Butler girl rides on Equestrian team member headed to national event
When Butler announced its intention to form an equestrian team, Carissa Chilcott was first in line to join.
"I was blown away to see that message in my mailbox so quickly," said Butler teacher and equestrian coach Lauren Holmes.
Now, Chilcott is the last of the 21-member team still competing during the Golden Tornado's inaugural season. Only nine of Butler's 21 riders are in high school.
"I expect that number to grow for next year, now that we're established," Holmes said.
Chilcott, a seventh grader, will compete in the Future Novice Division, Flat Class at the Interscholastic Equestrian Association National Finals April 30 through May 3 at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio.
Future Novice covers grades six through eight.
Chilcott qualified for nationals by placing second in her class at the IEA Zone II Finals at Linden Hall School in Lititz, Pa., recently.
She qualified for the zone competition by accumulating 18 points during three regular-season competitions. The minimum points required is 15 in five competitions.
"For Carissa to get the necessary points in just three competitions is impressive," Holmes said. "She's had an outstanding season and has done all of this even though we got started late."
The high school equestrian season begins in September and runs through March. Butler's team wasn't fully up and running until January.
Chilcott placed second in fences and third on flat in a competition at Linden Hall in January, was first on flat, fifth in fences at Grier School in Tyrone in February, then finished first on flat, second in fences at Stonegate in Coolville, Ohio, later that month."She almost qualified (for zone) in the fences class as well, but fell a few points short," Holmes said. "One more competition would have probably done it."Chilcott finished with 12 points in fences. Riders receive seven points for placing first at an event, five for second, four for third, etc.Chilcott has been riding horses since she was a small child."I saw my first horse at the (Butler) Farm Show and I wanted to ride right away," Chilcott said.She has ridden in 4-H shows and has been training under Patti Turner at Angel Run in the Cranberry Township area and at Rocky Ridge in Renfrew.Butler's equestrian team trains with Holmes at the Culver Training Stables in Fombell."I try to ride three or four times a week," Chilcott said.She will train for up to an hour each time, riding a number of different horses as well. In equestrian, a rider's horse is chosen at random."I'm always a little nervous before a competition," Chilcott admitted. "Once I'm on the horse and get a feel for it, I'm more relaxed,."You never know what's going to happen. Sometimes a horse accidentally gets kicked during a show. I make sure he's not hurt, talk to it and get him back in step."In the flat class, the rider is judged on the horse's walk, trot and canter. There are numerous categories."It's all at the discretion of the judge that day what they choose to judge the competitors on," Holmes said.There are 12 zones across the country. With the top two riders from each class reaching nationals, Chilcott will be among 24 riders in her class.Zone II encompasses 16 total high school equestrian teams from Pennsylvania, New York or New Jersey."I'm happy to have gotten this far," Chilcott said. "Even if I don't do well and I'm hoping I do it will be a good experience for me just being there."
