Equestrian Wraps Up Regular Season at ABD Equestrian Farm

By Abigail Abbott

NORFOLK, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University equestrian team wrapped up their regular season on Sunday at ABD Equestrian Farm in Norfolk, Massachusetts. The show was hosted by Boston College.

The Bears, who placed ninth at the show, will have two riders advancing to the postseason.

Junior captain Emily Desmond (Braintree, Mass.) opened the day in the open flat division aboard Smalls, a 17.2hh bay Warmblood gelding, and had a beautiful ride for a first place finish. Desmond then hopped on Elvis, a 17.2hh bay draft cross, for the limit fences division and finished in reserve.

Sophomore captain Abigail Abbott (Wareham, Mass.) guided Moose, a 16.2hh draft cross gelding, for the open flat division and finished fourth. Abbott then rode Denver, a 16.2hh bay gelding, in the open fences division and secured a third place finish.

Freshman Julia Max (Salem, N.H.) jumped Regatta, a 16.2hh paint mare, in the limit fences division and took home the sixth place ribbon. Max followed this ride with another sixth place finish in the limit flat division aboard Finn, a 17.2hh Irish sport horse.

Senior Hannah Arsenault (Attleboro, Mass.) guided Smalls for her final career show in the limit flat division and finished fifth.

Sophomore Alyson McKeon (Worcester, Mass.) had a stellar ride on Papi, a 15.3 chestnut gelding, in the limit flat division and secured the second place ribbon.

Freshman Melanie Schick-Fernandez (Abington, Mass.) rode Harvey, a 15.2hh chestnut draft cross gelding, for her limit flat class and finished in fifth.

Freshman Becky Costa (Foxborough, Mass.) took Paloma, a 14.2 chestnut quarter pony, around in the novice division and notched a sixth place finish.

Junior Maeve Murray (Marshfield, Mass.) had a great ride on Mack, an 18hh Warmblood gelding, and came home in fourth in pre-novice.

Senior Alexis Silva (Halifax, Mass.) wrapped up both the day and her show career in the introductory division. Silva had a wonderful ride on Regatta and grabbed the third place ribbon.

The Bears will be back in action on March 29th at Horsebarn Hill in Storrs, Connecticut for the IHSA Zone 1, Region 4 Championships. Abbott qualified to compete in the intermediate fences and intermediate flat divisions while Desmond qualified to compete in the intermediate flat division.