3 UA Equestrians Qualify for National Championship

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Three students from The University of Alabama Equestrian Team qualified to ride for national championship honors as the team recently competed at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association zone championships at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia.

Four UA team members qualified for the zone championship by riding successfully in a series of regional events throughout the year. Zones are the final qualifier for IHSA national championship competition, which is the pinnacle event for some 6765 riders and 417 teams nationwide who seek the title each year.

The students who will be proceeding to the IHSA national championship show are:

Lauren Neibauer, a sophomore from Farmington Hills, Michigan, majoring in exercise sports science with a concentration in management, nutrition and fitness, who qualified by winning the zone competition in the intermediate flat division.

Emma Pennell, a freshman from Austin, Texas, majoring in psychology, who qualified by placing second at zones in novice over fences.

Lindsey Cayce, a sophomore from Memphis, Tennessee. majoring in human development and family studies with a concentration in child life, who qualified by placing second in the intermediate flat behind Neibauer.

Also competing at zones was Alexia Kenney, a sophomore from Freeburg, Illinois. double majoring in biology and marine science, who finished fifth in the walk-trot division.

The IHSA Nationals will be from Thursday, May 5, to Sunday, May 8, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

“The best collegiate riders in the country will compete and for the first time, we have three girls representing the University of Alabama,” said Ashley Morrison, head coach of the UA Equestrian Team. “Our program is new and for us to already have three riders qualify for this high profile competition is fantastic and speaks highly of our program and school.”