North Dakota State University’s Western and hunt seat equestrian teams ended their season this spring on a high note, with wins in national and zone competition.

Western

Courtney Bolstad, a senior from Fergus Falls, Minn., placed eighth in intermediate horsemanship at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) National Show earlier this month in Lexington, Ky. She won her trip to nationals by placing fourth in semifinal competition at the University of Findlay (Ohio) in March.

Megan Haugen, a junior from Larimore, and Sarah Garrison, a junior from White Bear Lake, Minn., also represented NDSU at the IHSA semifinals. Both received honorable mention. Haugen won hers in intermediate horsemanship, and Garrison’s was in novice horsemanship.

All three were named champion or reserve champion at regional competition at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in February, which allowed them to advance to the semifinals.

Hunt Seat

The NDSU team finished in third place overall in zones competition hosted by West Texas A&M in Canyon. Six NDSU riders represented the team in the team competition and four riders competed individually.

Here are the results from the team and individual classes:

Team

• Kayla Young, sophomore, Plymouth, Minn. - fourth in open fences and fourth in open flat
• Morgan Samuelson, sophomore, Cologne, Minn. - first in intermediate fences and first in intermediate flat
• Nick Scarberry, junior, Fargo - fourth in novice fences
• Dana Williams, junior, Vacaville, Calif. - third in novice flat
• Bridget Kackos, freshman, Neversink, N.Y. - fourth in walk/trot/canter
• Emma Ballard, freshman, Pelican Rapids, Minn. - fifth in walk/trot

Individual

• Rebecca Prasch, junior, Lino Lakes, Minn. - ninth in open fences
• Young - sixth in open flat
• Hailey Aagard, senior, Wadena, Minn. - sixth in walk/trot/canter
• Bryn Halley, senior, Langdon - ninth in walk/trot

NDSU earned its spot in the team competition by winning the High Point Regional Team Award for Zone 7 Region 3.

“We are very proud of both teams and the great achievements they made this year,” says their coach, Tara Swanson. “This is the first time ever for NDSU to win the region in hunt seat and compete as a team at zones.

“The team’s success is a representation of the time, hard work and dedication each team member commits throughout the year,” she adds. “We want to thank the seniors for their leadership this year. We are excited to see what next year has in store for the team.”

NDSU Agriculture Communication - May 26, 2016