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 equestrian team 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 and skill 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 point riders ribbons' count equally to the overall score for the team for the day. 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 on an individual level.
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. Riders must be enrolled in ANSC 402 (Horsemanship) or have taken the course at least one semester 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 self-funded, and members are required to complete fundraising obligations for each semester that help aid in team costs as well as post season competitions. New and existing team members are required to have an IHSA membership.
Coach Haley Eagan
Haley.Eagan@unh.edu
UNH 2026-2027 IHSA Team Roster
- Sydney Irons (Senior Captain)
- Jamie Sherman (Senior Captain)
- Ella Bradner (Senior)
- Marley Cedrone (Senior)
- Elizabeth Mohn (Senior)
- Kaitlin Farrell (Senior)
- Rebecca Hopkins (Senior)
- Peyton Gould (Junior)
- Jillian Lifgren (Junior)
- Lily Turcotte (Junior)
- Addison Carty (Sophomore)
- Meara Horan (Sophomore)
- Sophia Diterlizzi (Sophomore)
- Piper Sweeney (Freshman)
- Chloe Sawler (Freshman)
- Elise Italiano (Freshman)
- Denali Lucot (Freshman)
- Savannah Finnegan (Freshman)
- Kara Frost (Freshman)
Haley Eagan returns as Head Coach of the UNH IHSA Team for her fifth year. 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, corgis, and cats. She owns and operates her own training and sales business, Northern Bell Equestrian, LLC, as well as being the head trainer at Leavitt Hill Stables. Eagan and her clients actively compete at hunter/jumper rated competitions along the East Coast boasting successes in the equitation, hunter, and jumper rings at venues such as Saratoga, New England Finals, and the National Horse Show.
We are so pleased to have our volunteer Assistant Coach, Kathleen Francione joining us for her second year.
From starting her riding at a young age, Francione has built up her career around a lifelong passion for horses and the equestrian industry. With experience competing throughout the New England circuit, in the hunters, equitation, and jumpers rings on multiple leased horses, ponies, and catch rides. Her competitive spirit drove her to ride in college here at UNH l, where she was an integral part of the equestrian team during her four years and capped it off by being the highest placed individual in UNH's program history by placing as the Reserve Champion at IHSA Nationals in 2025 in Intermediate Over Fences. Francione has worked as a groom for FEI-level riders to other operations around New England, taking pride in the care, management, and preparation of competition horses. She currently works as the Barn Manager at Leavitt Hill Stables in Deerfield, New Hampshire, graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2025 with a Bachelor's degree in Equine Industry and Management, and loves her involvement in the college equestrian atmosphere.
Schedule
- October 3rd, 2026: Colby Sawyer, Oak Hill Farm
- November 1st, 2026: University of New England, Wishmaker Stables
- November 8th 2026: University of New England
- November 14th, 2026: University of New Hampshire, UNH Horse Barn
2025-2026 Season Recap
Our 2025-26 season was a great experience for growth, learning, and building our skillset. We were given many opportunities to showcase our horsemanship and our progression as athletes. We attended seven regular season shows throughout New England and used each as a chance to build our strength as a team and evolve into well-rounded equestrians and hardy opponents. Season highlights include:
- Several champion and reserve champion ribbons as a team
- Multiple high-point and reserved high-point rider honors at shows
- Eight regional qualifiers:
- Rebecca LaFrance (4th Place Open Flat)
- Catherine Ling (2nd Intermediate Flat & 2nd Fences)
- Sam Bhacka (6th Limit Flat)
- Kaitlin Ferrell (3rd Limit Fences)
- Ella Bradner (1st Novice Flat)
- Sydney Irons (2nd Novice Flat)
- Becca Hopkins (3rd Novice Flat)
- Madi Hernandez (6th Intro Flat)
- Three zone qualifiers:
- Catherine Ling (8th Intermediate Over Fences)
- Catherine Ling (4th Intermediate Flat)
- Sydney Irons (7th Novice Flat)
- Ella Bradner (5th Novice Flat)
- A year end 2nd place finish as a team for regional standings
- A year end second-place finish for our Cacchione Cup rider
- Some incredible fundraising through the annual 603 Challenge and jumper shows
Beyond these accomplishments, we were able to watch all our riders work hard and meet their goals, constantly pushing to be the very best they could be. We can't wait to see some new and familiar faces and get to work on what we are sure will be another fantastic season.
Go Wildcats!
