MHS equestrian team rides again

Photo by Rebecca Clark.

submitted by Donna Clark, Coach, Manchester High School Equestrian Team

The Manchester Senior High Equestrian Team was without a coach upon the resignation of Teri Aiuto this winter. She will be missed! Thanks for your service, Teri. Riders not only wondered who would coach them, but even if there would be a team. Thanks to Lydia Coval and Donna Clark, who will be co-coaching, the tradition of a Manchester High School Equestrian Team will continue.

Anyone in grades 9–12 who rides a horse is welcome to join. You will need a horse, but the horse can be one you lease for the season. Why join? The Equestrian Team is an opportunity to improve your riding and showmanship skills. It’s fun to compete as a team against other local schools, provide your fellow team members with encouragement and support, and make new friends and new memories. 

Sharing experiences and being able to laugh at ourselves, and our horses, bring us closer together. Sometimes we just need to remember our horse is still an animal, no matter how perfectly our practice went. Horses are full of surprises and so are the shows. Those of you who show know exactly what I’m referring to – the horse who runs through the box he was supposed to stop in, or the horse who stops in the middle of a class because he has to go potty, or the spooky horse that saw something no one else saw. 

The Equestrian Team is a co-ed sport. We’ve had some awesome football players and volleyball players on our past teams. We do our best to provide multiple practice times, so other sports obligations can still be met. Did you know we also have a Junior team for 6th to 8th grades? The Junior team competes in the Spring. Watch for more information about that team early in 2024.

A new class that has been added this year is “Ranch Riding” (pattern). This class will replace “Western Riding” (pattern). Ranch Riding has gained in popularity over the past few years and the MIHA Board is giving it a chance. Here’s a list of this year’s classes: Showmanship – Western, Hunt Seat, and Saddle Seat; Saddle Seat – Pattern, Equitation, and Bareback; Hunt Seat – Equitation and Bareback; Jumping – Equitation Over Fences; Western – Equitation and Bareback; Ranch Riding; Trail; and Speed – Flags, Cloverleaf, Pole Bending, and 2-person Relay.

Divisions, A,B,C, and D are determined by the number of participants, not school size. First place exhibitors in each class receive 8 points for their team. Second place exhibitors receive 7 points, and so on.  District Champions and Reserve Champions (1st and 2nd place) in each division move on to Regionals; Regional Champions and Reserve Champions move on to State Finals. District meets (at Lenawee County Fairgrounds in Adrian) start at 8am and don’t usually wind down until 5 or 6pm. Admission is free and we’d love to have support from the Manchester community. District meets are August 27, September 10, and September 17. Regionals are September 29 and 30 and October 1. State Finals are October 11 through 15.

Practices will begin soon. So, challenge yourself, bring your best game, cheer for your fellow riders, and be a proud member of our Manchester High School Equestrian Team. Please contact Coach Coval at lcoval@mcs.k12.mi.us or Coach Clark at dclark@mcs.k12.mi.us to get answers to any questions you have or more information about signing up to ride with us this Fall.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.