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Revived only four years ago, the Equestrian Club is already enjoying the success of a much older organization.
Consisting of 19 students, the club has flourished since its revival, made by biology graduate Nicole Prestiano ’05 and mechanical engineering graduate Erin Githens ’06. For the past two years, it has placed among the top teams in the region.
“When we started out, there were only six girls and now there are 19 of us,” says co-captain Katie Miervaldis ’07 (Basking Ridge, N.J.), an economics & business and art double major. “It’s one of those club sports that just seems to grow. In three years we’ve come a long way.”
The team competes in about 10 Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) shows every season, and there are strict guidelines surrounding eligibility and competition. Each rider’s skill level must be approved and documented by club coach Heather Clark in order to participate in the ISHA shows.
The club trains with Clark, who has been their coach for the past two and a half years. Clark teaches out of two farms – Old Dogwood Farm in Milford, N.J. and Tolleshunt in Whitehouse, N.J. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts, where she was an active member of its equestrian team. In the 2004-2005 season, Clark was awarded the zone 3, region 4 Coach of the Year Award.
“It’s obvious Heather loves our team,” says Miervaldis. “She’s very dedicated.”
The team won their Oct. 1 show and, for the first time in recent history, was the leading team in the region.
They placed second in the last show of the season Nov. 19 with a team total of 24 points, putting them into second place in the region behind Kutztown University. Lafayette has a team total of 147 points behind Kutztown’s 159.
“There is not one girl that has not made a personal sacrifice to help a team member or the coach this past semester and in some cases for the past few years,” says Miervaldis. “The positive attitudes of returning members and the incoming classes help to make it one of the most rewarding experiences I have had at Lafayette.”
Competitors who have qualified for regionals already this semester include neuroscience major Lauren Timpson ’08 (Narvon, Pa.) in Intermediate Flat, Amanda Berger ’09 (Parkland, Fla.) in Intermediate Flat and Fences, psychology major Elanna Spiegel ’10 (Scarsdale, N.Y.) in Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter, and English major Katie McDonough ’08 (Mountainside, N.J.) in Novice Flat.
Two members are already ranking high enough to consider competing for the Cacchione Cup, a ranking of the riders in the open division, which is the most advanced in the IHSA. Miervaldis is in 10th place and Berger is in 15th place of all the riders in the region.
Whereas in every other division flat and fences points are separated, in the Cacchione rankings they are combined. It is considered a measure of the best rider in each region. At the end of the year, the open rider who has the most points will compete as a representative of the region at nationals.
The team will continue to compete next semester. Five riders will not return due to study abroad programs and varsity sports, so the team is actively recruiting new members.
Other schools fielding teams in the region are Bloomsburg University, Cedar Crest College, East Stroudsburg University, Kutztown University, Lehigh University, Moravian College, Princeton University, Rutgers University, University of Scranton, and Wilkes University.
For more information or to get involved, contact Miervaldis.