United States Eventing Association

This semester was an extremely successful one for the Clemson Eventing Team. We rode with amazing clinicians, competed in an Intercollegiate Team Challenge and hosted our own schooling show! The semester began with the team’s Fall dressage clinic with Jodi Lees. She is an “R” rated judge based out of Tryon, S.C. who also judges many Horse Trials throughout the southeast. The girls on the team absolutely loved Jodi’s style of teaching and everyone finished their lessons feeling accomplished. The team hopes to have her back for a clinic this spring.

Clemson Eventing Member Anna Blake Keeley and Lalique at the Jodi Lees Clinic.

The next big event the team had planned was the Clemson Eventing Fall Schooling Show. This took place at Stone Ridge Equestrian Center in Liberty, S.C. This event is one of the big fundraisers we host each year, and it requires the help of the entire team. The schooling show offered jumper, dressage and combined test divisions. The show was a complete success with many local riders coming to join in the fun. KC Betzel judged and scored the dressage rides, while the rest of the show was run by team members.

Schooling Show Participant Chloe Evans.

A few weekends following the Clemson Schooling Show, three of the girls packed up and headed down to Poplar Place Farm for the Collegiate Team Challenge. Our riders, Sarah Pyne, Samantha Messamer and Elizabeth Donohue, represented the team very well riding their best through a weekend full of rain and storms. Clemson Eventing placed fifth overall, and rider Sarah Pyne placed third individually with her horse Call Me Commander. The rest of the team and I were so proud of them for riding against some stiff competition and braving the nasty weather!

Team members Elizabeth Donohue, Samatha Messemer and Sarah Pyne at the Intercollegiate Team Challenge at Poplar Place Farm this Fall.

With the excitement of the team trial over, the next thing to look forward to was the Buck Davidson Clinic that the Clemson Eventing Team hosted at Full Gallop Farm in Aiken, S.C. The whole weekend was full of great instruction and tons of fun. It was such a privilege to be able to ride with an accomplished competitor like Buck. While most of the clinic participants were Clemson Eventing members, we also welcomed many riders from other surrounding schools. Samantha Hay, the event planner for the team, worked for over a year to plan this clinic and was very pleased with the results.

Team President Anna Fogerty and Dunlavin Fox at the Buck Davidson Clinic.

Team Vice President Sarah Pyne and Call Me Commander at the Buck Davidson Clinic.

To end the semester with a bang, the team's last clinician was Bonnie Mosser who is currently based out of Davidson, N.C. Bonnie has represented the United States as the alternate rider for the 2006 World Equestrian Games, the 2007 Pan American Games and the 2008 Olympics. She has come many times to teach the girls on the team and always has intriguing and challenging exercises.

Team Event Planner Samatha Hay and Tre Jolie at the Bonnie Mosser Clinic.

Overall, the semester was packed full of exciting and educating weekends which have helped all of the girls on the team become better riders! The team can only hope that this coming spring semester will be just as much fun. Look out for the Clemson Eventing Team at the FENCE Team Challenge and Chattahoochee Hills Team Challenge in the next few months. We also encourage any incoming freshman who are interested in Eventing to contact our President, Anna Fogerty, for questions or information regarding the Clemson Intercollegiate Eventing Team. The girls can’t wait to see who will be the new riders to join the team next year!

For more information on the Clemson Intercollegiate Eventing Team, visit their Website and Facebook Page.

All Photos Courtesy of Clemson Eventing Team.