Hospitality and business junior Aleea Davis puts her arm around a horse Sunday at the Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education, before the MSU equestrian team’s stock seat clinic. Sunday’s scheduled show was canceled due to the weather, but since judge Mary Luther could still attend, they held a clinic instead. Clinics are run like a horse show, with the exception of the judge providing criticism, tips and feedback as the riders show and the absence of awards.
When MSU’s English-style equestrian team tied with the University of Michigan on Saturday at the MSU Horsemen’s Association’s equestrian show, it wasn’t by scoring goals or making baskets, by blocking a goal or intercepting a pass.
In horseback riding, team takes on a new meaning.
The 40 teammates interact not by passing a ball or sharing a field — they interact by lending a hand and offering a critique.
And it was this kind of camaraderie that, even with two event cancellations, led to a successful weekend at the MSU Horsemen’s Association’s equestrian show at the Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education.
“For every other sport, there’s a rivalry. With (horseback riding), it’s still there but everyone else is willing to help each other,” animal science junior and western-style rider Dustin Grezeszak said.
Saturday was a big day for MSU’s English-style team, which, as a result of point totals, is tied with U-M for first in the region. The one remaining show, scheduled for Feb. 14, will determine which of the two schools qualifies for the next level of competition.
“We’re just hitting our stride,” team coach Adrienne Woodward said. “There’s a lot of talent. … If they have the will to win, I want to take them as far as they can go.”
Besides the English-style, or hunt seat, event, the show from Friday through Sunday featured a dressage clinic and a 4-H clinic. Sunday’s western-style riding competition was canceled because of the weather. It was not announced why the scheduled polo match also was canceled.
“To have their show canceled, it’s a huge letdown,” animal science junior and hunt-seat captain Patrick Foth said. “You can’t really reschedule it at home.”
But rather than send the riders home and waste the use of the Pavilion, Foth said, the association chose to host a clinic with the horses and riders who braved the wintry weather.
Riders from the four schools that made it to the show despite the weather — Central Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, Albion College and MSU — walked, jogged and loped their horses as equestrian judge Mary Luther stood in the center of the ring offering critique over a microphone.
The riders, who are judged and given points based on their position and form on the horse, are generally given points without commentary and keep journals after each show recording things to adjust in the future, Grezeszak said.
“It’s a good opportunity — we don’t get to do that often,” Foth said. “This isn’t an objective sport. There’s no score. It’s all someone’s opinion.”
The western-style riding competition was rescheduled for Feb. 15 at Western Michigan University.
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