Liberty's Hunt Seat equestrian team received an array of ribbons at this past weekend's Region 4 shows at Mary Washington University in Fredericksburg, Va.
Hunt Seat equestrian team strengthens Region 4 lead after weekend shows; Western riders third, fourth at home
2/6/2024 1:18:00 PM | Equestrian
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Liberty's Hunt Seat riders regrouped after a fourth-place finish in Saturday's show to win High Point Team honors on Sunday at Mary Washington, after the Western squad finished third and fourth in two shows hosted by Liberty last weekend.
In its spring semester debuts at Mary Washington University in Fredericksburg, Va., Liberty University's Hunt Seat equestrian team maintained its first-place standing in IHSA Region 4 after Saturday's fourth-place finish followed by Sunday's High Point Team performance.
"We scored well in the points both days and were the High Point Team Sunday with a season high of 42 points," Liberty Head Coach Suzanne Flaig said after the team totaled 33 points on Saturday to place behind the College of William & Mary (37) as well as Sweet Briar College and Christopher Newport University (36 points apiece). Junior John Hutchinson won High Point Rider honors.
The Flames and Lady Flames edged William & Mary (40) and finished well in front of Sweet Briar (36), Mary Washington (35), Randolph-Macon College (33), and CNU (28) on Sunday to increase its first-place standing overall. Liberty eclipsed 200 points to rank ahead of Sweet Briar (193), William & Mary (186), Randolph-Macon (180), CNU (179), and Mary Washington (148) in the season standings.
Individually, the Flames and Lady Flames were paced by five first-place finishes on Saturday and six more on Sunday, including two by junior John Hutchinson (in Intermediate Fences and Open Flat) who was the High Point Rider for the day.
Senior Maggie Saunders qualified for the Region 4 Championships, set for Feb. 24 at Sweet Briar, in the Open Flat after winning that event on Saturday and Sunday, when she also placed second in Open Fences.
Claire Hutchinson also captured a blue ribbon in Limit Flat in Sunday's show, when Golden repeated her gold-medal showing in Introductory Flat, followed by Ricker in second and Anna Pemble in third.
Hammond won the Novice Flat competition that day and the Lady Flames also got red-ribbon rides from Aliyah Hardesty in Novice Flat and Giulia D'Addesi in Limit Fences and third-place finishes from D'Addesi and Ruth McAtee in Limit Flat, and Anna Rotter and Eve Bittner in Novice Flat. Rebekah Honaker also qualified for regionals in the Intermediate Flat.
Last Saturday and Sunday, Liberty's Western riding team hosted back-to-back Region 4 shows at the Liberty Mountain Equestrian Center and posted fourth- and third-place team showings, respectively.
On Saturday, Alex Dixon tied for High Point Rider honors after finishing first in Level II Horsemanship and third in Ranch Riding while Abby Rice placed third in Level I Horsemanship.
Then, on Sunday, Dixon was the Reserve High Point Rider after winning the Level II Horsemanship competition. Sarah Gagnon also finished first in Ranch Riding while Makenzie Cox won in Section A of Rookie B Horsemanship and Caylan Barton placed third in Section B and Lexi Evans finished third in Beginner Horsemanship.
Gallery: (2-6-2024) Liberty Equestrian teams in action
