Thiel College hosts horse show competition

Staff report

GREENVILLE, PA.

The Thiel College Equestrians will host their first Intercollegiate Horse Show Association competition at 9 a.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m. next Sunday.

The event will take place at an equine facility in Coolville. Thiel will provide horses on which all students will compete, according to association rules.

The Thiel College Equestrians have competed on a regional and national level against college equestrian teams since 2012.

Full-time undergraduate students of member colleges or alumni who competed in the association as undergraduates are eligible to compete at the event. Riders qualify for the National Championship Horse Show through a point system.

During the year, contestants accumulate points at local shows to qualify for the regional finals in their respective divisions. The top two riders in each class of the regional finals move forward to the zone finals. The top two competitors in each class at zone competitions qualify for the national show.

In addition to hosting the competition, the Thiel College Equestrians have organized a fall speaker series regarding the care and health of horses.

At 6 p.m. Oct. 26, Regional Veterinary Medical Field Officer Dr. Heather Palm will present “Vaccines: Is Your Horse Receiving the Correct Vaccines?” in the Sawhill-Georgian room of the Howard Miller Student Center.

At 6 p.m. Nov. 8, equine dentist Robert Jamison will present “Equine Dental Care: What Every Horse Owner Should Know” in the Lutheran Heritage Room of the Howard Miller Student Center. In the future, the Thiel Equestrians plan to also host a western horsemanship show.

For information about the equestrians, contact Malnar at jmalnar@thiel.edu or 724-718-4041.