Alverno Equestrian Wins Two Blue Ribbons in Competition

After a blue ribbon year in Novice Saddleseat, Sophomore Tessa Brandstater has now moved up to the Freshman division. And already, she has brought home two blue and one red ribbon in the Saddleseat and Western School League (SWSL) competition at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center.

Riding "Aura," a saddlebred Palomino, Tessa brought home two blue ribbons. The first was in the Freshman Division Saddleseat Equitation - where the rider is judged - and the second was in the Freshman Saddleseat Pleasure Class (where more emphasis is placed on how the horse is showing).

“Moving up a division means a higher skill level,” Tessa said in a press release annoncing her accomplishments. “You must do more difficult patterns in the ring. You also earn privileges like getting a wear a jacket and ride more advanced horses.”

Tessa has been riding for three years and does her training at Bennett Farms in Burbank. 

The SWSL is a fairly new league that is a United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) affiliate. This means that riders have to perform to the highest standards.

The USEF has just introduced a high school varsity letter program, and Tessa will be working towards achieving this. She is required to put in over 100 riding hours each year to earn her letter while keeping her grades up. 

A draft version of this article was provided by Candace Siegle of Alverno High School.