Pictured standing from left to right: Coach Selena Finn and students Haley Sebby, Mackenzie Berkland, Carley Piper, Alyssa Casey, Hannah Lemay and Zayne Olson. Pictured on their horses from left to right: Sarah Tarr, Billy Barbknecht, Peyton Derr and Kelsey Doty.
Black Hawk College hunt seat equestrians competed this fall against riders from around the Midwest without leaving their home arena.
Nineteen BHC students participated in the inaugural Hunt Seat Flyover States Challenge Series: Virtual Collegiate Horse Show. Riders competed in the Black Hawk College East Campus arena in three shows from September-November. Videos of their performances were sent to a judge who evaluated their skills, and riders earned individual points that went toward their season total.
Students competed in seven divisions depending on their level of riding experience. Classes consisted of riding on the flat (riders execute a pattern) and over fences (riders exhibit their horse’s skills over an elevated jump).
At the end of the season, awards were given to the top six competitors in each division.
Here are the final Fall 2020 placings for the Black Hawk College Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) Hunt Seat Team riders.
Introductory Flat Division:
- Reserve Champion (2nd place) – Macy Gillette of Beebe, AR (received an embroidered Dover garment bag)
- 3rd place – Maggie Sawusch of Chicago, IL
- 4th place – Carissa Wetherington of West Chicago, IL
- 5th place – Rachel McCann of Sterling, IL
- 6th place – Hannah Lemay of Tuscola, IL
Pre-Novice Flat Division:
- Champion (1st place) – Mackenzie Berkland of Ruthven, IA (received a custom belt buckle)
- 3rd place – Haley Sebby of Tampico, IL
Novice Flat Division:
- Champion (1st place) – Billy Barbknecht of Waseca, MN (received a custom belt buckle)
- 3rd place – Maddie Schuldt of St. Charles, IL
- 5th place – Lily Zomparelli of Schererville, IN
Peyton Derr showing Izzy
Limit Flat Division:
- Champion (1st place) – Peyton Derr of West Liberty, OH (received a custom belt buckle)
- 3rd place – Alyssa Casey of Minier, IL
Crossrail Over Fences Division:
- Champion (1st place) – Sarah Paige Tarr of Dawson, IL (received a custom belt buckle)
- 3rd place – Billy Barbknecht of Waseca, MN
Limit Over Fences Division:
- Champion (1st place) – Alyssa Casey of Minier, IL (received a custom belt buckle)
- Reserve Champion (2nd place) – Peyton Derr of West Liberty, OH (received an embroidered Dover garment bag)
Alyssa Casey showing Howard
Intermediate/Open Over Fences and Flat Division:
- Reserve Champion (2nd place) – Carley Piper of New London, WI (received an embroidered Dover garment bag)
Students who also participated and placed individually throughout the horse show series:
- Kelsey Doty of Port Byron, IL
- Anabel Goluszka-Maxwell of West Brooklyn, IL
- Becca Hadley of Toulon, IL
- Zayne Olson of Cambridge, IL
- Adria Ray of Vassar, MI
The BHC IHSA Hunt Seat Team is led by first-year coach Selena Finn. This is the third year that Black Hawk College has had a hunt seat team.