For the fourth straight show, the local International Equestrian Association (IEA) high school team has dominated the competition and ridden away with the championship!

The Midcoast Maine Equestrian team has riders from all over Lincoln and Cumberland counties and is trained by Virginia Shaw at Stonewall Stables in Nobleboro. These riders have mandatory team practices each month and attend lessons weekly, similar to other high school team sports. Their competition stretches from Maine to Connecticut and this past week, they drove four hours to Hebron, Connecticut, competed against 13 other high school teams and walked away the champions of the show.

These riders braved cold weather and stood outside all day as they cheered for their teammates. The following riders rode for the high school team this week: Alexandria Fabiano had a third place over fences and a third place in her equitation class. Her sister, Isabella Fabiano, had two first place finishes in her over fences and her equitation class. Marina Godin had a fifth place finish over fences and a second place in her equitation class. Lindsey Gordon had a first place finish over fences and a third place in her equitation class.

Claire Lane had a second place finish over fences and a third place in her equitation class. Clara Mugnai had a first place finish over fences and third place in her equitation class. Brooke Seiders had a first place finish over fences and a fifth place in her equitation class. Kayla Delano had two fifth places in both equitation classes, and Jenna Leeman had a third place and fifth place in equitation classes. Riding for the middle school team this week were Ella Villeneuve, who had a second place finish in equitation and a fifth place over fences and Lily Sukeforth, who placed first in her equitation class.

IEA (www.rideiea.org) spans the entire country with each area broken out into zones. The Midocast Maine Equestrian team is in zone 1 which includes Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. IEA rules allow each team member and the team a minimum of three and a maximum of five shows to seek enough points to qualify for the regional competition in Springfield, Massachusetts in the spring.

After dominating the first three shows, the high school team is qualified to go to the regional competition, and after this Sunday, Isabella Fabiano and Lindsey Gordon are qualified in both their over fences jumping class and their equitation class. Clair Lane and Clara Mugnai are qualified in their over fences jumping class and all the high school teammates are within one or two points from qualifying. The next competition for this team will be at its home barn on Sunday, Jan. 15 at Stonewall Stables.