Ripon College Equestrian Team

The First Ripon College Equestrian Team in 2009

Will, Kate Hamm, Tom Avery (coach), Noah, Jess Solverud, Mary Avery (coach), Joe, Steph Nuttall, Jazz, & Rachel Geary

The Ripon College Equestrian Team was started in 2009 by Jessica Solverud (left), class of 2010, and, the head of the Ripon College Business Department, Professor Mary Avery. The Equestrian Team is a branch of the Ripon College Equestrian Club (also started by Jessica and Mary), for those college students who just love horses but do not wish to compete.

                                                                                                    (Amy Audley 2012)

Our Equestrian Team began as solely a Hunt Seat team consisting of Kate Hamm, class of 2012, Jessica Solverud, class of 2010, and Rachel Geary, class of 2013. Coached by Mary & Tom Avery and Karen DePue, we traveled as far as South Dakota, Crookston, Minnesota (Canada, essentially) and as close as Madison and River Falls, Wisconsin to compete. Our first show season ended with founder Jessica Solverud making it to Regionals for our zone.

Ever since the first team was created in 2009, we have grown substantially. As of 2011, we now compete with a Hunt Seat team of nine students as well as a Western team of six students. Both of our teams are primarily coached by Becky Ruhl, the trainer at Cedar Ridge, as well as Tom Avery. Each team has it's own student captains as well. Emily Kiessling (2014) is currently the Hunt Seat captain and Sara Frost (2015) is currently our Western captain.

                                           (Christian Krueger 2015)                (Stephanie Nuttall 2012)

The teams compete in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA), which provides riders the opportunity to show in three disciplines: Hunt Seat Equitation, Western Horsemanship, and Reining. IHSA currently hosts 376 teams competing in the above three disciplines all across the United States. Our Hunt Seat team currently competes in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana, and the Western team currently competes in Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Minnesota (which is determined by the zone each college is located in).

Here is a link to the IHSA website to learn more!

http://www.ihsainc.com/

Here are our current Ripon College Hunt Seat & Western Teams!

From left, Christian Krueger 2015, Elly Davis 2015, Maggie Wolf 2015, Amber Sotemann 2014, Amy Audley 2012, Kaylyn Freemen 2013, Emily Kiessling 2014 (Captain), Sara Landreth 2012, and Kate Hamm 2012.

From left - Tom Avery (Coach), Stephanie Nuttall 2012, Erin Hying 2012, Matt Maginnis 2012, Sara Frost 2015 (Captain), Ricky Nogal 2014, Mary Avery (Coach)

If you have any questions or are an incoming, or current, Ripon College student and are interested in our Equestrian Team and how you could be apart, feel free to contact:

Sara Frost, Western Captain - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it          Emily Kiessling, Hunt Captain - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Mary Avery, founder & coach - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Below is a photo of the Equestrian Team enjoying a Christmas party in the Lodge at Cedar Ridge

(Christian Kruger, Elly Davis, Oliver, and Amber Sotemann)