SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Returning to the show ring after its IHSA National Championship win in May, the Skidmore equestrian team won its season opener horse show at the Van Lennep Riding Center. The team ended the day with 43 points on the card, beating out nine other schools.

Skidmore riders winning both sections of the Open Equitation Over Fences to open the competition. Kenya Sanders, fresh off her win in the Individual Open Equitation over Fences at nationals, took the win in the first class, and Sophia Olivero won the second class. 

After more strong showings in the Intermediate and Limit Equitation Over Fences, including the IHSA debut for Ellie Hoyt, riding to fourth in the Limit Equitation Over Fences, Sanders returned to the ring to win the first section of Open Equitation on the Flat, with Harper Sanford following up her top placings at Nationals with a win the second section. Olivero returned victorious in her section of Intermediate Equitation on the Flat and joined Sanders in a ride-off for the High Point Rider Award. Sanders emerged with the prize and Olivero took Reserve High Point Rider.

The remainder of the day saw more Skidmore riders with successful show debuts. Isa Jensen won her Limit Equitation on the Flat, Shirley Jin won in the Pre-Novice Equitation and Alice Condry-Power finished the day with the win in her first Introductory Equitation. 

The team ended the day with 10 wins for its Blue-Ribbon Challenge fundraiser. The team is still taking pledges for the Challenge, which runs through both the regular and post
seasons. Contact Head Coach Belinda Colgan at bcolgan@skidmore.edu for more information.

The Thoroughbreds travel next to Morrisville State College to compete in shows November 4-5.

Results
Kenya Sanders '25 – Open Fences 1^st, Open Flat 1^st, High Point Rider
Sophia Olivero '26 – Open Fences 1^st, Intermediate Flat 1^st, Reserve High Point Rider
Elaina Doyle '24 – Intermediate Fences 2^nd, Limit Flat 1^st
Harper Sanford '25 – Intermediate Fences 4^th, Open Flat 1^st
Lillard Preschlack '26 – Intermediate Fences 6^th, Limit Flat 1^st
Charlotte Lyon '25 – Limit Fences 4^th
Ellie Hoyt '26 – Limit Fences 4^th, Limit Flat 2^nd
Isa Jensen '27 – Limit Flat 1^st
Shirley Jin '24 – Pre-Novice Equitation 1^st
Jordan Townsend '26 – Pre-Novice Equitation 4^th
Alice Condry-Power '24 – Introductory Equitation 1^st
 
Skidmore College                      43
SUNY Cobleskill                         35
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 34
Morrisville State College            33
Siena College                            32
Colgate University                     26
Hartwick College                       21
SUNY Albany                             16
Oneonta State College               13
Hamilton College                      10