The Interscholastic Equestrian League Season recently kicked off with back-to-back shows at the Hansen Dam Horse Park on Oct. 28-29.
The IEL shows include competitors from nearly 200 public and private middle school and secondary schools from the Southern California Region. In a change for this year, there will be a total of six shows rather than four.
Select members of the 18-member LCHS Equestrian Team represent LCHS at these events. For the opening weekend, seven riders from LCHS competed in the Jumping, Hunters, Equitation and Dressage categories. It was a competitive weekend with a strong showing by the LCHS Equestrian Team. Returning senior Elle Rohs made a Halloween themed return to IEL, outfitting her horse Freddie as Sven and herself as Olaf from “Frozen.” Rohs placed sixth in Show No. 1 in the freshman class of Handy Hunters out of more than 50 riders. Also making a strong impression in the large freshman class of riders was Caroline Crastz, placing fifth in Equitation Over Fences in Show No. 1 and 11th in Working Hunter in Show No. 2.
In the Junior Jumper Varsity courses, returning junior Kaylee Thornburgh made a splash placing third, fourth and 12th over the two-day competition, with jumps measuring 3 feet, 3 inches high on her horse Fidelio.
Continuing LCHS’ forward momentum in the large Novice Class, eighth grader Chloe Calix placed eighth in Equitation Flat and Freshman Aditi Iyer placed 12th in Working Hunter. Also in the Novice class, new rider, eighth grader Evelin Wade, displayed grit and composure while making her first appearance at IEL.
The youngest competing rider of the team, seventh grader Katelyn Holford, represented LCHS in Dressage. Holford handily took second place in Training Level No. 3 Test in Show No. 1, and in a nod to Halloween wearing her Winnie the Pooh onesie, placed fourth in Training Level No. 2 Test in Show No. 2.
The LCHS Equestrian Team is looking forward to the extended 2023-24 season and hopes to have even more members compete in March at the second round of IEL shows.
First published in the November 23 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
