Consistent Wins by Tonti at Dressage Double-Header (October 18-19, 2014)

The Intercollegiate Dressage Association season opened up with a two-day double-header hosted by Michigan State University on October 18 and 19. Five Albion College school horses were brought along to be used in the draw, so the six Albion riders juggled caring for the horses and competing twice throughout the weekend.

Although first timers to the IDA arena, both junior Jackson Regen (Nashville, Tenn./Hillsboro) and freshman Jourdan Tonti (Livonia/Livonia Churchill) dominated with their scores on Saturday. Regen won first place in Upper Training and captured the high percentage of the day, and Tonti (who also won her Introductory class) followed with the reserve high percentage. Tonti then came back on Sunday to score an impressive 72 percent and snag the high score of the day.

Junior Paige Beliveau (West Newbury, Mass./St. Thomas Aquinas), who along with Regen compete on the Albion hunt seat team as well, scored a big win in her First level class on Sunday. Other notable rides include a fourth place by captain Paige Gustafson (Dexter/Dexter) at First level, and Kayleigh Harvey (Ada/Forest Hills Eastern) who also won fourth in Upper Training level.

In the end, the Albion A and B teams came away with second, third, fifth, and eighth place ribbons, and are off to a strong start.