A Horse Is a Horse, of Course, of Course...

They're horsing around again over at St. Margaret's, where three members of the school's equestrian team combined to take home more than two handfuls of medals during the Orange County Interscholastic Equestrian League competition Dec. 11-12 at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park in San Juan Capistrano.

Though OCIEL's official season doesn't begin until the spring, the winter show is part of an annual tradition at the park, where riders of all skill levels and experience compete as individuals and for their school and show barn teams in a variety of events.

Mary Raymund, a sophomore riding at the varsity level for St. Margaret's, competed aboard her horse, Caught U Lookin, in four events, finishing second twice, third and fourth. Freshman Eri Tanada and her horse, Facile, finished first and sixth in two jumping events at the junior varsity level.

Sixth-grader Madison Golledge, who has been riding two years, and her horse, Logan, who is also known as Living Legend, competed at the freshman level and finished third in three events, fifth in another and eighth and ninth in two more.The freshman level was dominated by Shannon Rice, representing St. Edward the Confessor Parish in Dana Point. She rode Eskimo to four first-place medals.

The OCIEL also has a novice level for riders as young as kindergarten age.

"It's really quite nice for all of the girls because not only does their own horse show barn compete, but it's a school event." said Dana Smith, secretary on the OCIEL's board of directors. "They have a school coach, and then they also have their trainers come [to the competitions]."

And because it's a school event, participants can earn varsity athletic letters in the same way they are earned on the soccer field or basketball court, except that each rider's fate is partially determined by her four-legged, 1,000-plus pound teammate.

In addition to jumping events -- during which the height of the fences increases as the riders move up in division -- there is also competition in "dressage," which is a French word meaning "training."

The dressage event calls for riders to enter the competition area and guide their horses through a series of judge's commands, including "walk," "trot," "canter" and "turn around." Points are rewared for how well the riders execute the directives.

The next OCIEL event is scheduled for Jan. 15-16 at Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park. For more information, visit  www.ociel.org.

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