The equestrian team set the bar high this year after a disappointing end to last season when the team missed out on a trip to Nationals. And so far, the squad has met, and exceeded, the high mark, earning the number one spot in the region after two of the four Fall horse shows.
Part of the team's strength is the insurgence of new faces. Of its 28 members, 11 are new to the team and are making significant contributions. "We're 100 percent stronger," senior and Vice President Erica Amster said. "The new members are all very strong riders, they're going to make a nice new foundation for the team in the upcoming years.
"After last year, a lot of old members came in with a new attitude. We want to redeem ourselves and we'll definitely be able to do it."
The first test of the season came at the horse show hosted by Stonehill College, Tufts' arch rivals, on Oct. 27. Within the Zone 1 Region 4 portion of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) are nine other area schools that Tufts squares off against - Boston University, Endicott College, Framingham State, Harvard University, MIT, Stonehill, UMass Dartmouth, Wellesley College, and Wheaton College.
Tufts had a strong showing, placing second overall and only five points behind the acclaimed Stonehill team. Senior co-captain Hally Phillips was named the Reserve High Point Rider, an individual award given to the rider who receives the second-highest point total. At the event, Phillips captured a first place finish in the Open Flat and a second place in the Open Fences.
Among the other first place finishes were senior Kate Johnstone in the Intermediate Flat, freshman Stuart Mueller in the Novice Flat, freshman Katherine Brumberger in the Novice Fences, and sophomore Rachel Perlman in the Walk-Trot.
Last weekend, the equestrian team competed against the same ten schools in its region at a show hosted by BU. It was a banner weekend for the Jumbos, as they took home first place and gained the leader's position within the region. The move into number one is important because only the top team in the region goes to zone finals with a shot at Nationals. Although Nationals are not until the Spring semester, the standings at the end of the Fall season hold until Spring, so gaining the early lead is prudent.
"We're major contenders," senior Hally Phillips said. "We'd like to increase our lead."
The win at BU was a solid team effort, with first place finishes garnered by junior Toby Pinsky in the Novice Fences, freshman Ralph Bassett in the Intermediate Flat, Perlman in the Walk-Trot, freshman Emily Breazeale in the Advanced Walk-Trot-Canter, Mueller in the Novice Flat, and Phillips in the Open Fences. With the exception of Pinsky and Phillips, all of the riders are new this year. "They're all strong riders and when you come in as a new rider," Phillips said, "you're at the lowest level, so it is common for new people to do well."
Heading into the final two shows of the season with a ten-point lead in the region, Tufts is looking to build upon its cushion. After placing fifth in the region last Fall, the team's standings show a drastic improvement in what has been termed a "rebuilding year." The two shows will be hosted by Tufts at Apple Knoll Farm in Millis, MA this Saturday and by Endicott on Sunday.
"We plan on winning both the Tufts and Endicott shows," Amster said. "Our arch-rival is Stonehill, so we're going to try to open the gap between them."
The team is excited for the Tufts-hosted show because it will provide a slight home-team advantage as well as an opportunity for Tufts horse lovers to come to the show. Buses will run throughout the day and members of the equestrian team can be contacted for more information on transportation.
