Equestrian Attends the IHSA National Championships

Equestrian Team members cadets Lucy Harrill and Ashley Merritt attended the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Throughout the four days, Harrill and Merritt worked diligently alongside Centenary University’s IHSA Team. The partnership proved extremely beneficial for both parties, allowing Centenary and other college students to learn about the Army experience while the cadets gained expertise from nationally ranked equestrian teams. Days at the show began with a 4:30am wakeup, followed by preparing horses to enter the show ring by 6:00am. Preparation for the horses included cleaning stalls, grooming horses, feeding, watering, and exercising. The show day for the cadets was not complete without a night check for the horses, ensuring the wellbeing of the Army Equestrian Team horses who took top honors at the show. The four Army Equestrian Team horses were used multiple times throughout each day, requiring continuous preparation. The cadets relied on teamwork and strong communication amongst themselves and the Centenary Team to keep the horses in peak condition. The show was an invaluable experience that Harrill and Merritt are extremely grateful for. The cadets plan to use their newfound knowledge and partnership going into the fall 2018 show season, ultimately striving to improve the Army Equestrian Team as a whole, alongside expert coaches Sherry and Peter Cashman.