Photo by Nicole Sullivan
Zone Championship results determine qualifiers for the IHSA National Championship Horse Show.
Gladys, Va. – April 13, 2022 – The Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) held eight Zone Finals March 30-April 10. The eight Zone hunter seat competitions produced across the North America were qualifying events for the 2022 IHSA National Championship to be showcased at the Pennsylvania Farm Show and Expo Center, Harrisburg, May 5-8.
From each Zone Finals, the top two teams and the top two individual riders from each division all qualified to compete at the highlight of the IHSA season. Each Zone Final also held a qualifying class for the USEF/Cacchione Cup. The IHSA National Championship Show determines the team, individual and alumni champions in both hunter seat and Western. The event also features the coveted USEF/Cacchione Cup and the AQHA
Western High-Point Rider national final.
The Mount Holyoke College Hunter Seat Team, led by CJ Law, secured the championship of the IHSA Zone 1 Finals with 48 points. The University of Vermont Equestrian Team, coached by Madeline Austin, earned the reserve championship with 32 points. The creative hosts at Mount Holyoke crafted a fun Wizard of Oz themed draw for horses. Photo by Maddie Hurley
The Long Island University Equestrian Team, coached by Brooke Chasin, took the championship honors at the Zone 2 Finals. The Mary Drueding-led St. Lawrence University Equestrian Team and the host of the competition, earned reserve honors. Both teams are Nationals-bound. Photo courtesy of St. Lawrence University.
At IHSA Zone 3 Finals, the home team, Centenary University, coached by Michael Dowling and Heather Clark, earned the championship, with the Penn State University Equestrian Team, coached by Kristin Gretock, taking reserve. Both teams qualified to compete in Harrisburg. Photo by Nicole Sullivan
The 2019 National Champion Hunter Seat Team, Emory and Henry, coached by Heather Richardson, were champions of the Zone 4 Finals, hosted by St. Andrews University and will defend their title at Nationals. Reserve champions, Sweet Briar College, coached by Lizzi Fisch, will also be among the teams vying for the top podium finish at Nationals. Photo courtesy of Emory and Henry Equestrian Team
In Zone 5, hosted at SCAD, the SCAD Equestrian Team, coached by Ashley Henry, won the team competition with 48 points. They will be joined at Nationals by reserve champion team, the College of Charleston, coached by Natasha McCarthy, who earned 37 points.
Photo courtesy of SCAD Visual Media
Albion College in Albion, Michigan, hosted the IHSA Zone 6 Championships. The Otterbein Universtity Equestrian Team, coached by Kari Briggs were crowned champions. The Miami University Equestrian Team, coached by Heather Pinnick, earned the reserve championship. Both teams punched their tickets to IHSA Nationals. Photo by Hannah Schmidt
In tightly contested competition, the West Texas A&M Hunter Seat Team, under the leadership of Head Coach Amanda Ellis, nabbed the IHSA Zone 7 Championship on their home turf with 43 points. Purdue University Hunter Seat Team, coached by Krista Steinmetz, racked up 39 points to take reserve champion honors. Both teams are Nationals-bound. Photo by Ava Charrlin
The Stanford Hunter Seat Team, coached by Vanessa Bartsch, eaned 48 points and will make the trip to Nationals as the IHSA Zone 8 champions. Reserve champions, the Kathryn Griffiths-led University of Southern California Equestrian Team, notched 44 points and earned their spot at Nationals in Harrisburg. Photo by Vanessa Bartsch
The teams and individuals will start from square-one at Nationals, with each competing team and individual offered a shot at an IHSA national championship.
"We are thrilled to come together at Nationals after a two-year hiatus," said IHSA Executive Director Peter Cashman. "I am so grateful to our coaches, members, sponsors and supporters. It's a joy to be back and we look forward to seeing everyone in Harrisburg."
QUALIFIED RIDERS AND TEAMS