Equestrian - Hanson reserve champion at national festival!

by **DanFreibergerForHeisman** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 3:47 pm

The official SMU athletics site reports freshman Ramsay Hanson was named reserve champion in the Adult Hunter division at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival this past weekend in Wellington, Fla.

Hanson also placed 10th out of 74 riders in the Low Amateur Owner Jumper Classic.

What a great result for one of our young riders in a national competition.

It's awesome to know the program is starting to have some success and the freshman class looks like it has some great athletes for our future!

Go Ponies!

by **DanFreibergerForHeisman** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 4:18 pm

I checked the FTI web site for the results.

There were five adult amateur hunter rides.

The grand champion finished 2nd, 5th, 1st, 8th, and 1st.

Ramsay finished 1st, 16th, 2nd, 12th, and 4th.

All in all, quite an impressive showing for an SMU freshman in an 18-35 age bracket!!!

by **Thumper** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 12:21 am

Sorry for not knowing anything about equestrian, but what is the "Adult Hunter" division? What does that mean?

Congratulations to Hanson. If I knew what she was actually doing, I'd be even more impressed.

by **Junior** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 12:58 am

Hunters are judged subjectively on the degree to which they meet an ideal standard of manners, style, and way of going. Conversely, jumper classes are scored objectively, based entirely on a numerical score determined only by whether the horse attempts the obstacle, clears it, and finishes the course in the allotted time. Jumper courses often are colorful, and at times, quite creatively designed. Jumper courses tend to be much more complex and technical than hunter courses, because riders and horses are not being judged on style. Hunters have meticulous turnout and tend toward very quiet, conservative horse tack and rider attire. Hunter bits, bridles, crops, spurs, and martingales are tightly regulated. Jumpers, while caring for their horses and grooming them well, are not scored on turnout, are allowed a wider range of equipment, and riders may wear less conservative attire, so long as it stays within the rules. Formal turnout always is preferred, however, and a neat rider gives a good impression at shows.

Adult seems pretty self-explanatory.

by **Vitale** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 1:31 am

I'm going to go out on a limb and assume you had to look that up, since your response uses a bunch of "WTF?" rhetoric.

"... way of going"?
"... colorful, and at times, quite creatively designed" ? Who talks like that?
"... meticulous turnout"? WTH is "turnout"?

Anyway, hell of an answer if you knew it. I'm impressed!

by **DanFreibergerForHeisman** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 12:03 pm

It's kind of interesting to have the words "adult amateur" in your google search for equestrian information...

by **Junior** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 1:24 pm

Vitale wrote:I'm going to go out on a limb and assume you had to look that up, since your response uses a bunch of "WTF?" rhetoric.

"... way of going"?
"... colorful, and at times, quite creatively designed" ? Who talks like that?
"... meticulous turnout"? WTH is "turnout"?

Anyway, hell of an answer if you knew it. I'm impressed!

I'll admit it was a cut/paste from wikipedia.

by **Junior** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 1:26 pm

DanFreibergerForHeisman wrote:It's kind of interesting to have the words "adult amateur" in your google search for equestrian information...

On a completely untwisted note, time to clear my Internet history.

by **PonyExpress** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 6:38 pm

Junior wrote:
DanFreibergerForHeisman wrote:It's kind of interesting to have the words "adult amateur" in your google search for equestrian information...

On a completely untwisted note, time to clear my Internet history.

Two of the funniest posts I have ever read. Who knew equestrian could be funny?

Outstanding stuff.