Headline: Equestrian finishes fall season with promise

By Andrew Nowel, Sports Layout Editor

The Canisius equestrian team has wrapped up their fall season, but it isn’t without two riders pointing out, or moving up, of their division. Senior president and captain Annie Bernard and sophomore co-president Chloe Berwaldt both succeeded in earning the necessary 36 points to point out. As the Griffs get ready to compete one more time in February, the team is confident in all of their abilities to prepare for regionals.

Equestrian is a sport that is recreational and competitive, meaning that horseriding, which is what the sport revolves around, can be done in a recreational setting or in competition. At Canisius, the sport’s club team has both a recreational and competitive team. “Not many people know we have an equestrian team, but we welcome everyone. There is no experience needed. That’s the purpose of the recreational team as we want to teach people about horses, their behavior and how to ride. We also have a competition team for those that do want to compete,” said Bernard. The Griffs travel to Saint Lawrence University and SUNY Geneseo to compete in shows starting in mid-October that encompass three or four weekends. For training, the team goes to Hunters Ridge, a horseriding school in Lockport where trainers Lindsay Lindke and Kaili Kozlowski work with the Griffs to learn the ins and outs.

This year, Bernard and Berwaldt came into the season both with 19 points. Needing 16 more to point out of their respective divisions, they were excited to come into this season with the focus on getting to a higher level. “I’ve been riding for nine years and my success has pushed me to place in a higher division and move on to regionals. It shows my improvement since I’ve joined the team and the work that I’ve put into riding,” said Berwaldt. 

As the fall season neared the end, both women were close to reaching the mark. Bernard had been competing in the limit equitation on the flat division and would point out last Saturday in the team’s final show of the fall. Bernard advanced to the intermediate equitation on the flat where she competed the next day at the higher division. “Qualifing each year will put our name out more not only in the school community, but in the equestrian community as well,” said Bernard.

Berwaldt pointed out to the limit equitation on the flat as well on Saturday and was able to compete on Sunday at the higher division. Along with the rest of the team, they are excited to see how this success brings in more people that are interested in competing at a high level. “The requirements for the team are at a level similar to the Division I that Canisius athletics exemplifies and the team competes against other Division III level teams even though we are a club sport at Canisius,” said senior Kristen Klein, the secretary and treasurer of the club. With one more show in the spring semester before regionals in April, the Griffs are excited for the future of the program as it continues to develop with leadership transitioning to Berwaldt and Madison Smith who look to continue the foundation that Bernard and her e-board have built.