The equestrian team opened up its season this weekend at the Hartwick Invitational at Hunter’s Rein Stable in Otego, N.Y. Out of the 15 teams that participated, the Red finished fourth with 31 points. First place Skidmore led the way with 43 points.

The Big Red got first-place finishes by senior Nicole Finazzo, sophomore Justine Gentilini, senior Ji Min Kim and sophomore Charmaine Tan, who rode for Intermediate Open Fences, Novice Fences, Walk Trot Canter and Walk Trot, respectively. And, no rider finished lower than fifth.

“Even though the score has us in fourth place, these girls rode extremely well," said head coach Chris Mitchell in an interview with the University. "I am extremely proud of the way these young ladies rode and performed all throughout the day."

Junior Georgina Melbye, captain, attributed the team’s fourth-place finish to “not getting the judges’ attention.”

“All our girls played really well, and everyone had solid rides,” she said, “fourth place is surprising.”

Melbye finished fifth in her class, Intermediate Open Fences.

Zoe Samuel, senior, was a little disappointed about her team’s substandard opening performance.

“This is not a good reflection of our team at all,” she said. “Normally we finish first or second in our region; we just got off to a bad start. But it’s still very early in the season.”

Samuel finished third in her division, the Intermediate Flat.

The team’s freshmen had a solid debut, with Emily Webster riding for fifth in Intermediate Fences, and Emily Kowalchik for third in the Novice Flat.

“The freshmen performed really strongly,” said Georgina Melbye “And they’re only going to get stronger as they get used to the IHSA format, and they’re only going to get better, obviously, with continued practice.”

Of the 29 riders on the team, 10 are freshmen. Samuel acknowledged that at first it was “challenging” to have all these new members and faces on the team, but she was appreciative of the “new talent” and “energy” that they bring to the table.

“The freshmen did great,” added Georgina Melbye, “In every division, we have strong riders, and this team has a great balance, overall.”

The equestrian team’s next tournament will be the home-opening Cornell Invitational taking place at the Oxley Equestrian Center, Nov. 7.

The Red will look to improve on this weekend’s fourth-place finish, and Melbye noted that with more practices and home turf advantage, the team should fare better than this weekend.

Samuel mentioned that the team has a “strong base”, and with some additional “individual strengthening,” the team will get back to its dominant ways.