From Kailua, Hawaii, Skidmore freshman Chelsea Jones (center) won her novice fences class at the November 9th Cornell show. Head Coach Cindy Ford (on far right) and Assistant Coach Belinda Colgan (on far left) are among several who joined Jones for this photo. Skidmore went on to score 47 to win for the second time in as many competitions.

SKIDMORE PREVAILS 47-40 OVER COLGATE; HOLDS DOUBLE-DIGIT LEAD THROUGH TWO SHOWS

Ithaca, NY - After having narrowly defeated both Cornell and Morrisville State by 41-38 at Hartwick on opening day, the Skidmore Thoroughbreds made it two straight with a 47-40 win over Colgate at the John T. Oxley Equestrian Center on November 9th. Host Cornell scored 37 while Hartwick was the only other team to break 30, scoring 31.

Eight Skidmore riders won blue ribbons, with Jennifer Wilkins a winner in both of her open classes. A senior from Lincoln, Massachusetts, Wilkins was joined in the winner's circle by teammates Kelly Cambell (first in intermediate fences), Chelsea Jones (likewise in novice fences), Catherine Luckhardt (novice flat), Hanae Kimura (advanced walk-trot-canter), Chelsey Muroda (walk-trot) and open riders Elizabeth Kigin and Emily Bruschi. Both Kigin and Bruschi were nearly as good as Wilkins, with each winning one open class while placing second in the other (Bruschi won her open fences; Kigin her open flat). All four Skidmore open riders entered at today's show were no worse than red ribbon winners, with sophomore Kaitlin Swartwood finishing second twice.

The Thoroughbreds headed back to Saratoga Springs with a 13 point lead overall over Cornell while Colgate could claim to be 15 out. The victory was Skidmores' seventh straight in Zone 2, Region 3 hunter seat events dating back to the previous November. Wilkins moved into the lead in the Region 3 hunter seat open rider standings, leading Kigin 26-24.

"Cydnee" (on left) rides at the same barn as Colgates' Kate Kokanovich (on right). The Raider senior from Rochester, New York won both of her open classes to take part in a two-way ride-off.

One of three riders in a tie for third in the Region 3 hunter seat open rider standings is Colgate senior Kate Kokanovich. From Rochester, New York, Kokanovich was the only other rider besides Wilkins to win twice at today's show, earning firsts which denied Bruschi and Kigin double-blue status. Kokanovich was one of six Raiders to win a class, with the others being Casey Easley (open fences), Alexis Apostol (open flat), Maddy Casella (intermediate flat). Jess Morlando (advanced walk-trot-canter) and Eri Sato, a freshman from Westchester County, New York who is now undefeated in two intermediate fences rides.

Host Cornell won four classes outright. Georgina Melbye (intermediate fences), Zoe Samuel (intermediate flat), Rachel Klion (novice flat) and Scotty Weber were blue ribbon winners, the latter accomplishing this feat with a first in the walk-trot class which concluded the event. In addition Morgan Broccoli (advanced walk-trot-canter), Kelsey Craig (novice flat) and Jessica Bemis (open fences) were red ribbon winners. Bemis was third in her open flat class and finished the day in a three-way tie with Kokanovich and Swartwood for third in the Region 3 hunter seat open rider standings, each with 19 points. Cornell remained in front of Colgate for second place overall, up by a 75-73 margin.

Like Cornell, Colgate and Skidmore, the Hartwick Hawks have scored in the thirties in each of their first two shows of the season. Alison Ferraro, a freshman from New York City, won her first IHSA blue ribbon in intermediate fences while Victoria Broderick was a winner in novice flat and Racheal Suite a winner in advanced walk-trot-canter. Heather Pruchansky (novice fences), Lauren Lamorureux (same), Hannah Wiest (intermediate flat), Lauren Kamerer (same) and Amy Hoffman (walk-trot) were second place winners for the Hawks.

Rachel Klion (on right) poses with Cornell Head Coach Chris Mitchell after winning her novice flat class. A sophomore from South Salem, New York, Klion was one of four Big Red riders to win a class on November 9th.

Six schools scored in the twenties, including two which scored 29. The State University of New York at Cobleskill did not earn a placing above fourth over fences, but once the jumps were removed the Fighting Tigers came alive. Francesca Pasquale won her intermediate flat while Stephanie Moeller won her beginner walk-trot-canter. Sophomore Trish McNamara was second in advanced walk-trot-canter.

Also scoring 29 was Oneonta State College. Oneonta is in their third season of IHSA competition but their first as a member of Region 3. The former Region 1 school was led by senior Jocelyn Schimmel, who was second in both of her intermediate classes. Jacqueline Debus (novice flat) and Ally Mlodzinski (advanced walk-trot-canter) won blue ribbons. Oneonta had nearly as many red ribbons as the number of riders they entered, as Darcy Despain (novice flat), Kimberly Baltz (same), Caitlin Broderick (advanced walk-trot-canter) and Elizabeth Morris (beginner walk-trot-canter) did their best to be like Schimmel by placing second. Oneonta was not competing with a full point card, earning 29 with only seven divisions filled.

While Oneonta lacked someone to compete in open fences, Siena College was without a walk-trotter. The Saints still scored 24 points, with Courtney Findeisen their early-season most valuable rider. The freshman from Rutland, Vermont remained undefeated in novice flat, equaling the first she received at Hartwick two weekends earlier. Carolyn Mulder, a sophomore from North Brunswick, New Jersey was a winner in intermediate flat while Stacie Mihok was second in novice fences.

Ithaca College was in the same boat as the previous two schools mentioned, in that they too were one rider shy of a full card. The Bombers were led by Amy Auf der Springe, who won her section of beginner walk-trot-canter. Freshman Gabrielle Waldvogel was second in novice flat while senior Ashley Hogan's red ribbon in intermediate flat made a world of difference. From Port Murray, New Jersey, Hogan moved up into the open division with her latest five points, which will allow Ithaca to fill their card at Morrisville State next time. The Bombers finished with 23 points.

They are very consistant! The State University of New York at Cobleskill scored 29 points at Hartwick College on opening day, then scored the same number of points at Cornell on November 9th. Francesca Pasquale of the Fighting Tigers poses with Cobleskill Director of Riding Ray Whelihan before receiving a blue ribbon in intermediate flat.

Binghamton University had a full card and finished with 22 points. The Bearcats were hot early, as Alena Ferrigno won her novice fences while Ali Levy was second in open flat and Kelly Palmer second in intermediate fences. Binghamton did not see another top-two placing until the final class of the day, when Alicia Kosiba was second to Weber in walk-trot.

Rounding out the list of schools in the 20's was Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Katie Fink, a freshman from Baltimore, Maryland, won H & WS's only blue ribbon of the day with a first in novice flat (Fink also won the division at Hartwick and is another freshman who was unbeaten through two IHSA competitions). Charlie Levin was second to Cambell in intermediate fences and third in intermediate flat while Alexandra Duffy was second to Auf der Springe in beginner walk-trot-canter. Considering that they had yet to make their IHSA debut a year ago at this time Hobart and William Smith should be commended for filling seven of the eight divisions on their point card (Like many, Hobart & William Smith were without a walk-trotter on this day).

Morrisville State hopefully got the proverbial "Bad Show" out of the way. The Mustangs scored 38 points to tie Cornell for reserve high point team at Hartwick two weekends earlier, but were held to half as many points at the Oxley Center. Things got off to a promising start for Morrisville, as Ashley Yardley was second to Wilkins in open fences. However despite having at least two riders in every division save for walk-trot (where they had one) Morrisville did not secure another top-two placing. Four Mustangs earned Yellow ribbons, helping to boost the Morrisville total to 19.

Hamilton College has been slightly more consistant through two shows. The Continentals scored 15 points at Hartwick, then scored 16 today. Freshman Katherine Hutchins won her first IHSA blue ribbon with a first in novice fences. Hutchins was the only Hamilton rider with a top two placing. Like so many others, the Continentals were without a walk-trot rider to fill their card.

Elmira College scored 13 points with only three divisions filled on their card. Bethany Klein, a junior from Rochester, New York, was second to Suite in advanced walk-trot-canter, pointing into novice with the red ribbon. The Soaring Eagles earned their lone blue ribbon of the day courtesy of Emily DeBrita, who won the second of three sections of walk-trot.

From left to right are Jillian Zick, Assistant Coach Joyce Northrup, Darcy Despain and Jacqueline Debus of Oneonta State University. From Comack, New York, Debus was one of two Red Dragons to win a class on November 9th, coming out on top in her section of novice fences. Oneonta scored 29 points, perhaps their highest score in program history be it as a member of either Region 3 or Region 1 of Zone 2.

The State University of New York at Albany scored eleven points. The Great Danes are going through a slight rebuilding year, and had only half the divisions filled on their point card. Kathleen McCall was second to Fink in novice fences for Albanys' top ribbon of the day. Four Great Danes earned third place ribbons, including open rider Rebecca Danz in open flat.

Rounding out the scoring was Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with six points. Kristie Norris earned the best ribbon of the day for RPI, placing third in novice flat.

Bon-Keen two-for-two on the flat: Wesleyan University graduate Amanda Bon-Keen won her alumni flat class for the second time in 15 days while placing second in as many rides over the alumni fences. Ithaca College graduate Audra Ravo, who was the 2008 IHSA National Champion in alumni fences, finally finished below first in a jumping class for the first time since Zones last April. Ravo was third in alumni fences, with the blue ribbon going to Cornell graduate Elizabeth Kozakiewicz. However Ravo still leads both Bon-Keen and Kozakiewicz by an 11-10 margin over fences. Pace University graduate Angie Netoskie earned her second consecutive red ribbon in alumni flat while another Cornell graduate, Christine Garvey, was fifth on the flat in her first IHSA alumni ride this season.

The Ride-Off: Considering how successful she has been at the Oxley Center one wonders what Kokanovich might have done had she competed for the Big Red and not the Raiders. Kokanovich won her first-ever IHSA ride-off there on 2/18/07 and was chosen ahead of Wilkins by judge Danny Fitzsimmons in today's additional class.

Though they did not have a full card at today's show, Ithaca College will field eight riders in eight divisions at the Morrisville State shows. This is because senior Ashley Hogan (on right, with Head Coach Connie Sawyer) was second in intermediate flat, thus pointing up into open flat, which was the only division the Bombers did not have filled on their card.

Skidmore pulls 'em in from the 50th state: The state of Hawaii currently does not contain any IHSA programs, but at least two riders from the 50th state have made it to the mainland. And both were winners for Skidmore at today's show. Muroda hails from the metropolis of Honolulu while Jones is from the less-known town of Kailua.

My State Fair can beat your State Fair: Kigin, who hails from St. Paul, Minnesota, and Swartwood, who is from Des Moines, Iowa, got into a discussion over who has the bigger - or perhaps better - state fair. Campus Equestrian was able to determine that more people attended the 2008 Minnesota State Fair (1,693,533) than the 2008 Iowa State Fair (estimated 1,109,150, a new record for Iowa). The Minnesota State Fair appears to be one day longer, and is scheduled to fall over the Labor Day weekend. Iowa holds their state fair in mid-August. Campus Equestrian could not really confirm the "Better" part, though in both cases we were unable to confirm either state holding a horse show during their state fair. What a bummer.

Cornell snaps Skidmore's streak: There were two shows hosted by Morrisville State over the November 15th/16th weekend. While Skidmore was a 46-39 winner over the host school on Saturday, Cornell ended Skidmore's year-long Region 3 winning streak with a 45-40 win over the Thoroughbreds on Sunday. Big Red captains Caroline Shulman and Dana Kendrick won open fences classes early, while Candice Berne won intermediate fences and Craig novice fences before the jumps came down. Klion and Mary Winans were novice flat winners while Broccoli and Liz Briggs earned blues in walk-trot-canter. Weber again won a walk-trot class while Kendrick won her open flat to become high point rider for the day. Overall Skidmore came out of the first four shows leading Cornell by 20 and Morrisville State by 40, the latter scoring 38 points on the second day of their back-to-back weekend. In the Cacchione race Wilkins held a 47-43 lead over Shulman through four while Swartwood, Kigin and Hartwicks' Aileen McCarthy were at 41. Thanks to her two firsts on the 16th Kendrick had 40 points and was also clearly in the race.

---Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Overcast skies, with temperatures in the upper 30's. Entire show held indoors in a heated facility. Start time: 8:36AM. Finish: 4:24PM - includes 52 minute lunch break/Coaches & Captains meeting and several schooling breaks. Point cards posted in this region? Yes. Alumni Classes held in this region? Yes. Judge: Danny Fitzsimmons. Stewards: Eldridge/Morrisville State College, Tupy/Binghamton University and Hackney/Colgate University.

Team Totals: Skidmore College (High Point Team) 47; Colgate College (Reserve) 40; Cornell University 37; Hartwick College 31; State University of New York at Cobleskill 29; Oneonta State College 29; Siena College 24; Ithaca College 23; Binghamton University 22; Hobart and William Smith Colleges 21; Morrisville State College 19; Hamilton College 16; Elmira College 13; State University of New York at Albany 11 and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 6.

High Point Rider - Kate Kokanovich, Colgate University
Reserve High Point Rider - Jennifer Wilkins, Skidmore College