It was a blue-ribbon weekend for the OVS equestrian team as our students rode away with top honors in show jumping and dressage at the US Pony Club Mega Rally at Hansen Dam equestrian center in Sylmar, the largest gathering of Pony Club members in the Camino Real Region. The rally also served as the show jumping and dressage qualifier for the national championships to be held in Kentucky this July.
OVS show jumping team of Leila Giannetti (team captain), Maya Mullins, Mattie White, Amy Xu (L11), and Emma Gustafson (stable manager) were the overall champions in horse management and won 1st place in show jumping.
“Although this was the first mounted rally for the group, meticulous preparation beforehand and fabulous teamwork on arrival at the show grounds allowed the students to successfully decode the rally format and completely care for their mounts and themselves without the assistance of teachers or parents,” said Equestrian Director Stephanie Gustafson. “Leila proved to be a wonderful captain, leading by example with a positive, supportive attitude. Emma made sure all was in order in the barn and that each rider was on time for inspections, rides and safety checks. There were 30 individual appointments in all. Camaraderie and a can-do attitude kept the group focused and positive throughout the two days.”
In addition to those wins, senior Sophia Wu participated in a scramble dressage team that won first place in dressage. Sisters Lilly and Emmy Hilgers were among the OVS participants and their scramble team tied for horse management champions.
We’d like to thank equestrian instructors Stephanie Gustafson, Emily Tinsen, and Krista Watt as well as parent volunteers Dana White, Brooke Giannetti, and Josephine Axt for their support!
Follow this link to learn more about the OVS Equestrian Program.
