UMass Dartmouth Equestrian Team

The UMass Dartmouth equestrian team has seen many changes and made enormous strides over the past four years. The team started their Fall season in 1996 with six riders, as a club sport. In 1997, equestrian was elevated to varsity status as an intercollegiate program within the Department of Athletics. At the end of its fourth season, the team had 22 riders and has demonstrated success in intercollegiate competitions.

During the Fall of 1999, the team began training at Glen Farm in Portsmouth, RI. Glen Farms not only allows the women to do hunter-jumpers but also offers future prospects of a polo team. Last Spring, the team welcomed its new coach, Gautama Tschannerl, as part of the team. Tschannerl boasts an impressive list of accomplishments and has ridden throughout the world and trained with Ireland's Olympic Team.

UMass Dartmouth competes under the jurisdiction of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The IHSA encourages all levels of riders to compete. The competitions have classes broken down into six different levels. The most advanced levels also have a jumping class as part of their division. At these competitions, you will find individuals who have competed all over the United States along with individuals who have never ridden before. These are the riders who create the teams and though levels range widely, friendships still grow among levels. The bond between these teammates becomes extremely strong as all riders help and support one another. For example, it is a random drawing that is done to select the horse a rider will ride in a class. After riders know whom they are riding, the advanced riders will discus with a beginner rider how a horse should be ridden.

The IHSA restructured its regions at the end of the 1999 Spring season. Due to the restructuring, UMass Dartmouth was placed in a new region, Zone 1, Region 4. UMass Dartmouth competes against Boston University, Stonehill College, Wheaton College, Endicott College Tufts University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University.

Since Coach Tschannerl's arrival, the UMass Dartmouth team has been a competitive force at the IHSA Horse Shows. The Spring 1999 season was a success for the team�s riders. UMass Dartmouth became Reserve High Point College at one of the shows during the spring; this accomplishment was one of the highlights of the entire season. This later helped the team to end the year as the 6th High Point College for Region 4. UMass Dartmouth also sent Laura Perry to Zone Finals in Greenfield, MA, where she competed in Intermediate Over Fences.

The UMass Dartmouth equestrian team will continue to succeed with their coach Gautama Tschannerl at Glen Farm. The team�s goal for next year will be 3rd High Point College for the region. Though an aggressive goal, in a highly competitive region, it is a young team which is sure to see its riding skills flourish over the next year.