Granton equestrians canter their way to state
The Wisconsin Interscholastic Horsemanship Association (WIHA) District 6 regional competition was held Oct. 6-7 at the Heartland Equestrian Center in Custer. School equestrian teams from all across northeast Wisconsin came to compete in a series of standardized classes consisting of showmanship (showing in a pattern in hand), equitation (showing in a riding pattern), reinsmanship (showing in a pattern driving a cart), and speed events (barrels, poles, etc.). Judges awarded points to each team based on their placings.
Granton Area School District’s equestrian team competed in Division C (three to five riders) and was represented by Abby Schoessow (12th grade) riding RU Ready for This (“Bubba”), Charlotte Hanna (10th grade) riding AKA Invitational (“Suri”), Grace Verhalen (10th grade) riding Lazy Lady Pearl (“Pearl”) and Kate Verhalen (sixth grade) riding Sudden Terms (“Caroline”).
Granton ended the competition with 620 points and won Grand Champion with over a 100-point spread between themselves and Marinette, who won Reserve Champion. Each rider from Granton competed in six out of 19 classes offered each day of the competition.
The Granton equestrian team consistently placed well throughout the competition and they also competed in new classes at this year’s WIHA district competition that they had never competed in previously. Abby competed in Western dressage, Grace competed in in-hand trail and Kate competed in saddle seat equitation, winning grand or reserve in each class, respectively. The Granton Equestrian Team and Club was established in 2017 to promote horsemanship education for all students in grades six through 12. This is Granton’s fifth year to compete in the WIHA regional competition, winning Reserve Champion in 2018; winning Grand Champion in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023; and winning the state championship in 2022. The Granton riders will represent their school at the state WIHA competition in Madison from Oct. 27-29 at the Alliant Energy Center.
The Granton Equestrian Team is a fully self-funded organization. They will hold a fundraiser at Fannie’s Supper Club in Neillsville on Oct. 19 to help pay for show expenses.
The Granton equestrian team will return to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Horsemanship Association state competition after winning regionals. Members of the team are (from left) Grace Elmhorst (sixth grade, team manager), Abby Schoessow (12th grade), Grace Verhalen (10th grade), Charlotte Hanna (10th grade) and Kate Verhalen (sixth grade).
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
