Four blue ribbons for the day was icing on the cake for the “Little Team That Could” in Equestrian competition at the University of Connecticut Saturday March 7th.  The Post University team has worked hard this year and the proof has been in the results, finishing fourth at this show behind powerful teams Johnson & Wales, Brown, and UCONN.  On top of that, the team earned two more blues and Reserve High Point Team at Johnson & Wales the following weekend.

The Freshmen are still leading the team, with Meaghan Hennessy and Kelly Strout each winning their Novice Flat classes at UCONN, Heather Zebrowski winning her Advanced Walk Trot Canter, and Shannon Carichner winning her Beginner Walk Trot Canter class for the second time in a row.  Samantha Hough pinned second in Walk Trot, and Megan Dolinskas (Jr) pinned second in Open Fences.  All the Post competitors who rode over fences pinned in both their flat and over fences classes.  The team was equally consistent on March 14th, with Hennessy and Strout winning blues again, and all team members pinning at least once.  Eight of the Post riders have qualified for the Regional Show on March 28th, made all the more noteworthy by the fact that only thirteen members are currently competing for the team.  Post finished in 5th place for Region 1 – which is a great accomplishment since the teams above them all have many more team members to help collect points.

Post's IHSA Coach Heather Johnson brings her own intercollegiate competitive experience to the team, holding twice-weekly practices at her family farm in Litchfield.  In addition, team members are required to work out twice each week.  “The required workouts have been a big bonus for the team,” says Johnson, “You can watch the riders get stronger and stronger in the saddle as time goes on, which just makes the riding easier for them.”  Between the riding, the workouts, and the physical effort of caring for their mounts, team members keep fit – which helps them ride well.  The team is hopeful for continued success at the Regional Championships on March 28th at Mystic Valley Hunt Club in Mystic, Connecticut.  Congratulations to all the team who helped with the team's success this year.