 | |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
 | |
Club Corner: Equestrian
Just a few years ago, the Yale Equestrian team was plagued by diminishing membership and denied space by the Yale barn. A club team competing against varsity squads, Yale was forced to send beginners and experienced riders alike to the Lion Hill Farm, a 30-minute trek from campus. The prohibitive monetary cost and time investment prevented Yale from building a successful, competitive squad. Luckily for Yale, though, this year the team was finally allowed access to the Yale Polo and Equestrian Center, which is near the Yale Bowl.
|
The change in training location for beginners, combined with a new, affordable lesson package, has resulted in almost unheard of membership growth for this year's squad. "The facilities have gotten a lot better since last year," rider Beth Carothers, BK '01, said. "The beginners can ride out of the Yale barn this year, and last year none of us could."
The team attracted enough beginners at the start of the semester that, even after some inevitably found the sport too demanding, nine new members still graced the ring. These new riders, most competing in the walk/trot or walk/trot/canter divisions, have given Yale a balanced squad capable of riding and earning points in all divisions.
"Our success depends on having people able to compete at all levels," Captain Elizabeth Livingston, BR '01, said. The Eli squad certainly has enough experienced riders able to dominate in the more advanced divisions, novice, intermediate, and open, but these riders cannot carry the entire team to victory.
The fall equestrian season has seen the Yale riders match the success they had last year. In 1998, the squad was third in its region of Connecticut and Long Island schools, an achievement unmatched by previous Bulldog teams. Six riders gained enough points to qualify for the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Regionals, with three of those riders advancing to Zones, a more prestigious level of competition.
"It was really exciting to have so many people going to Reg-ionals and Zones," Carothers said. This year's team seems well on its way to similar success. One rider, Leah Sartorius, SM '02, already has enough points in the season's three shows to qualify for Regionals. The team captured fourth in its latest show, on Sun., Oct. 24, at Hofstra University.
The challenge for Yale is to introduce beginners to the sport while at the same time improving the skills of its more experienced riders. It has doubtless succeeded in this endeavor; the achievements of its riders are many, and are sure to continue accumulating. "We've been getting consistently better in shows," Livingston said. "We have the potential to win everything, but a lot of it is luck and horse draw, so you never know."
—Laurie Randell
All materials © 1999 The Yale Herald, Inc., and its staff.
Got any questions, comments, or advice? Email the online editors at
online@yaleherald.com.
Like to join us?