum during limit fences, where she finished in fourth with three points.
The limit flat competition saw four placements from the New Paltz IHSA team. Fiore came in fifth on Macy with two points, second-year Jillian Kahrs landed in fourth on Quantum with three points, while third-year Frances Baldinucci came in third on Petey with four points and second-year Sara Marriott hit second on Tito, earning five points.
The novice flat competition saw Brie Costello, a second-year rider for New Paltz’s IHSA, where she placed second on Woody and earned five points.
“I felt pretty good after, but I was nervous at first because I didn’t draw Woody in a show prior to that and there were eight people in my class [to compete against],” Costello said. “He was so good for me and was full of energy; even when some other horses were acting out, he stayed calm and listened to me.”
In pre-novice flat, second-year Paige Parker landed in first on Roosevelt and earned seven points, but this was her first time ever competing in this level of competition.
“Placing first during my first time competing in [the] pre-novice [flat] felt really great. It very much brought up my confidence as a rider and it proved that hard work really does pay off,” Parker said. “I loved riding Roosevelt. I had drawn him at a previous show and placed first on him, so I was excited for another opportunity to ride him.”
Overall, the final results went from Centenary University (39), Marist College (33), United States Military Academy (30), Vassar College (16), Drew University (14), Sarah Lawrence University (13) to William Paterson University (0). New Paltz placed fifth amongst the teams with 15 points, ending their season.
This was the IHSA’s last competition before entering into the IHSA Regionals on Friday, March 27 at Centenary University. Cumulatively for the season, each individual rider needs 36 points to go to regionals. Three Hawks are heading to regionals this year: Parker for introductory flat, Baldinucci for novice flat and Zacharda for limit fences.
