Few people are aware that Traverse City sports not one or two but three equestrian teams with one going on to the state finals this weekend.
Members of the St. Francis Equestrian team will face off with other high school teams in Division C — which have three to five members — for four days of intense competition in Midland beginning Thursday. The team has five competitors plus two younger members who will observe the array of English, jumping, Western, saddleseat and speed events as training next season.
The state meet culminates an intense, six-week season, which featured three district meets in Gaylord and a regional competition held earlier this month in Ludington. St. Francis coach Mike Zerbe said this year's success
reflects a team effort in a sport run much like a track meet: teams accumulate points in a range of individual events and the highest total wins.
"There's no individual accolades, it's all done for the team," noted Zerbe, a ferrier who also coaches a local 4-H equestrian team. "Every one of the girls is important to the team, usually in the competition the point spreads between teams is not that great so every event counts."
Team spirit and sportsmanship are hallmarks of the Traverse City high school equestrian community. Central High School fielded a Division B team of seven riders, who made it to regionals this year and to state competition last year. The up-and-coming West High School team competed in Division A with 14 members, seven of whom were freshman. This young team, which had no seniors, gave powerhouse Petoskey a run for their money at the district events and is shaping up to be a force for years to come.
Even in the thick of meets, the riders, almost all girls, help one another as needed while still playing to win.
"We share tack, we share food, we share everything," said Deb Cochran, coach of the West High School team of the Traverse City teams. "We just have a good time and hope for the best for everyone."
All riders know each other from years of riding together at the 4-H level and caring for their horses at the one of the local stables. They spend the summers attending the individually competitive 4-H events and extend the season into October as members of the high school teams.
"Everyone shares a love of the sport," said Allyson Rivard, a junior at Central High School, who has been riding for eight years.
A jumper completing her third season with the Central team, Rivard added that teamwork begins at the most basic level in equestrian sports: the bond between horse and rider. Her team's only jumper this season, Rivard and her horse, Mito, a thoroughbred-quarterhorse cross, have mastered the sport together and now rack up points for their team.
"Jumping will probably always be my favorite, I like the adrenaline of it," she said of soaring over the two-foot, six-inch-high inch jumps. "It's a lot of trust, I know he'll take care of me, too."
Chris and Mike Murray founded the local equestrian high school program in 2000, pulling two teams together in just three weeks after the Michigan Interscholastic Horsemanship Association opened a new district in northern Michigan.
Chris coached a team at each public high school through the 2004 season, when rules mandated that each team have a separate coach. Her husband, Mike and daughter, Stephanie, a 2004 graduate of Central High School and veteran of the high school sport, stepped in to help.
This year, Cochran took over as coach of the West riders, aided by assistant coach Rose Bohrer, while Liz Teahen helped Chris Murray. The St. Francis team formed last fall after another rule change by the association; before that riders at the parochial school joined one of the two other teams.
Factoring in the talent, drive and camaraderie of the riders on all teams with the motivated coaches, Murray has a dream for equestrian teams in Traverse City:
"I think that all Traverse City coaches would love to see TC Central, TC West and TC St. Francis some year field an A, B and C team and sweep the district, regional and state competition," she said.
A club sport at the schools, riders receive a varsity letter for participating but no funding. This puts the responsibility squarely on the families, who step up to the task and also support team members with transportation, food, outfits and enthusiastic cheering at all events.
Well known in the region because of his profession, Zerbe is always on the lookout to find horses for girls who have the talent and training but not the animal. This year, he connected St. Francis senior Nina Poli with a local couple, Wayne and Jane Miller. They let her ride their mare, Snickers, for the season and also helped her with training.
"I feel very fortunate because of they're generosity and they've really helped me better my skills," said Poli. "I'm glad to be a part of the team this year."
Having versatile riders who can compete in multiple events in different disciplines is another key to an equestrian team's success. Rivard took up saddleseat this fall to help fill a hole on her team while West freshman Ally Mayer pitched in where ever she was needed: jumping, barrel racing and some of the riding classes.
"It's fun to do all of it, but I actually enjoy jumping and doing something different than I normally do," said Mayer, who has been riding five years and showing for two years at 4-H competitions.