May 6, 2007

Springfield, MA - Junior tri-captain Whitney Keefe (Wellesley, MA) was the only member of the Brown equestrian team to ride on Saturday, the third day of the IHSA National Horse Show and final day of Hunter Seat competition. However, she rode three times, competing in two individual events and the final team event. Keefe took fifth in Collegiate Cup Open Fences, giving the Bears 23 points and third place in the nation. Individually, Keefe finished in second in Open Flat and fifth in the Cacchione Cup competition for the nation's best Hunter Seat rider.

The Bears finished behind three teams, National Champion Virginia Intermont, Mt. Holyoke, and Findlay, but since the latter two tied for second at 25 points, the IHSA recognized Brown as the third-place team.

Keefe's first ride of the day was in Team Open Fences. She finished the first round in third place, dropping two spots in the call-back after one particularly difficult line. Next was the call-back for the Cacchione Cup. Keefe was one of six riders called back after the first two phases. She placed fifth, missing the final call-back of the top four riders, but still cementing her place among the top riders in the country. Finally, Keefe competed in Individual Open Flat, the final Hunter Seat class of the day, and placed second.

The Bears' final results for the IHSA National Horse Show:

Collegiate Cup:
Walk-Trot Equitation - Stephanie Carmack, 1st place
Walk-Trot-Canter Equitation - Leona Rosenblum, No ribbon
Novice Equitation on the Flat - Emma Bogdonoff, 2nd place
Novice Equitation over Fences - Rachel Griffith, 2nd place
Intermediate Equitation on the Flat - Elizabeth Giliberti, No ribbon
Intermediate Equitation over Fences - Elizabeth Giliberti, No ribbon
Open Equitation on the Flat - Whitney Keefe, 3rd place
Open Equitation over Fences - Whitney Keefe, 5th place

Individual:
Open Equitation on the Flat - Whitney Keefe, 2nd place

Cacchione Cup - Whitney Keefe, 5th place