Equestrian Finishes Second at Skidmore Show

This past weekend, the women’s equestrian team traveled to Saratoga Springs, N.Y., to compete in the Skidmore Show. Consistently one of the most competitive shows of the season, the women finished in second place overall with 33 points. Skidmore took first on their home turf with 47 points, with the Red closely beating out Hartwick and Morrisville, who tied for third with 32 points.
“We rode strongly all day,” junior Zoe Samuel said. “Obviously we were coming off of a great weekend [after placing first in the Cornell Show], but we were still happy with second place.”
Opening the show with Open Fences, senior tri-captain Dana Kendrick took first, with classmate and fellow tri-captain Caroline Shulman placing second in their section. Freshman Catherine Chew finished first in her section, while senior Jessica Bemis took third and junior tri-captain Heather Sherman finished in sixth in their respective sections.[img_assist|nid=35713|title=Don’t trip|desc=Senior Jess Bemis jumps in at Oxley Equestrian Center on Feb. 21. At the Skidmore Show this weekend, Bemis took third in Open Fences, as well as fourth in Open Flat.|link=node|align=left|width=|height=0]
Moving on to Intermediate Fences, the Red’s scores fell slightly, with sophomore Georgina Melbye placing fifth and freshman Candance Berne finishing sixth. In Novice Fences, Kelsey Craig, who is proving to be a valuable rider for the Red, took home a blue ribbon, with sophomore Rachel Klion finishing third.
In Open Flat, junior Nicole Finazzo took third in her section, and Bemis finished in fourth. Returning to the ring, Shulman finished in second with Kendrick placing fourth in the section.
Melbye returned for Intermediate Flat, finishing third in her section. Junior Brooke Cagwin took fifth place in her section, and freshman Justine Gentilini finished in fourth.
In Novice Flat, Craig rode strongly again, finishing in second. In Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter, sophomore Lauren Lavo finished third and freshman Kelsey O’Shea finished first. Sophomore Scotty Weber finished first as well.
Over the course of the day, 14 riders for the Red qualified for regionals in their respective sections.
“It was tough losing to Skidmore,” Sherman said. “But individual riders performed very well, and a lot of girls will be going to Regionals as a result. We did well and still have plenty of shows left in the season.