Wilmington College’s Equestrian Team is ranked as the top Western team in the region as it prepares for its home meet on Saturday (Nov. 16) at the Equine Center. At 62 members strong, the College fields the largest team in the United States, while WC is the second smallest institution in the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA).
The College hosts equestrian teams from Ohio State University, Ohio University, University of Dayton, Bethany College (WV), Slippery Rock University (PA) and West Virginia University. Morning and afternoon shows start at 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., respectively.
Following a realignment of schools that now comprise Region 6 and Zone 2, the Pennsylvania and West Virginia schools are making their first visit to Wilmington College. “They have never seen our horses; they have never seen our facility,” said Daren Wright, director of the equine program and assistant professor of equine business management, in noting WC’s home field advantage. WC is known nationally as having some of the best horses in the country, including several with championship pedigrees.
Coach Stephanie McConnell-Hill is pleased with how the team has positioned itself as the high-point team going into the final competition of the fall semester. “The team looks pretty darn good,” she said, noting they plan to use the outdoor arena for this weekend’s competition.
Also, she concurred with Wright’s assessment of the quality of the College’s horses that will be used on Saturday. Competitors do not ride their own horses; rather, they are randomly matched with the home team’s horses, which gives the hosting team the advantage of having experience with most of the equine used in the meet. “I tell our students this is as nice of a horse and as nice of a saddle as you’ll get to ride,” she added. “They laugh at me until they ride at another school.”
Not only is Wilmington College the high point team in the region, but junior Maegan Pearson is the high point rider, winning first place in the Open Reining and Open Horsemanship classes four times in recent competitions.
Pearson is a junior from Laurel, IN, majoring in agricultural business and equine business management. Wright helped steer her in the direction of Wilmington, Ohio. “I knew Daren before I came in,” she said. “I liked the overall campus, but the big point for me is that I’m able to bring my own horses to college. It’s like a big family here. We all jump in and help each other when needed.”
She credits McConnell-Hill and Wright with helping her finetune her showing skills, but said,” I just go and ride. I’m building on almost 20 years of riding.”
Wright is an internationally acclaimed equine competition judge. He looks forward to what promises to be an outstanding competition among excellent schools in a very strong region. “I judged an IHSA show in New York last weekend,” he added. “Those teams would struggle in our region. They don’t have the horsepower or kid power.”
PICTURED: Maegan Pearson is pictured with Georgie at the Equine Center. She is the region's high-point rider and will be a favorite to win several events at Saturday's home competition. Georgie is Maegan's horse that she allows the College to use in competitions and training.