Western equestrian team will send two riders to NRHA/IHSA Semi Finals in New Mexico

Saturday, March 7

Blacksburg, VA

Liberty University Club Sports

Virginia Tech

Western equestrian riders Angel Lundin (left, with Assistant Coach Kylie Morse) and Alexandra Dixon (right) qualified for the March 20-22 NRHA/IHSA Semi-Finals in Las Cruces, N.M.

Western equestrian team will send two riders to NRHA/IHSA Semi Finals in New Mexico

3/11/2026 4:38:00 PM | Equestrian

Liberty wrapped up its regular season Saturday and competed in the Region 4 Championships Sunday in shows hosted by Virginia Tech.

Angel Lundin Western rider — Senior Angel Lundin qualified as the Region 4 Reserve Champion in Open Horsemanship.

Liberty University's Western Equestrian team competed in its last two regular season show and the Region 4 Championships over the weekend at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va.. The Lady Flames performed well, riding to fourth-place finishes in both shows on Saturday.

Six riders qualified for Sunday's Western Regional event, and two — junior Alexandra Dixon, the Reserve Champion in Open Horsemanship, and senior Angel Lundin, the Reserve Champion in Beginner Horsemanship — qualified for the Nationals Reining Horse Association (NRHA)/International Horse Shows Association (IHSA) Semi-Finals hosted by New Mexico State University from March 20-22 in Las Cruces, N.M.

Saturday morning's show opened with senior Shelby Coble placing first in Level 2 Horsemanship, sophomore Anna Norris taking second in Rookie Horsemanship, and Dixon finishing third in Open Horsemanship, and second in the Reigning event on Saturday afternoon. Senior Makenzie Cox also competed on Saturday afternoon and placed second in Level 1 Horsemanship, while junior Natalie Den Dulk landed in second in Beginner Horsemanship.

Alexandra Dixon Western equestrian rider — Junior Alexandria Dixon qualified in Beginner Horsemanship.

"They laid down some really solid rides," Western Assistant Coach Kylie Morse said. "They really went in and put in their all so we're very proud of each of them. Even Sunday, again, they stepped up even more, so I really couldn't have asked for any more from any of them."

On Sunday, Dixon competed in Reigning and Open Horsemanship, sophomore Rebekah Isenhour and Lundin rode in Beginning Horsemanship, senior Caylan Barton and junior Ayva Anderson entered in Rookie Horsemanship, and Coble competed in Level 1 Horsemanship.

At the National Semi-Finals, Dixon and Lundin will compete against 11 other riders from around the nation in their respective events. The top four riders for each event will qualify for IHSA National Championship held in conjunction with the Hunt Seat show at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, N.C., from May 2-4.

"It's going to be very heavily competitive out there, but I am very confident in the riders we have and the Lord's plan for them, so no matter what happens, they have gone above and beyond to get to that point," Morse said.

By Amory Doyle/Student Writer