MELVILLE, N.Y. – The LIU Post women's equestrian team had a successful start to its spring season Sunday at the Pratt University hosted horse show at Thomas' School of Horsemanship. The Pioneers won in a landslide with 47 points after a brutally long day of competition.
 
Freshman Miko McGovern ended up high point rider after finishing first in both of her classes with senior Mallory Slack right behind finishing first and second. The team also added to their collection of riders qualified for regionals including senior Patricia Hesslon, senior Jessica Sulkers, junior Nicole Sinram, freshman Katherine Garcia, junior Cara Sappelsa, freshman Grace Titus, sophomore Sarah Wung and senior Vanessa Finazzo. The team now has 21 riders going individually into regionals on the Sunday, March 31.
 
The day began with the open division with fences going first. Slack secured the top spot in her section with senior Chloe Hoerner and Sulkers finishing third in their respective sections. On the flat, Hoerner and McGovern finished first Slack and sophomore Nicole Palmer in second, junior Sam Ayala in third.
 
In intermediate, McGovern started the division off strong finishing first with freshman Kara Bromschwig in second and Sappelsa in third. The success continued for Sappelsa on the flat finishing first in her section and sophomore Hedda Walltott also in first. Garcia was close behind in second and Hesslon finished third.
 
Next, in novice freshman Nicole Shneyder secured the win with freshman Abby Panza and freshman Olivia Butler in second and sophomore Savannah Giardina in third. On the flat, Titus finished first with freshman Kayla Reisman in second along with Panza and Giardina in second. Butler and Shenyder finished third.
 
To conclude the day, sophomore Sarah Wung securing the win for the team in walk/trot finishing first place.
 
Up Next
The Pioneers compete at the New York University/Princeton University Show on Sunday, March 24 at the Olde Towne Equestrian Center in Selden, New York.