Each show day in a weekend is a different show. Most of the teams in our region are smaller than Purdue's team so they generally have the same riders both days but for our team we usually have a different team for each day with the exception of a few people who ride both days. The decision for who gets to go to each show is up to our coach, Jerry, and our assistant coach, Kristin. Last weekend I rode on the Sunday team but I went Saturday morning and stayed the whole weekend to support the team.
The Saturday show was also designated as the Halloween show so in between the fences and flat classes we had the coach/horse Halloween costume. SMWC won the costume contest with their coach, Krista, dressed as Miley Cyrus at the VMA awards and the horse dressed as Robin Thicke. We got third place with our 50s poodle costume.
We had six riders in fences on Saturday; two in open, one in intermediate, and three in novice. Our open riders took first and fourth, our intermediate rider took third and our novice riders didn't place. For the flat we had two in open, one in intermediate, six in novice, two in advanced walk trot canter, three in beginning walk trot canter, and two in walk trot. Our walk trotters didn't place but everyone else did. For open we took fifth and third. For intermediate we took third. For novice we took three firsts, one second, one third, and one fifth. The reason we were able to get three of the same place is because for novice since there are so many riders there are multiple sub-classes. Usually there are four or five, at this show there were four, A through D. We had riders in three of the four classes. For advanced walk trot canter we got second and fourth, and for beginning walk trot canter we got first, second, and third.
Show MVP
For every show I will have a rider who I think deserves special recognition. This rider will be the show MVP. The show MVP for Saturday's show was Erim Demirel. He is one of our new riders this year who won first place in novice flat class A. Previously, he competed in jumpers shows in Turkey which is where he is from. PET is his first experience with equitation. Assuming jumpers works the same in Turkey that it does in the United States, the goal is to get around the course as fast as possible without knocking any jumps down. Equitation, on the other hand is all about technique. It's not timed but riders must look as flawless as possible when going around the arena in a flat class or jumping a course in a fences class. For those riders, it's a completely new mindset that they must adopt in order to be successful in intercollegiate hunt seat riding. The reason I picked Erim for this show's MVP is not only because he had a fantastic ride and won his class but because of his reaction after. He was filled with emotion when he left the arena after being announced for first place and his reaction both when leaving the arena and when he got back to the team in the stands were priceless.
Next Post
For the next post, which will be up sometime later today, I will do the recap for Sunday's show. The next post will be the last one regarding last weekend.
Team picture at the end of the Saturday show with our reserve champion ribbon
Halloween coach/horse costume contest. Purdue 50s poodle on the left and SMWC Miley and Robin Thicke on the right
Our costume was the cutest if you ask me!
A few pictures of the show MVP, Erim Demirel.
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