Sloan Takes Reserve High Point Rider To Help Goucher Equestrian Extend Zone IV Region I Lead At IHSA Goucher Show

BALTIMORE, Md. – Courtney Sloan (Annadale, Va./W.T. Woodson) won a three-way ride off to earn reserve high point rider to help Goucher College extend its lead in the drive for its 11th-straight IHSA Zone IV Region I title at the IHSA Goucher Show on Saturday.

Sloan was first in the open flat and second in the open fences to put her in position to be in the conversation for high point rider. The senior then took on two other riders in a ride off and she rode off into the sunset with the title of reserve high point rider.

Cole Jackson (Denver, Colo./East) and Anna Wright (New Hope, Pa./New Hope Solebury) both finished first in limit flat while Eunoh Lee (Seoul, Korea/South Kent) won introductory flat.

Mia Dimson (Los Angeles, Calif./Chadwick) was second in limit flat and fourth in intermediate fences while Makaylin Shoop (Davidsonville, Md./South River) placed second in limit fences.

Victoria Wheeler (intermediate flat), Noelle Gulley (Eldersburg, Md./Century) (limit fences), Isabella Marini (Taunton, Mass./Liberal Arts and Science Academy) (novice flat) and Flannery Supplee (Monkton, Md./Hereford) (pre-novice flat) each finished third on the afternoon.

Georgetown University won the event with 41 points while George Mason was the reserve champion with 39 points while Goucher finished third with 38 points. Despite finishing third in its home event, the Gophers (81) hold a nine-point lead after George Washington University (72) in the quest for its 11th-straight IHSA Zone IV Region I crown.

IHSA competition is broken up into five categories based on experience. The Open division has the most experienced rider, while intermediate is No. 2, limit is No. 3, novice is No. 4 and introductory equitation is No. 5. The top three categories include two sub-sections; the "flat" which is a pattern that does not include jumping, and a fences section. In addition, when teams are on the road they are using the horses at the home stable. The riders are judged on their ability to adapt, communicate, and perform with an unfamiliar horse. If you are familiar with equestrian terms and not a novice to the sport, IHSA changed the names for the classes of the bottom three classes over summer (walk trot was switched to introductory equitation, walk trot canter became novice and novice became limit). With these changes, senior Cherise Madrid is the last person to earn a national championship in the classification of walk trot in 2019. 

Goucher returns to action at the George Mason/George Washington IHSA Show on Saturday and Sunday.