Brandon High School’s Equestrian Team competes against other high school teams through the Michigan Inter-Scholastic Horsemanship Association, which has 2,053 registered riders participating on 316 teams across 19 districts covering the state of Michigan. Each district has three divisions: ‘A? teams are schools with 10 or more riders; ‘B? teams have 5-10 riders and ‘C? teams have five or less riders. Brandon has competed as an ‘A? team for the last two years; this year, they have 16 riders.
Individuals compete for each team, but only their assigned back numbers and school name are read for placing in each class. The classes consist of showmanship for Western, Hunt Seat and Saddle Seat; equitation in Western, Hunt Seat and Saddle Seat; equitation bareback in Western, Hunt Seat and Saddle Seat; Saddle Seat pattern; Equitation over Fences; Western Riding and speed classes in barrels, flag race, speed and action and two person relay.
This year’s team captains are Sarah Minda (senior), Alaina Stiles (junior) and Breanna Fales (sophomore). Team riders are: Kathleen Rouchleau (senior), Samantha Guimond (junior), Donna Wilson (junior), Jess Nelson (sophomore), Meghan Kennison (sophomore), Hilary Sans (sophomore), Celina Prince (freshman), Megan McCoy (freshman), Amanda Fisher (freshman), Erin Lissner (freshman) and Katy Davis (freshman).
Coaches are Kathy Stockley and Sharon Larsen and assistant coaches are Kate Stockley (former team member) and Stephanie Silagi (teacher at Brandon High School).
‘The competition gets harders every year as many of the teams we compete against have riders and horses who show on the show circuits year round,? Coach Kathy Stockley said. ‘We started having a few practices before the meets a few years ago. This year, we started holding weekly practices staring the end of July. Our team really is coming together and the coaching staff is extremely proud of each rider on the team.?
Competing as an equestrian may seem easy to the unfamiliar public, but these riders and horses are just as much athletes as football or basketball players, Stockley said.
‘They work on training, riding and controlling 800-1200 pound animals,? she said. ‘Both horse and rider need to be in good physical shape for any competition.:
Brandon was recently awarded the Sportsmanship Trophy for District 2. This is the second time Brandon has received this award ? the first was in 2001.
This year, the team is raising funds for a scholarship in remembrance of teammate Tiffany Lambiris, who was killed in a car accident in February 2004. The scholarship fund money is given to riders towards college tuition. Anyone interested in donating to the scholarship fund may send their donation to the Brandon High School Equestrian Scholarship Fund. Please be sure to clearly mark the donation to the Equestrian Team.
Details: Coach Kathy Stockley, (248) 866-6825, or Coach Sharon Larsen at (248) 328-9636.