High Point University Equestrian Team
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In The News
A Little Bonfire
Lilly Chalfant January 31, 2016
Nothing is better than an evening bonfire at Fox Run Farm. One warm Sunday in January the team brought blankets and marshmallows to enjoy an evening by the fire. We had some wonderful guests to join us. Coach Schlaeppi's Fox Run Farm Interscholastic Equestrian Team is a high school equestrian team made up of local girls from grades 6-12. While we generally only see the high school girls in passing at the barn at this bonfire every high schooler was assigned a "big sister" from the HPUET team. The girls were matched up to learn a little bit more about each other and were left to hangout and spend time together. The big little program has been a great success so far and we can't wait to see where it goes. We love the IEA team and we're so glad they love us back!
New Team, New Season, New Strides!
Lilly Chalfant October 7, 2014
The High Point University Equestrian Team is off to a good start this year. With an extremely large and talented freshmen class, as well as the addition of a new male competitior, the roster now stands at a comfrotable and diverse 33 riders. It has been a great first month of practice with our new and returning team mates. A selection of freshmen have really gotten involved by volunteering their time to fundrasie as a class for the team as well as competining in the Sedgfield Collegaite Cup this September with great success.
We ended this first month of practice with an HPUET style tailgate on the eve of our first show. It was a wonderful evening at the barn filled with team pictures, pizza and all around team fun. The next day all 33 members of the team headed out at 5:30 am to Avarett University for the first official competition of the year. It was a great day overall, although we were only allowed 12 rides every one of our riders had a great deal of motivation and support from their fellow team mates. Sophomore, Bella Cramer started off the day in the open over fences division with a 3rd place to get us going and we are proud to say that the entire team maintained no lower than a 4th place throughout the entire day. With some stiff competition, including two new teams in the region, we ended tied for 5th place out of 10 teams. Also Lilly Chalfant, Lindsey Anuzis and Brittany Matters all pointed out of their divisons and qualified for regionals!
Amazing Alumni
Lilly Chalfant June 1, 2014
Not only did HPUET graduate some wonderfully talented seniors in May, we also had some very exciting accomplishments from our alumni this month. To start it off Jul Kime (Class of 2013) competed at IHSA Nationals in Harrisburg, P.A. on May 3rd. After a year of hard work competing in the alumni division Jul qualified to compete at the national horse show in alumni open flat. The competition was stiff and her class was full of fourteen very talented and seasonsed alumni IHSA riders, but our very own former captain performed beautfully and took home a well deserved 4th place. We can't think of a better way to make her alma-mater proud than to claim a title as 4th in the nation.
From there we had Jules and former HPUET co-founder Rae Lallier both compete in the IHSA Tournament of Champions. They represented HPU beautifully. Rae took home a well-earned 3rd place and Jul received the award of Champion. We are so proud of these girls and all they've accomplished in their post HPUET careers!
A Banner Weekend at Virginia Intermont
Lilly Chalfant February 12, 2014
The HPUET team hopped on the bus and headed to Virginia Intermont for the weekend to kick off the second semester of 2013/2014 season with a double header. Needless to say the proof is in the pudding. These girls have been working hard through snow, sleet, rain and everything else North Carolina weather has thrown at them to up their game and the hard work is clearly showing. They finished the first day of competition in 2nd place, as Reserve High Point Team tied with Virginia Intermont, just one point behind Virginia Tech for first!
As for the second day, the competition was even tougher but the girls held their own. Our intermediate division riders were especially on their game and the team as a whole finished in 3rd place behind Virginia Intermont and Virginia Tech. Overall the weekend was a great success with ribbons, mile stones and regional qualifiers. Brittany Matters qualified for regionals in Intermediate flat, Ashley Bondurant and Molly Moldenhaur both qualified in walk trot canter and senior Carly Easton has qaulified in Novice fences. Way to go girls!
We've Got The Power, Horse Power
Lilly Chalfant December 2, 2013
The High Point University Equestrian Team has kept the idea of giving back high on our priotritys from the very beginnning. What better time than the holidays to give back to the local community! HPUET found horsepower back in 2011 and hasn't looked back. Annually we send our team mates to be trained by the Horse Power Staff to volunteer at monthly and sometimes weekly sessions!
For those who don't know what Horse Power is, they describe themselves as a Therapeutic Learning Center and non-profit organization serving the Piedmont Triad community since 1995 and affiliated with the Piedmont Saddle Club since 1998. They provide therapeutic equine activities for over 300 individuals with disabilities each year. They have a number of positions in need of being filled by volunteers and the girls of HPUET spend their time as sidewalkers and horse leaders helping the riders stay safe and assisting in the leading process of the horses!
Horse Power is an organzation that helps countless children with dissabilities over come their set backs by building stamina, coordination and a wonderful repore with the horss and the volunteers. Captain Rachel O'Malley commented on her time with Horse Power saying, "My favorite part was the oppurtunity to work with the kids every week and seeing them progress mentally and physically during their lessons. It was also rewarding to hear from their families how much of an impact the program made on their lives." This semester we have had a dedicated group of girls, primarily Freshman, led by HPUET Volunteer Coordinator Christine Hirst spending a great amount of time out there. All the team mates describe their expereince as fun and rewarding. We love having the oppurtunity to give back this way! The spirit of giving goes all year round' here at HPU!
Finishing Strong at VI
Lilly Chalfant November 16/17, 2013
The High Point University Equestrian Team headed to Virginia Intermont in Blacksburg Virginia this weekend for a double header to finish the semester. The girls showed Saturday and Sunday, both days with exciting results.
The team had a successful first day at Virginia Intermont finishing in 4th place behind Virginia Intermont, Virginia Tech and Averett! There were many successes throughout the day such as Senior Rachel O'Malley taking second in her very first Open flat class and Junior Mallory Drummond ending the day with a win in the walk trot division.
HPUET was off to a great start on Sunday with Senior Rachel O'Malley winning 1st, and Open Fences Point Rider and Freshman, Bella Cramer taking 2nd. Following that both Intermediate Point Riders, Junior Brittany Matters and Junior Lindsey Anuzis were 2nd in their respective classes. With the team standing in second place the points kept coming as Sophomore Lilly Chalfant pulled in a blue ribbon for Novice Flat and Junior Lainey Audet took a third in Advanced Walk, Trot, Canter. The team ended the second day at Virginia Intermont tied for 2nd place with Elon, as Reserve High Point Team. High Point Equestrian Team knows how to finish strong, ending the semester with a season high!
From IEA To IHSA
Lilly Chalfant November 1-3, 2013
High Point University Equestrian Team had a horse filled halloweekend. Trainer Cathy Schlaeppi not only coaches the High Point IHSA Team but also coaches her own Fox Run Farms IEA Team. The college team stepped in to act as mentors and helpers to the high school team as Fox Run took on hosting their very first IEA Show held at Sedgefield Showgrounds in Greensboro, NC. The HPU team prepped, schooled and held horses, they also acted as runners and even gate keepers. Senior Ashley Bondurant was a key player in keeping the show moving along with all the dedicated parents and volunteers present. The team had a great time bonding while helping out their little sister team who took home Champion for the day.
If that wasn't enough excitement for one weekend HPUET went home to get a good nights rest along with Fox Run Farm horses Martel, Jake, Mack and Fontaine then to head to Elon for their own show on Sunday morning. HPU had a number of successes that day with Seniors Carly Easton and Rachel O'Malley pointing out of their divisions and officially qualifying for IHSA regionals. After a long weekend of horse showing High Point took home fourth place, as well as some very tired horses and riders!
Success at Sedgefield Collegiate Cup
Lilly Chalfant October 11, 2013
While most students were packing up to head home for break a number of High Point University Equestrians were packing up a trailer to head to a horse show the first weekend of Fall break! Sedgefield Showgrounds located in Greesnboro, NC and owned by the Schlaeppi's hosts a series of rated hunter jumper shows throughout the regular season. In the fall they offer not only an end of the year show for their year long competitors but an exclusive collegiate cup within that show.
Collegiate riders from colleges all over the area are invited to come and ride their own horses or school provided horses in an effort to represent their college teams. Each team must consist of at least five members with at least one member competing in or above 2'6. The competitors may designate any classes of their choice to count for their team or they may compete in the exclusive collegiate cup equitation classes. At the end of the day the merit of your winnings is calculated to determine a winner. High Point swept the competition with it's two teams placing 1st and 2nd. Junior Mallory Drummond was High Point Rider in Individual Flat and Seniors Ashley Bondurant and Molly Moldenhauer tied for Reserve High Point Rider on the Flat!
An Adventure To Averett
Lilly Chalfant October 5, 2013
The High Point University Equestrian Team continues on with their competitive season heading to Averett University in Danville, Virginia. Being their maiden voyage to the venue and Averett's first ever IHSA show, spending the day at Averett's Equestrian Center was a new experience for all. It was an unlikely 80 degrees and quite hot (an unusually warm weather pattern compared to most chilly IHSA shows).
Despite the heat HPU managed to keep cool and had a number of team members ride quite well staying in the ribbons all day. Alumni and Co-Founder Jul Kime even joined the team for a run in the alumni division.
There were undoubetdly some challenges for HPU riders adjusting to Averett's wonderful but unfamiliar eventing and dressage trained horses. Over all High Point finished off the day in 6th place and Junior Brittany Matters with back to back wins in Intermediate fences and flat took home the award for Reserve High Point Rider of the day!
Kicking Off The Season
Emily Pearl September 30, 2013
High Point University Equestrian Team had their first show for the 2013-2014 year at Virgina Tech this past weekend in Blacksburg, VA. Bob Cacchione, founder of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), met with members of the High Point University Equestrian Team during the group’s first competition
“It was an honor for the riders to meet the man responsible for creating the IHSA,” said Cathy Schlaeppi, High Point University's Team coach. “The IHSA was created to provide affordable easy, access to equine competition in an environment that is built on principals of learning, sportsmanship, and fun. Meeting the founder and seeing his obvious enthusiasm for our program was a great way to launch our season.”
Cacchione spent time talking to each of the team’s 40 members asking about their individual skills, riding experience, and accomplishments. Cacchione started the IHSA in 1967 when he was an 18-year-old sophomore at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. Today, the Association spans 37 regions in 8 zones, with 400 member colleges in 45 states and Canada. IHSA boasts more than 9,000 riders.
HPU’s Equestrian Team had a strong showing and came in 4th overall competing against teams from Appalachian State, Wake Forest, Averett University, Salem College, Virginia Tech, Virginia Intermont, and Western Carolina University.