A Year in Review

The West Texas A&M Equestrian Team had a very successful year. The team was preparing for post season competition when unfourtantely, the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To prevent the spread of the disease all IHSA and NCAA events were cancelled. WTAMU moved all classes online and cancelled graduation. Some of the team members have moved back home and some have remained on campus. This is a tough time for our fans and the team, but instead of thinking about what could have been, lets look at the things the team accomplished month by month.

August-September

In the beginning of August the team members had their first team meeting. This is an all day event where the team members got a chance to meet one another and bond. This year the team made their own t-shirts with their name on them using maroon spray paint. Practices went into full swing in September and the team elected their officer board.

Western Captain: Kendall Woellmer
Hunt Seat: Captain: Karis Blankenship
Secretary: Rea Golt
Treasurer: Jordan Schneider
Media Representative: Klarissa Barley

October

In early October some of the team members got together for a Homecoming Dodgeball Tournament against other student organizations. The team did not win the tournament, but the girls are going to be back for more next year.

In October the team had their first Western and Hunt Seat shows. The first Western show was hosted by NCTC in Justin Texas. The team won High Point Team

both days and had multiple first place finishes. So Reilly Dhaliwal won Reserve High Point Rider on Saturday and Sr Rayleigh Rowell won High Point Rider. Rowell was reserve on Sunday and Sr Kendall Woellmer won High Point Rider.

The first Hunt Seat show was also an away show hosted by OU. On Saturday the team won Reserve High Point Team and Jr Klarissa Barley received a notable score of 92 in Open over Fences. On Sunday the team claimed High Point.

November

The team hosted a Western show in the beginning of November, attracting many buff nation fans. The whole team comes together to put on a home show, it's an all-weekend affair. The claimed high point team both days and Woellmer was High Point Rider both days as well. Rowell also claimed Reserve High Point Rider on Saturday.

The Hunt Seat team traveled to Fort Worth for a show hosted by UNT and Tarerton. This was the first time these universities had hosted a show at this venue, although it was a little rocky the team still shined. Winning Reverse High Point Team on Saturday and High Point Team on Sunday.

December - January

The beginning of December can be a stressful time for team members as they are busy studying for finals. Every December the team gets together for a White Elephant party. Team members bring anything from coffee mugs, to bad photos and everything in between. There even are a few reoccurring presents.

After finals are over the team gets winter break off. A few team members ride while they are home. While home Jr Klarissa Barley took her junior horse, Landmark into the low adult amateurs, winning 4 blue ribbons and taking champion of the division. So Reilly Dhaliwal also worked with her horses in Colorado.

February

With second semester starting, the Western team headed down to Lubbock for another show hosted by Texas Tech. On Saturday the team won High Point Team and Kendall Woellmer was the Reserve High Point rider. On Sunday the team won Reserve High Point Team and Rayleigh Rowell won Reserve High Point Rider.

The team also hosted a home Hunt Seat show, claiming High Point Team both days! On Saturday Fr Ava Charrlin tied for Reserve High Point Rider as well.

To celebrate Valentines Day, Sr Karis Blankenship (hunt seat captain) took some of the team members to the Hudson House to pass out cards to the residents.

At the end of February the team hosted another three day show with Western Regionals taking place on Sunday. Yet again the team claimed High Point on Friday and Saturday. Kendall Woellmer was Reserve High Point Rider on Friday and High Point on Saturday. Rayleigh Rowell was High Point Rider on Friday and Reilly Dhaliwal was Reserve High Point Rider on Saturday.

March

The first Sunday of March was Western Regionals, a very successful show for the team. Results are as follows.

Western Regionals

Open Reining

Rayleigh Rowell: 5th
Kendall Woellmer: 2nd and advancing to Semifinals

Open Horsemanship

Reilly Dhaliwal: 4th
Kendall Woellmer: 3rd
Rayleigh Rowell: 1st and advancing to Semifinals

Level ll Horsemanship

Kristan Hamilton: 2nd and advancing to Semifinals

Level l Horsemanship

Baily Summers: 1st and advancing to Semifinals

Rookie A Horsemanship

Catie McCharen: 3rd

Beginner Horsemanship

Jordan Schneider: 4th
Rea Golt: 1st and advancing to Semifinals

Special Awards

Rayleigh Rowell: Reserve Region High Point Rider
Kendall Woellmer: High Point Region Rider and advancing to Nationals
WT's horse Henry won Horse of the Region
WT Equestrian won their 14th consecutive Western Regional Championship, making WT Athletic History!
Sr Sydney Mayo went undefeated in Rookie B Horsemanship

Not a week later the team headed down to Lubbock for another three day show hosted by TTU, with Regionals on Sunday. On Friday Fr Ava Charrlin won Reserve High Point Rider and the team won High Point. And on Saturday, the team was Reserve.

Hunt Seat Regionals

Open Flat

Meg Desheneaux: 1st and advancing to Zones

Intermediate Fences

Sydney Mayo: 3rd

Intermediate Flat

Karis Blankenship: 3rd
Rayleigh Rowell: 2nd and advancing to Zones
Joy Hiller 1st and advancing to Zones

Limit Fences

Kylie McEuen: 1st and advancing to Zones

Limit Flat

Kylie McEuen: 5th
Sydney Mayo: 1st and advancing to Zones

Novice

Catie McCharen: 2nd and advancing to Zones
Kira Morris: 1st and advancing to Zones

Introductory

Rea Golt: 1st and advancing to Zones