Seen here during the fall, the University of Colorado at Boulder advanced six riders to Zones and one directly to 2011 IHSA Nationals during Region 5 Regionals on March 12th (Photo courtesy Jill Pelzel/University of Colorado Equestrian Team).

THREE ROUNDS, THREE HORSES AND 30 MINUTES: THE FIGHT TO THE FINISH FOR THE RIGHT TO RIDE IN THE CACCHIONE CUP CLASS AT NATIONALS

(University of Colorado at Boulder Head Coach Jill Pelzel and Zone 8, Region 5 alumni rep Kristina Harkin forwarded their account of the special ride-off held at Zone 8, Region 5 Regionals on March 12th to break the tie between Katie Hurrell of the University of Wyoming and Jen Burke of the University of Colorado at Boulder. Both riders finished the season with the same number of combined open flat and fences points and thus were required to ride off at Regionals for the right to represent Region 5 at IHSA Nationals in Lexington, Kentucky in the Cacchione Cup competition - Editor)

Ft. Lupton, CO – The only thing you could hear was the wind whipping through Fall River Farm’s ring as the battle between University of Colorado’s Jen Burke and University of Wyoming’s Katie Hurrell got started. Neck and neck all season, Burke and Hurrell came into Regionals tied for the Cacchione lead with 76 points apiece. But only one could advance to the Intercollegiate Nationals in May and both gave it their best shot.

The course was grueling, incorporating bending lines, stout oxers and forward options. Burke started the class by laying down a solid, forward ride full of confidence. Hurrell answered the call, riding “Timmy” on a brilliantly executed course. The battle was just beginning. All eyes were glued to the ring as judge Laurie Grayson asked the competitors to switch horses and ride the course again.

After the second course, the two appeared to be tied so judge Grayson added a third horse to the equation – “Murphy.” Burke rode first, laying down a smooth hunter-type course that drew loud cheers from the crowd. Hurrell followed suit, riding a forward and direct course that showed her preparation.

The crowd waited for the results, but Grayson was still unable to make a decision. Burke and Hurrell then mounted their original horses to begin an intense flat battle. Grayson tested the riders hard, even switching them halfway through. In the end, a mere two points separated the two. Grayson chose Burke, a senior from Massachusetts as the Zone 8, Region 5 Cacchione representative. Hurrell did not let the defeat bring her down as she later qualifed for Zones in the Open Flat and will be traveling to Pomona, California with some of her teammates.

A well-fought battle which included three different horses, a difficult course and a grueling flat class ended in victory for the University of Colorado's Burke and coach Jill Pelzel. Pelzel will also be bringing her CU team to Zones in California for the first time in school history (Note: The University of Colorado did take a full team to Zones in 2009. However this was as a member of Zone 7, Region 1 and that year Zone 7 Zones were held in Firestone, Colorado. This will be the first time CU travels out-of-state with a full hunter seat team - Editor). Pelzel will have a busy schedule with individual riders qualified in Open Flat and Open Fences (Burke), Intermediate Fences (Andrea Fieger and Anna Bohlin), Novice Fences (Karly Hobbs), Intermediate Flat (Jenica Northrop) and Novice Flat (Hobbs and Courtney Lennon).

--Jill Pelzel and Kristina Harkin