58 SIDELINES JANUARY 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
No Horse,
No Problem
By Arianna Delin
Kate McManis, a graduate of Virginia Intermont College, had
always dreamed of competing at an international show, but had no
idea how she would be able to accomplish it. In her senior year of
school, Kate came across the USA Student Riders, which supports
the AIEC (International University Equestrian Federation). This
organization allows students to compete internationally when they
wouldn’t otherwise have the chance.
“I had always wanted the chance to compete internationally.
That’s a dream. That’s an unbelievable opportunity that I never
thought I’d be able to do. I couldn’t afford a horse or the training
that you need to pursue a young rider’s career,” said Kate.
Throughout her college career, Kate rode and competed on the
school’s IHSA and IDA teams. She also had the chance to ride
for Virginia Intermont at Nationals. But during her senior year, she
looked more into pursuing the USA Student Riders. Riders had to
be able to successfully complete a first level dressage test as well
as be comfortable jumping up through 1.20m.
“The standards are high, you have to be a capable, solid
rider, but it’s not as high as the standards required to compete
internationally at the grand prix level,” explained Kate. “So when
the chance came up, I was like, ‘Yeah, I’ll go anywhere, even the
middle of Romania.’ I had such a great time.”
Kate has had the opportunity to show in three different Student
Rider Nations Cup (SRNC) competitions, the first of which
was in Romania. In addition to it being Kate’s first international
competition, it was also the first time that the SRNC was held in
Romania.
“As soon as we arrived at the show grounds, we were literally
swarmed by student riders greeting old friends with excitement,
welcoming in new riders like myself and the entire evening was
spent socializing. Bright and early the next morning, the show
began. The horse draw and demonstration started at 8 a.m.,
when we found out who we were riding against in the first round
of dressage and what horses we were going to ride,” explained
e
Sidelines Shout Out
Kate. “Teams were passing around face paint, nail polish, flags or
other accessories. It isn’t uncommon for the Spanish team to be
wearing orange nail polish or for everyone to have a small Belgium
flag painted on their cheek. After putting in a fairly strong round,
we were satisfied as a team. At lunch, judges announced the
riders who made it to the second round of competition, and I was
pleasantly surprised to hear my name announced for team USA.
The next morning we repeated the whole thing in the discipline of
show jumping.”
At the end of the second day, teams enjoyed a gala event,
where sponsors were recognized, songs were sung and riders
socialized until the judges announced which riders made it to the
semi-finals and last day of competition. Unfortunately, Kate didn’t
make it to the last round of competition while in Romania.
“Despite not making it into the semi-finals in either discipline,
having come so close in both of them, I was awarded the third
place individual combined score at the event. I remember when
my name was called I was completely surprised, and the cheers
from all my new friends pushing me out to the podium were
amazing,” remarked Kate.
To be a part of the Student Rider organization, one must be
in academic good standing and be enrolled in undergraduate or
graduate courses. The organization is designed to allow students
to gain international competition experience as well as gain
international friendships.
“The European shows are so relaxed and the Europeans enjoy
themselves even while being so competitive, that I was always
compelled to go back. That’s why I am eager to bring a show to
the United States,” explained Kate.
Kate is currently the secretary of the organization and hopes
to bring a competition to Wellington, Florida in December of
2014. For more information on the organization, visit
.
aiecworld.com.
Kate at a competition in Germany.
Kate took a photo of her fellow United States team members
in Canada in 2010. From the left: Laura Hannink, Marian
Michalson, Ben Miller, Audrey Hanlon, Alix Walker and
Becca Chesney.
Photos courtesy of Kate McManis
