North Dakota State University’s equestrian team is off to a good start this fall.

The team was the reserve high-point team the first day of the Oct. 13-14 competition at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and the high-point team the second day.

During competition Oct. 19-20 at the University of Minnesota-Crookston, the team tied for high-point team the first day and was reserve high-point team the second day. Also, team member Hannah Beyer, a senior from Rapid City, S.D., was named the reserve high-point rider.

“We have had an extremely successful start to the season, and we hope to carry that momentum into our home show,” says Tara Swanson, the team’s coach.

The team’s next competition will be at the NDSU Equine Center on Nov. 10-11.

Following that show, team member Shannon Voges, a senior from Courtland, Minn., will compete in the first Collegiate Challenge on Nov, 14-15 at the American Quarter Horse Association’s World Show in Oklahoma City, Okla. She is one of 16 riders (eight in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association and eight in the National Collegiate Equestrian Association) qualified to compete.

“The Collegiate Challenge is an exciting new program that will showcase the top collegiate riders in the U.S., and we are excited to be a part of it,” Swanson says. “Shannon has worked really hard to achieve this honor and will do a fantastic job representing NDSU.”

NDSU Agriculture Communication - Nov. 7, 2012