In regular season competition, the Geneseo equestrian team finished third behind St. Lawrence University and Cazenovia College, respectively.
On Saturday April 7, however, sophomore Jordan Laux continued her season at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Zone 2 Championships.
Laux placed 10th overall among the best competition in Zone 2, which includes New York, Connecticut and Ontario.
According to head coach Kim Sanford, Laux “rode really well” even against the “very competitive field.”
Looking back on the experience, Laux said, “The horses were amazing. That made it worth it in itself because they were gorgeous … I liked having the opportunity to do that just to push myself.”
To reach the Zone 2 Championships, Laux placed first in the Walk/Trot equitation on Saturday March 31 in the IHSA Regionals hosted by St. Lawrence University.
Throughout the 2012 season, Laux earned first or second place in the Walk/Trot division in almost every show. Laux also earned enough points to qualify out of the Walk/Trot division.
“Sometimes it takes two years to move through [a division, but] she moved through in one year,” Sanford said.
Laux began riding last year as a freshman and had only ridden one time before approaching Sanford at tryouts.
“I thought, ‘Wow.’ She had a lot of nerve to come to try out for a varsity team when she’d only ridden one other time,” Sanford said. “I thought, ‘I like the kind of [mentality]’ that she had.”
As a newcomer, Sanford said that Laux immediately showed interest and motivation. Although Laux was just a beginner, Sanford said she knew she could work with Laux because of her willingness to work hard.
Since only the top two competitors from the Zones Championships advance to nationals held in Raleigh, N.C., Laux and the other riders await the fall 2012 season.