As the semester draws to a close, the Tufts equestrian team will be wrapping up the first half of what has been an impressive season for both the team and several of its individual riders.
In their most recent competition, hosted by Boston College on Nov. 19 and featuring every team in the region, the Jumbos took the title of High Point Champions. The victory, which was the first top finish for the Tufts riders in the past two years, secured them the second place slot in the region and brought them within eight points of first-place Wheaton.
"We're really excited about our team this year," junior tri-captain Megan Kiely said. "We have a great group of new freshmen plus some older members of the team who are really performing well. We have a great shot of winning the region and going to Nationals."
With the first half of the split season behind it, the team will take the winter off from competition in anticipation of the spring season which will determine its Nationals fate.
"There's a sense of team unity," coach Charlotte McEnroe added. "Everybody's working together for the one goal of the team's success. I'm positive that we're going to overtake Wheaton in the second semester."
The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) also offers a trip to Nationals to the rider from each region that accumulates the most individual points, or Cacchione points, over the course of the season. Jumbos currently occupy the top three of the top four spots in the Cacchione competition. Senior tri-captain Tessa LeCuyer is ranked first, and is followed by sophomore Rebecca Renier in second and junior tri-captain Katie Wulster, who is tied for fourth.
Though there are many degrees of experience within the team, IHSA shows offer a chance for all riders to participate. Competitors ride at levels of walk/trot, beginner walk/trot/canter, advanced walk/trot/canter, novice, intermediate, and open, moving up based on their performances.
"It's good that you can be at a lower level but still be an important member of the team," said sophomore Mary Von Rueden, who just started showing last semester. "It makes it more fun and more interesting for people who aren't as experienced."
In addition, many of the Tufts riders have already qualified in their individual divisions for the regional competition, which will take place in April. Among them are Von Rueden in walk/trot, senior Hillary Amster in intermediate flat, Kiely in intermediate flat and fences, and LeCuyer in open flat.
The Jumbos' success this year has been well-earned, as all 31 members of the team make the commute to Holliston, Mass., for weekly lessons with McEnroe and other trainers.
"We have a very positive, hard-working group of kids this year," McEnroe said. "I've been really strong in drilling them and training them to think and react in different situations."
Quick thinking is an especially important skill in for the show team, as they are forced to adjust to randomly chosen horses on the spot during competitions.
"The horse we ride in a class is drawn out of a hat," Renier said. "We don't get to familiarize ourselves with the horse. We just have to go right into the show ring and do our best."
"It's a very different form of riding," Kiely agreed. "You get no warm-up. You really have to be able to go into the ring and adapt to whatever you have."
Though competitions can be stressful, especially for more inexperienced members of the team, they offer the show team an experience that practices can't.
"The show team is a smaller group of people who want to compete," Von Rueden said. "It's definitely a lot of fun because you get to be more involved with the team itself, rather than just the couple people who happen to be in your lesson. It's more of a team environment."
Their season may be on pause for now, but the Jumbos are already looking ahead to next semester. Many members of the team who are able to practice over winter break will be working to maintain the progress they've made so far this season.
"It's hard because we're technically a three-season sport," Kiely said. "We compete September through November and March through May, so there's a break in between. We encourage people to ride when they're home. It's just like any other sport - you have to stay in shape or it, or your performance will suffer when you return in the spring."
