Equestrian Places Fifth at UConn Show

By Abigail Abbott

STORRS, Conn. -- The Bridgewater State University equestrian team earned a fifth place finish in the second show of their doubleheader weekend at Horsebarn Hill Arena. The show was hosted by the University of Connecticut.

Sophomore captain Abigail Abbott (Wareham, Mass.) opened the day in intermediate fences and had a fabulous round on Percy, a 15.1hh grey Welsh cross, earning first place in the event. Abbott then hopped on Pongo, a 15.2hh leopard Appaloosa, for intermediate flat and finished fourth.

Junior captain Emily Desmond (Braintree, Mass.) had a beautiful ride on Moon, a chestnut thoroughbred gelding, in the intermediate flat division and took home the blue ribbon. Desmond then guided Taco, a 15.1 grulla quarter horse, over limit fences for a fourth place finish.

Freshman Julia Max (Salem, N.H.) rode Utzi, a Welsh cross gelding, in the limit fences division and finished third. Max followed up her first ride with a second place in limit flat aboard Suma, a dark bay Morgan mare.

Senior Hannah Arsenault (Attleboro, Mass.) also rode Taco to a sixth place finish in the limit flat division.

Sophomore Alyson McKeon (Worcester, Mass.) hopped on Ice, a 17.3 grey Warmblood gelding, in limit flat and finished sixth.

Freshman Melanie Schick-Fernandez (Abington, Mass.) had an impressive ride on Gunther, a black Fresian cross, and took home a third place ribbon.

Freshman Becky Costa (Foxborough, Mass.) rode Excal, a bay Morgan gelding in the novice flat division. Costa finished fifth in the event.

Junior Maeve Murray (Marshfield, Mass.) took the reins of Tesla, a bay Morgan mare, in pre-novice flat and grabbed the sixth place ribbon.

Senior Alexis Silva (Halifax, Mass.) wrapped up the day in the introductory division. Silva rode Shabazz, a bay Morgan gelding, and finished sixth.

The Bears will be back in action on November 2nd at Century Mill Stables in Bolton, Massachusetts for the Brandeis University show.