To promote the 50th anniversary of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (ISHA), founder Bob Cacchione kicked off a university tour at Averett University last weekend.
Visiting college equestrian programs across the country to speak and celebrate the organization’s 50th anniversary, Cacchione is famous in the college equestrian circle. He founded the IHSA in 1967 at only 18 years old, and it has since grown to a membership of almost 400 member colleges in 45 states and Canada, representing more than 9,000 riders.
Cacchione joined equestrian studies faculty, alumni and guests on Friday, Sept. 23, for a reception at the new Frank R. Campbell Stadium on Averett’s North Campus, and toured Main Campus before heading to the Averett Equestrian Center, where he and equestrian studies faculty and students were interviewed and featured by a number of local media outlets.
The next day, Averett’s IHSA Team opened the show season with a home show, with 11 teams represented from Virginia and North Carolina. More than 120 riders competed in ten classes for individual and team honors. Averett’s team ended the day in a tie with Emory & Henry College for champion.
Other results from the competition included:
- Senior Hannah Walters placed second in Open Fences, placed first in Open Flat, and earned reserve high point rider of the day after a tie breaking ride-off with her fellow teammate, Taryn Spore.
- Junior Kristen Kelley placed first in Intermediate Fences and fourth in Intermediate Flat.
- Freshman Taryn Spore had a great first ride as a member of Averett’s IHSA team, placing second in Novice Fences and first in Novice Flat.
- Junior Brittany Leonard placed fourth in Novice Fences and Novice Flat.
- Senior Amanda Schoenfeld placed first in Novice Flat.
- Sophomore Paige Robbins earned second in Walk/Trot.
- Junior Natalie Ringel placed first in Beginner Walk/Trot/Canter.
- Senior Kiersten Estes placed third in Beginner Walk/Trot/Canter.
- Sophomore Abby Lackey earned third in Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter.
The team will compete again at Virginia Tech this Saturday, Oct. 1, for their second show of the season. Averett’s Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) Team will head to Wake Forest University on Sunday, Oct. 2, for their first competition of the season.
