We are the newest equestrian team on campus, and we are one of the first three schools in the region to field a Western riding team. Founded in 2008, we began as team who rode and competed off campus. In 2010, we began riding and showing on campus with the support of the college and have been very successful since the creation of the team. In 2010, the college hired Kelli Marie Wainscott of Triple
R Ranch to coach the team. She has coached the team to 4 Regional Championships in 2011, 2012 and 2014 and a Reserve Regional Championship in 2015 in which the team actually tied for Regional Champion with another college, but then lost the tie breaker. The first Semi Finals we competed at was in Missouri at Missouri State University. This was our first year making it that far as a team, and we placed 7th! One of our team members even placed 2nd in the Intermediate Team Horsemanship, while another rider earned her trip to Nationals by placing 4th in the Individual Advanced Horsemanship class. It was a wonderful accomplishment for our team. Our second Semi Finals in 2012, was hosted by Findlay University. What a treat to be able to show at a barn that houses over 300 western horses! The competition was fierce, and we again came away with a 7th place finish. Our team riders placed 3rd, 4th and 5th earning some great points on the score board! Our third Semi Finals in 2013 was hosted by Cal Poly in California, and what an amazing trip we had! We got to compete in an outdoor arena beneath palm trees in 80 degree weather, something we have never been able to do before. The horses were amazing and the judges were wonderful. Our team riders placed 2nd, 5th, and 5th which tied us for 6th place! Technically we earned 7th after the tie breaker, but we are improving at every Semi Finals. Our Beginner rider also earned her spot at Nationals with her 4th place finish at this show. In 2011, Kelli coached one Advanced rider to the IHSA Nationals in Individual Horsemanship. In 2012, that same rider earned the title of High Point Rider and earned a spot at the 2012 IHSA Nationals competing in both Horsemanship and Reining, making the Northeast proud! In 2013, a Beginner rider earned her spot at Nationals in the Beginner Individual Horsemanship placing 6th out of 12! That rider began her riding career at Mount Holyoke, making this our biggest accomplishment to date. Although we are a competitive riding team, we don't just focus on the blue ribbon. Of course we want to win and do well in the show pen, but in order to be a valuable member of the team you also need to be healthy both mentally and physically. We not only ride, but we also have mandatory team workouts, team meetings, team bonding activities and much more. Currently the team riders practice at Mount Holyoke, Heritage Farm in Easthampton, MA and take reining lessons at Clark Performance Horses in Winchendon, MA. Many of our alum riders stay in contact and miss the team very much. They have said that their best memories at Mount Holyoke are from being a part of the western team, because you make friends and bonds are created that will probably never be duplicated during your lifetime. Where else can you work toward your future, while also having a hobby and doing something you really enjoy, being able to push yourself to levels you didn't think you would ever reach, all while setting personal and team goals? It is an experience you will not want to miss out on.
2014 Highlights:
Our team competed at Semi Finals at Findlay and placed a respectable 6th with the top 3 colleges moving on to Nationals. MHC rider Emily Murch earns the High Point Regional Rider Award and earns an honorable mention at the IHSA National Horse Show. MHC rider Jolie Fu earns 7th out of 12 riders in the Beginner Horsemanship at the IHSA National Horse Show. Fun fact: When Jolie joined the team in 2012, she had never been on a horse before!
2015 Highlights:
Our team earns the Reserve Regional Championship title and sends four riders to Semi Finals in Oklahoma. All four riders rode hard and although none made it to Nationals, we learned a lot and have already started to prepare for next season. Please contact Kelli for more information about this team and horse back riding at Mount Holyoke College:
[email protected]
