Everyone knows from experience that juicy grade school secrets are often too good to keep to one's self. Even though many students are long past grade school the secret of the Penn State Equestrian team is just too good to keep quiet any longer.
The team is a club and was founded in 1971 by Eastwood Farms, which is located in near by Bellefonte, David Flynn is the founder of the team.
"The team is an excellent opportunity for kids to ride. The intercollegiate program is set up so two types of people are given the chance to ride, he said. "The first type being those that have ridden before and without the team wouldn't be able to in college and those who haven't rode before but could be apart of a team. Both have an equal opportunity to compete."
Penn State is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association and participates in horse shows on the weekends during the school year. The IHSA is unordinary in that riders aren't required to own their own horses. This year's team seems to be coming back strong with the hope that they can once again rise to the top of their region. The team's biggest rival within their region is Pittsburgh, West Virginia, and Wilson.
"The team always seems to be dominant every year," said Lauren Dowler, this year's president. "We are consistently a top competitor in our region."
Outside the region, the team looks to their rivals of Delaware Valley College, and Kutztown University, for competition. The team competes in Zone three, which consists of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Long Island, and Connecticut. The team was Zone Champions in 2001, 2003, and 2004.
One of the biggest factors that keeps the team out of the spotlight is that they don't have practice facilities on campus, making it hard to keep up on everything that goes on at the Farm. Team members depend on one another for transportation to and from practice, but that doesn't hinder them from keeping their commitment to the team.
A second factor that you wouldn't necessarily think of as a benefit is age. The team has been based at the same place for 33 consecutive years. They have the advantage of being founded so early, which makes it one of the forerunners in its region.
"The team has always had the same continuity," Flynn said. "The same facilities, same structure of the program, there is little that changes from year to year,"
The last factor is that most people don't know exactly what an Equestrian team does. Even though they're a well-kept secret, try-outs attract over 100 riders. After making the team, members are required to attend at least one practice lesson per week, according to when their school schedule permits. Lessons are done in groups, but many riders choose to take more than one lesson per week. Group lessons consist of five riders that work on a particular skill depending on their skill level. Beginning riders work on position and controlling the horse while more experienced riders work on jumping. The team ranges from beginner walk-trot to open equitation on the flat and over fences. A wide variety of ability is represented on the team, which differs from most sports.
ISHA is not affiliated with the NCAA, so the team receives little financial support. Members of the team pay a major portion of the expenses for horse show fees, lessons, and riding attire. Penn State hosts two horse shows throughout the season, which helps alleviate some of the costs. They will be Sept. 26 and Oct. 3.
At a horse show, 15 teams attend and compete against one another. Not only individuals determine scoring of a meet, but also by entire teams. Judges determine a rider's score by looking at the rider's presentation and his or her interaction with the horse. Teams do not travel with their horses, but use the ones provided by the home team.
"The most difficult part is getting on a horse that the rider doesn't know," Dowler said.
Eastwood Farms has about 25 to 30 horses. Some are donated from alumni, but most are retired show horses. Along with horses, Eastwood Farms is equipped with two barns, an indoor arena, and an outdoor ring.
"We look for a horse with a good personality. Just like a person, a horse that isn't willing to share its experience is no benefit to the riders," Flynn said.
Even though the team is currently ranked 11th nationally, there are more expectations than just upholding its reputation for greatness.
"We hope to continue being competitive and climbing the ranks," said Lindsey Passaic, team vice-president. "We want the beginners as well as the people not competing to get involved and enjoy it as well."
Passaic is the open rider for the team, which is the highest ability you can reach. Last year she came in seventh at Nationals. Along with Passaic, others who made a strong showing for the team was Rebecca Daly who placed fifth and Ashley Harris who placed seventh at Nationals in their classes.
"Our first goal is for the team members to come together, be a team, and be supportive. That's where is starts," Flynn said. "Enjoying horses and being a team determines how well they work under pressure. The riders put a lot on themselves but I'm proud of them win, lose, or draw."
The team won the national championship, taking home the coveted Millers Collegiate Cup in 1989. Ever since then Penn State has been in the hunt and each year looks for improvement.
