REEDSVILLE, W. Va. – The Skidmore College riding team secured its trip to the upcoming IHSA National Championship Horse Show, winning the Zone 2 Final at West Virginia University with 44 points.  Sacred Heart University was reserve champion with 37 points. The top two of the five teams competing earn the trip to Nationals. Five riders will also compete individually at Nationals, after placing first or second at Zones.

The riders came out strong after their long bus trip, with Kenya Sanders '25 putting the first team points on the board with a second place in the Team Open Fences.  She returned right away for the Individual Open Fences, placing first.  Harper Sanford '25 was second, joining Sanders as individual qualifiers. Sanders then had her third ride of the day in the jumping phase of the Cacchione cup, competing for one of three spots to qualify for Nationals.

The Intermediate riders were up next, with Sadie Nesbitt '25 winning the Individual Intermediate Fences, and Lillard Preschlack '26 riding to tenth place.  For the team class, Isa Jensen '27 put in a smooth trip to place first, adding more points to Skidmore's card.

Charlotte Lyon became the fourth individual ride to qualify for Nationals, riding to second place in the Individual Limit Fences.  Georgia Quackenbos '25 placed sixth.  Ani McIntyre '27 stepped in for the Team Limit Fences, placing second.

After the jumps were cleared, the flat classes began.  McIntyre rode again in the Team Limit Flat, this time adding a win to the points.  Lyon added another ride at Nationals, winning the Individual Limit Flat, with Preschlack finishing fifth. Stella Brown '26 had a challenging ride in the Individual Novice Equitation to finish out of the ribbons.  Stella Allen '27 placed second in the Team Novice Equitation.  Bevin Dean '26 was the next Thoroughbred to qualify individually, riding to first place in the Individual Introductory Equitation, with Alice Wrede '27 taking fifth. Nila Rothman '27 placed second in the Team Introductory Equitation.

The final rides for the day were the Intermediate and Open Flats.  Jensen returned to finish fourth in the Team Intermediate Flat.  Sanford also rode again, winning both the Team Open Flat to clinch the win for the Thoroughbreds, and the Individual Open Flat.  Sanford set a new record for the Individual Open Flat at Zones, winning it all four of her years.  The previous record was set by Hannah Tuckner '19, who won it twice.  Sanders finished the day with the flat phase of the Cacchione, finishing fourth and just shy another ride at Nationals.

The team will travel to Tryon International Equestrian Center for the IHSA National Championships May 2-4.
 
Results (Bold indicates Individual National Qualifier)
Kenya Sanders '25         Individual Open Fences 1^st Team Open Fences 2^nd, Cacchione Cup 4^th
Harper Sanford '25        Individual Open Fences 2^nd, Individual Open Flat 1^st, Team Open Flat 1^st
Charlotte Lyon '25         Individual Limit Fences 2^nd, Individual Limit Flat 1^st
Sadie Nesbitt '25           Individual Intermediate Fences 1^st
Lillard Preschlack '26     Individual Intermediate Fences 10^th, Individual Limit Flat 5^th
Stella Brown '26            Individual Novice Equitation DNP
Isa Jensen '27               Team Intermediate Fences 1^st, Team Intermediate Flat 4^th
Ani McIntyre '27           Team Limit Flat 2^nd, Team Limit Flat 1^st
Stella Allen '27              Team Novice Equitation 2^nd
Alice Wrede '27            Individual Introductory Equitation 5^th
Bevin Dean '27              Individual Introductory Equitation 1^st
Nila Rothman '27          Team Introductory Equitation 2^nd
 
Skidmore College                      44
Sacred Heart University             37
Saint Lawrence University         33
Cornell University                     29
Seton Hill University                  23