HANOVER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University equestrian team opened the 2022-2023 season on Saturday at the Holly Hill Show Stables in Hanover, Massachusetts. Boston University and Tufts University co-hosted the show. The Bears finished in sixth place in the team standings.

Sophomore Emily Desmond (Braintree, Mass.) rode through her limit flat class on Porsche, 15.1-hand bay appendix, and secured a second place ribbon.

Senior captain Jenna Root (Rutland, Mass.) took home a third place ribbon while riding Duncan, a 14.1-hand dun pony gelding, during her limit over fences class. Root then received another third place ribbon while on Tuesday, a 16.2-hand paint gelding, during her limit flat class.

Freshman Rianne Wyckstrom (Hudson, Mass.) rode Hamilton, 16-hand bay gelding, in a difficult and large intermediate flat class. Wyckstrom then jumped Peanut, a 17.3-hand grey gelding, for intermediate fences and placed third.

Senior Samantha Burke (Weymouth, Mass.) rode Dede, a 16-hand chestnut mare, in her limit over fences class placing fourth. Burke also took home a third-place ribbon in her limit flat class on Surreal, a 16-hand grey mare.

Senior captain Ashley Drake (Suffield, Conn.) took a trip on Titan, a 15.3-hand pinto gelding, resulting in a fourth place finish in her limit fences class. Drake then hopped on Porsche bringing home a fourth place ribbon.

Freshman Hannah Arsenault (Attleboro, Mass.) rode Sonoma, a 14.2-hand bay pony, during her limit flat class and took home a fourth place ribbon.

Freshman Addison Prada (West Barnstable, Mass.) rode Hamilton in her open flat class and placed fifth. Prada then rode Peanut through her open fences class also placing fifth.

The BSU equestrian team will be riding again on Sunday, October 30th as the Bears will travel to the Century Mill Stables in Bolton, Massachusetts. Bentley University is hosting the show.