Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Team

The University of New Hampshire is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) and competes in the competitive Zone I, Region 2, against other schools from the northeast. IHSA is a unique form of team equestrian competition in which each competitor draws a horse provided by the host school before their ride; no schooling or warm-up of that horse by the rider is allowed. IHSA tests each rider’s equitation ability to quickly and accurately assess their mount and ride it to the best of their ability. Teams are comprised of riders from beginners up to the Medal/Maclay level. The point card consists of Open, Intermediate, Limit, Novice, Pre-Novice, and Introductory levels where each score counts equally. If the team has the most points at the end of the season they advance to compete as a team at Zone and National competitions. Riders also accrue individual points and may qualify to compete at the Regional, Zone, and National Championships.

Tryouts for UNH IHSA are held once per year at the beginning of the Fall semester. Membership is open to full-time undergraduate students at the University of New Hampshire or the Thompson School of Applied Science. Riders must be enrolled in ANSC 402 (Horsemanship) or have taken the course at least twice previously to be eligible to try out. Incoming freshmen who are interested in trying out for the team are strongly encouraged to enroll in the earliest orientation session possible to increase their chances of getting a slot in ANSC 402 during their first semester.

The UNH Equestrian Team is entirely self-funded, and members are required to complete fundraising obligations for each semester. Also, riders must pay to join the IHSA each academic year.

This year, Haley Eagan joins us as Head Coach of the UNH IHSA Team! She is excited to promote horsemanship, sportsmanship, and some awesome results in the show ring with her riders. Eagan is a New Hampshire native; she grew up riding and training in the hunter/jumper industry throughout New England—from the pony rings to the junior equitation and medal divisions..

Over the years, her passion for working with horses and competing grew. She is an alumni of Cazenovia College, where she competed on the Varsity Hunter Seat IHSA team all four years and served as captain for three years. She graduated with a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Management with a Specialization in Equine Business Management. Post-graduation to the present day, Eagan is deeply immersed in the hands-on sector of the equine industry. She has worked and competed for several operations up and down the east coast as an FEI barn manager, rider, and an instructor. In 2022, Eagan returned to her Southern NH roots where she lives with her husband, Matthew, and Corgi, Remi. She owns and operates her own training and sales business (Northern Bell Equestrian) in the area where her and her clients actively compete in at hunter/jumper rated competitions.

2023-2024 Season Recap

FALL 2023 HORSE SHOWS

• 10/07/2023 at University of Vermont: Reserve High Point Team 
• 10/08/2023 at Middlebury College: Reserve High Point Team, Erin LaCross Reserve High Point Rider
• 10/29/2023 at Colby Sawyer College: High Point Team, Sophie Shields High Point Rider, Sophia Pagliazzo Reserve High Point Rider, Kyah Woodland Reserve High Point Open Rider, Kathleen Francione High Point Limit Rider 
• 11/12/2023 at University of New Hampshire: Reserve High Point Team

SPRING 2024 HORSE SHOWS

• 3/3/2024 at University of New Hampshire: Reserve High Point Team
• 3/9/2024 UNE @ Whishmaker Stables: Reserve High Point Team, Sophia Pagliazzo Reserve High Point Rider
• 10/29/2023 Colby Sawyer College @ Whishmaker Stables: Reserve High Point Team 

Zone 1 Region 2 IHSA Regional Championships Location: Whishmaker Stables, Rollinsford, NH 

Date: March 16th, 2024

Zone 1 Region 2 RESERVE HIGH POINT TEAM 

Senior Kyah Woodland RESERVE CHAMPION HIGH POINT RIDER (CACCHIONE CUP) ~ Woodland had the second highest combined points for her Open jumping and flat results from every regular season horse show combined for Zone 1 Region 2. Open Flat and Fences is the highest level in IHSA competition.

Open Flat Kyah Woodland (Senior) CHAMPION (Moved on to Zones)

Limit Fences Brooke Adams (Junior) RESERVE CHAMPION (Movedon to Zones)

Limit Fences Kathleen Francione (Junior) 3RD PLACE

Intermediate Flat Sophie Shields (Junior)4TH PLACE 

Limit Flat Erin LaCross (Junior) 4TH PLACE

Limit Fences Catherine Ling (Sophomore) 5TH PLACE

Congratulations to all Regional qualifiers including Bella Williams (Senior), Carolyn Dixon (Senior), Ryan Moran (Sophomore), and Sophia Pagliazzo (Senior). In total the team at 10 individual riders qualify. Everyone rode horses picked from a random draw and rode fantastic at a competitive venue. 

IHSA Zone 1 Championship 

Location: Mount Holyoke College Equestrian Center, South Hadley, MA

Date: April 6, 2024 

Below are the individual results of our equestrian athletes:

Senior Kyah Woodland 4TH PLACE INDIVIDUAL OPEN FLAT

Junior Brooke Adams 8TH PLACE INDIVIDUAL LIMIT FENCES

We are so proud of Brooke and Kyah for giving it their all yesterday on horses they have never ridden before against a competitive group of riders. Qualifying and placing at the Zone 1 competition is an honor in itself.  

Overall, this team of equestrian athletes were a cohesive unit all year. Their efforts shine through in the saddle, taking care of the horses, and hosting wonderful events that contributed to their fundraising efforts. We had a lot of blue ribbons and multiple riders qualify for post season championship competitions. We have 5 seniors graduating this year and wish them the best of luck.