USU Equestrians Are Regional High Point Team

Utah State University’s Equestrian Team solidified its spot as the Regional High Point Team following a recent stock seat show where collegiate competitors are judged based on their ability in western horsemanship and reining. The show was hosted at the University of Montana-Western and the competition was held at the LaCense Ranch in Dillon, Mont., Feb. 18 and 19.

USU’s team, sponsored by the Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences Department in the College of Agriculture, competes regionally in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. The region includes Idaho, Wyoming, Utah and Montana, and includes teams from the University of Montana, University of Montana-Western, College of Southern Idaho, Montana State University, Rocky Mountain University and Utah State University.

 

During the weekend’s competition, the USU team competed horseback in five divisions ranging from western horsemanship walk-trot to open reining. USU’s team took Champion team in the evening performance and Reserve Champion team during the morning’s competition.

 

“These two awards solidified our spot as the Regional High Point team of the year, securing a position in the Zone show in Sacramento, Calif.,” said Annemarie McAsey, coach of the IHSA team and horsemanship instructor at USU.

 

The zone show is April 8-9.

 

USU’s team also had the high point rider in all three shows throughout the weekend. Alisha Smith, a public relations major, and Addie Shelton, an engineering major, took these honors. Smith is the AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) high point rider in the region, thus guaranteeing her a position at the national show in Harrisburg, Penn., in May.

 

“Utah State University’s team has worked hard to earn these titles this year,” McAsey said. “We are proud of the accomplishments and proud to represent the university.”

 

USU’s College of Agriculture and USU Cooperative Extension announced the kick-off of a development fund campaign for the university’s new Equine Educational Center last December. Due to the expansion of Innovation Campus, ADVS will move existing equine programs from the current facility on 600 East in North Logan to a new, as yet unselected, location. A recent appropriation from the Utah legislature provides initial funding for the center as part of the relocation effort, but additional private funds are needed to purchase land and cover construction costs.