FINDLAY, OH – The Alfred University western equestrian team finished fourth at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Semi Finals hosted by University of Findlay on Saturday and Sunday, qualifying as a team for the IHSA National Championships as a Top-12 team in the country.
 
The Saxons were led by Samantha Smit (Columbiana, OH/Ursuline) as she placed fourth in Individual Riding Placings, Open Reining. This qualified her as an individual to show at the IHSA Nationals in the High Point Rider Competition. She will face the Top-12 Open Riders in the country and she also qualified for Nationals in Open Reining.
 
As a team, at the IHSA Nationals in Tryon, NC, the Saxons will be joined by University of Findlay, Black Hawk College, Pennsylvania State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Albion College, Mississippi State University, Miami University of Ohio, West Texas A&M, Oregon State University, Clemson University and University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
 
In Individual Rider competition, Smit also finished sixth in Open Horsemanship. She was followed by Keira Hanschman (Chicago, IL/Cary-Grove Community), taking seventh place in Level I Horsemanship and Brooke Boyko (Holley, NY/Holley), finishing eighth in Level II Horsemanship.
 
During Team Rider competition, Smit was the Reserve Champion in Open Horsemanship. Hanschman had the next best finish as she claimed third place in Ranch Riding. Boyko followed in fourth place during Open Reining. Both Emily Peluso (Ridgway, PA/Johnsonburg) and Madison Smith (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) earned fifth place ribbons. Peluso finished fifth in Level II Horsemanship and Smith had the same finish in Beginner Horsemanship. Erin Auclair (Norfolk, CT/Northwestern Region District #7) took sixth in Rookie Horsemanship and Lauren Mandel (Basom, NY/Oakfield-Alabama) finished seventh in Level I Horsemanship.
 
The Saxons will next head to the IHSA National Championships in Tryon, NC on Friday, May 1, through Sunday, May 3.