IHSA Alumni and former University of Oklahoma equestrian team president, Jessilyn McCarroll ('15), turned her experience gained over fences in collegiate competition into a unanimous decision by the judges to be awarded the NSBA Amateur Equitation Over Fences World Championship title.
"This is our first year together," McCarroll said, referring to her own horse, Do U Wanna Dance (aka, 'Clayton). "Chuck (Briggs) had shown him in Open and thought we would make a good team. He can be a little quirky, but he's also a lot of fun to ride. Once he's good, you feel it. He really does give you his all.” The Biology and Pre-Nursing major while attending OU trains with Briggs and Linda Crothers out of Turning Point Ranch.
“I rode IHSA while attending OU and served as president my last two years," she continued. While riding IHSA, McCarroll won 2014 Regional Championships in Intermediate Flat and Intermediate Fences and qualified for the IHSA National Championships. In 2015, she was second at IHSA Regionals in Open Fences and eighth at the Zones Finals. "I hope to continue competing my own horses and catch a few alumni IHSA shows along the way. I love the challenge of IHSA and already miss the family I made in Zone 7 Region 2!"
Adding international and intercollegiate flair to their Tulsa pen victory gallop was IHSA Zone 7 Region 2 Western team rider, Kodi Anderson, of North Central Texas College. The Australian native and her 20 year-old mare, Breaking Hearts, clinched the NSBA Western Riding World Championship title.
"She means the world to me," Anderson said of the mare, who is also a past reserve world champion in Western Pleasure. "I primarily show All-Around, with Trail, Western Riding and Reining. With the lead changes and pattern, we thought it would be something she could do. It's new to her and to me!"
The hunt seat and Western riding success of Anderson and McCarroll at the NSBA World Championship Show epitomize the mission of IHSA to promote competition in both disciplines for riders of all skill levels, who compete individually and as teams at regional and national levels, based on the principle that any college student should be able to participate in horse shows regardless of his or her financial status or riding level. Learn more about IHSA membership and scholarships at
www.ihsainc.com.
photo credit Jessilyn McCarroll
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