Two members of Lander University's equestrian team came home winners after competing in the 40th Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) finals, May 2-5. Emma Wolfe and Jennifer Lovvorn were among an estimated 400 riders from across the country who qualified for the championship events held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pa.
Wolfe, a junior exercise science major from Greensboro, N.C., finished fourth in the individual novice western horsemanship class. That places fourth in the nation in that category. She also received an honorable mention for individual walk, trot, canter equitation.
Lovvorn, who graduated from Lander on April 20 with a degree in biology, received an honorable mention in the individual walk, trot equitation competition.
Winning honorable mention places Wolfe and Lovvorn 16th in the nation in the two events for which they received the awards.
Weaver said, "I am very proud of Emma and Jennifer and all the hard work they have put in to get this far and prepare for this level of competition." She added, "It's phenomenal for a young equestrian program like Lander's to send riders to national competition."
They are the second and third Lander equestriennes to make it to the IHSA championships. Ellison Poston was the first; she finished ninth out of 16 competitors in walk, trot, cantor in the national finals in 2011.
A graduate of Emerald High School, Lovvorn plans to continue her education and obtain a degree in veterinary medicine. After she graduates from Lander, Wolfe expects to enter a program leading to an associate degree as a veterinary technician.
Lander's Equestrian Center, on the grounds of Burton Center in Greenwood, opened in the fall of 2009. The equestrian team followed with it first full season in 2010.