Lander University's equestrian team opened its 2011-2012 season on Oct. 8 at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) western competition at North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega, Ga. Six members of the Lander team and riders from six other schools in IHSA Zone Five, Region Two, competed in two shows.
In the first show, Tiffany Graddick, a junior from Clinton, finished second in Novice Horsemanship; Lori Ballentine, a senior from Greenwood, was second in Intermediate Horsemanship II; sophomore Sydney Broussard, of Travelers Rest, was fifth, and Jordan Morris, of Anderson, sixth in Walk/Jog Horsemanship.
In the second show, Graddick finished fifth in Novice Horsemanship; Ballentine was second in Intermediate Horsemanship II; Madi Kirk, a freshman from Laurens, finished second in Intermediate I Horsemanship; Jamie Morris, of Anderson finished second in Walk/Jog Horsemanship, and her twin sister, Jordan, was third in the same category. The two sisters are juniors at Lander.
Equestrian coach Mary Hughston said she is pleased with how the Lander team performed in its first competitive event of the new season.
The next show will be hunt seat and western competition at Berry College in Georgia on Oct. 22 and 23.
Lander's Equestrian Center, located on the grounds of Burton Center in Greenwood, will host the final ISHA show of the fall semester during the weekend of Nov. 19-20 with one hunt seat competition each day.