Mar. 6, 2018
CWU Equestrian Team Wins Regional Championship
The CWU Equestrian Team won the English Regional Championship High Point Sunday at the 2018 Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) competition, sponsored by Oregon State University. With the win, CWU riders move on to compete at the Zone Championships next month at Stanford University.
While individual CWU riders have qualified to compete at Stanford before, this is the first time the Equestrian Club's English Team has won a division championship. With the title, five riders qualified to advance to the Zone 8 Championship event.
"As the high-point team from our region, CWU will now compete at Stanford for the chance to represent our zone at the National Competition," said Kylie Vroman, the team's captain.
Vroman, claimed individual Regional Champion honors, advancing to Stanford as the top-seeded rider in Class 6.
Vroman was among seven CWU riders to place among the top six in seven different classes within the overall competition. Others qualifying to ride at Stanford are Andi Rax, Madi Sturgeon, Hillary Hwang, and Kenzi Lane.
The English riding style differs from Western in that the English saddle is smaller and lighter and designed to give the rider additional contact with a horse's back for forward motion. English riders are judged on their ability to control their horse and at the same time remain in proper "equitation," the ability to ride effectively with correct body position.
Between September and March each year, the CWU team competes in IHSA-sponsored English- and Western-riding shows across the Pacific Northwest. IHSA promotes competition, individually and as teams at regional, zone, and national levels, providing riders of all skill levels with opportunities to participate in horse shows regardless of financial status or riding proficiency.
To prepare for the various events, CWU riders attend "ride night" practices at Orrion Farms in Ellensburg, where both competing and non-competitive club members hone their riding skills.
"The ability to continuously train at their facility during the school year has allowed our riders to rise to the top of their division," said an obviously pleased Ann Anderson, CWU Equestrian Club advisor. "We are extremely grateful to Orrion Farms."
CWU will also send Vroman and Sturgeon to the Western riding semifinal competition in New York next Saturday and Sunday (March 17 and 18).
Established in 2006, the CWU Equestrian Club has become one of the largest, most active sport clubs on campus, with about 50 members. The CWU Sport Club Program provides opportunities for students with mutual interests in particular activities, to pursue them more in-depth.
Media contact: Robert Lowery, Department of Public Affairs, 509-963-1487, Robert.Lowery@cwu.edu
Photo: The English-riding champion CWU Equestrian Club