Ndsu Western Equestrian Team Sends Riders to National Competition

Nine members of the North Dakota State University Equestrian Team traveled to Weirsdale, Florida, March 18-19 to compete in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Western Semi-finals Competition. The top four individuals and top four teams from semi-finals will move on to compete at IHSA Nationals May 4-7 in Lexington, Kentucky.

Two NDSU riders are advancing to the national competition in individual events. Michaela Long, a senior from Rochester, Minnesota, finished second in the individual open horsemanship. Kaylee Barrieau, a junior from Minnetrista, Minnesota, placed second in individual beginner horsemanship.

Riders representing NDSU in other individual events were:

• Long – honorable mention in reining
• Kooper Shagena, junior, Horace, North Dakota – 8^th in ranch riding, 8^th in level II horsemanship
• Haley Maro, sophomore, Monticello, Minnesota – honorable mention in rookie horsemanship
• Skye Althoff, junior, Rockville, Minnesota; honorable mention in beginner horsemanship

The NDSU team fell one place short of qualifying for nationals, finishing in fifth in the team competition.

Riders representing NDSU in the team competition and their placings in team events were:

• Sarah Schutt, senior, Greenfield, Minnesota – 7^th in reining
• Long – 1^st in open horsemanship
• Maro – 3^rd in ranch riding, 7th in level II horsemanship
• McCartney Knutson, junior, New London, Minnesota – 7^th in level I horsemanship
• Audrey Miller, junior, Fargo, North Dakota – 3^rd in rookie horsemanship
• Rachel Bosserman, junior, Golva, North Dakota – 8^th in beginner horsemanship