DOYLESTOWN, Pa. - The DelVal Hunt Seat team competed in two horse shows over spring break to conclude the regular season, finishing with a 32-point lead over Bloomsburg after placing third at their home show and earning a win at the Regional Effort show.
Senior Grace Allen and senior captain Taylor Pruitt led the way for the Aggies in Open Fences and Open Flat at both competitions. Allen placed fourth and fifth on the flat, while Pruitt finished sixth and fifth on the flat along with fourth and fifth-place finishes over fences. Allen also secured the High Point Open Rider title, finishing with a 21-point lead over Bloomsburg's Kyla Sandy. She will advance directly to Zones to compete in the High Point Open Rider class for a chance to qualify for Nationals.
In Intermediate Fences, junior captain Sophia Frisbie earned a first-place finish and junior Paige Gatz placed fifth at the DelVal home show. Gatz improved her finish at the Regional Effort show with a third-place ride, just behind freshman Tiara D'Amico in second. Gatz also collected two blue ribbons on the flat across the two shows, positioning herself well to qualify for Regionals in the fall in Intermediate Flat. Junior Rhiannon Swimelar and sophomore Maggie Mitchell made their debuts in Intermediate Flat, with Swimelar placing second and Mitchell earning a first-place finish.
Swimelar also competed in Limit Fences at both shows, placing fifth and fourth. Sophomore Alicia Smoot captured first place at the Regional Effort show and finished fourth at the home show. In Limit Flat, sophomore Samantha Wills qualified for Regionals with a win at the home show, while junior Makenna Hummel won the class the following weekend. Mitchell added a fourth-place finish to qualify for Regionals as well. Junior Emma Conway and freshman Amelia Parsons placed third and fourth, respectively. D'Amico also won her section of Limit Flat, earning enough points to be named Reserve High Point Rider of the day.
In Novice competition, sophomore Alexandra Adams and freshmen Casey Robertshaw and Micayle Timmons each earned wins. Freshman Maggie Gardner and Timmons both added second-place finishes, while Adams also placed fourth later in the weekend to clinch her spot at Regionals. Junior Gianna Spinelli earned a second-place finish in Pre-Novice.
Both Intro riders for the week, sophomores Sam Gant and Madison Heitman, placed second, with Heitman securing her qualification for Regionals.
The Aggies also recognized their two senior riders, captain Taylor Pruitt and Grace Allen, during their final home show. They are among several riders who will represent DelVal at the Regional Championship horse show at Wyndsor Farm on March 28. A top-two finish will advance riders to the Zone Finals in April.
The following Aggies qualified for Regionals: Madison Heitman (Intro), Alexandra Adams (Novice), Nevaeh Anderson (Novice), Emma Conway (Novice), Alicia Smoot (Novice), Sophia Frisbie (Limit Flat and Fences), Paige Gatz (Limit Flat and Fences), Maggie Mitchell (Limit Flat and Fences), Rhiannon Swimelar (Limit Flat), Samantha Wills (Limit Flat), Taylor Pruitt (Intermediate Flat and Fences), and Grace Allen (Open Flat and Fences).