Anyone who attends BHC and is currently enrolled in at least 12 credit hours can be eligible to participate on the Horse Show Team. Designation of a specific major or degree plan is not required. Students try out for the team during the fall semester.
Contests
Team members participate in eight to 10 meets during the year against colleges competing in Zone 9, Region 2 (central and western Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas). These include: Augustana College, Illinois State University, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Missouri State University, Northwest Missouri State University, Southern Illinois University, and Truman State University. Of these, BHC is the only community college that competes in this Region. A note of interest; Zone 9 has the largest number of western riders in the nation. Individuals who qualify as Region Champions and Reserve Champions now get to compete at Semi-Finals. There are three Semi-Final competitions each year. The colleges participating and locations for the competitions change each year. This year the Semi-Finals will be held in Kentucky. At Semis they will be one of 16 riders. The top 4 get to go on to Nationals. It is a new format now, no more Western Zones. Also, the High Point Team from each region gets to compete at Semi-Finals in the Team competition. The top three teams at Semi-Finals go on to compete at Nationals.
Semifinals - Morehead State University, Kentucky
Pictured from left: Coach Donna Irvin and team members Travis Born, Tamra Brannan, Brooke Byers, Stephanie Geiger and Brandy Elgin.
Not pictured are Individual Riders: Marlana Barkow, Patrick Davis, Cada Hunn, Cari Ingle, Rachel Sonntag and Sam Whiting,
Missouri State University
March 7, 2009
Region Qualifiers March 8, 2009 Pictured from left are: Patrick Davis, Marlana Barkow, Roxanne Clemens, Chelcie Fischer, Cada Hunn, Sam Whiting, Cari Ingle, Casey Settles, Rachel Sonntag and Jess Lane
Truman State Pictured right to left are Novice Division riders freshman Katie Chaffin of Ipava, Ill.; sophomore Casey Settles of Macomb, Ill. and freshman Cody Nordsiek of Arenzville, Ill. The riders get led to the arena after the coach helps them adjust the stirrups. Their first ride on the horse takes place on the rail in front of a judge. After the rail portion they are usually tested by riding a pattern individually.
BHC - East Campus Chelcei Fischer, a third year student of Goodfield, Ill., is one of our Open Riders. The Open Riders are the highest level riders and have the opportunity to ride in two divisions: Open Horsemanship and Reining. In this picture Chelcei is completing spins in the Reining Division at the BHC home meet. She is currently leading the region as the High Point Open Rider. The High Point Open Rider from each Region earns the opportunity to compete at Nationals against all of the other High Point Open Riders of each region. It is truly an honor to accomplish this, especially for a rider from a two year college. If she finishes the season in this position, Chelcei will be only the third rider ever from BHC to accomplish this.
Time Away from Campus The majority of meets take place on Saturdays and Sundays. At most, members might have to leave campus on a Friday afternoon for travel time.
Travel Expense
Black Hawk College will cover most of the expenses of traveling. Students will be responsible for paying for their meals, their individual IHSA National membership and horse show entry fees.
IHSA Information
More information on the IHSA organization can be found at http://www.ihsainc.com/
For more information contact:
Donna Irvin
Professor, Equestrian Science
800-233-5671, ext. 1840
BHC - East Campus