Hood Equestrian Club Team Finishes Fifth at Nationals in Novice Division

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. - As a finale to a successful intercollegiate show season, two Hood College riders, Katie Geiger and Augusta Spandler, participated in the 35th American National Riding Commission (ANRC) national competition at the novice level.

Centenary College hosted 10 national teams and six novice teams April 19-22. Geiger and Spandler are the first team from Hood College to ride at this event.

The ANRC intercollegiate competitions are unique for judging hunter seat equitation in a variety of venues. A college or university may enter a team of two or three horse-and-rider combinations in either the novice or national divisions. Each division must compete in three riding phases judged on hunter seat equitation and a written phase based on riding theory, first aid, equine health, etc. Fence heights for the novice division are no higher than 2' 6"; fences for the national division are no higher than 3'. This is only the second year the novice division has been offered.

The first phase was the written test given the night before the riding tests began. On Friday, the novice division presented their program rides and both riders did an adequate job. Next came the Derby phase which is a hunter trial type course with 8-10 natural fences over varying terrain. The final class, the Medal Phase, features a USEF equitation type course in the show ring with 8-10 fences.

Both novice and national divisions gave team standings to the sixth place; individual riders were placed in all four phases to the 10th place. Hood's placing in the novice division, were:

Hood Team

Overall – fifth

Written Test – fifth

Program Ride – fifth

Derby – fifth

Medal – fifth

Hood Individual Placing

Katie Geiger, individual written test – ninth

Katie Geiger, derby phase – ninth

Additionally, coach Lisa Mitchell (pictured, right) was the winner of the ANRC's Professional Service Award. As an affiliate of the U.S. Hunter/Jumper Association, the ANRC Board recognizes annually an outstanding individual who has contributed significantly to the ANRC organization and has personified the Forward Riding System in his/her professional area, whether it involves teaching, riding, training, judging or technical support. A designated committee, consisting of at least three ANRC board members, determines the recipient of the award based on feedback from ANRC members and the equestrian community at large.

In 2013, Goucher College will host the 36th ANRC National International Equitation Championship at McDonough School in Baltimore, MD. For more details about this year's competition or information about the ANRC, check the ANRC webpage at www.anrc.org.

Hood participates in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) and the American National Riding Commission (ANRC) competitions. Anyone interested in the Hood College Equestrian Club Team, please contact Anita Bartgis at: bartgis@hood.edu.