RBC I The Colorado Northwestern Community College Horse Show Team fared well individually and as a team when it traveled to the IHSA Show on Feb. 14-15 in Billings, Mont.
Coach Stacey Bailey said the team did very well in team competition as well as individual competition. CNCC does not have a “full team” that fills every level of IHSA competition but the team placed third out of six teams and CNCC was Reserve High Point Team on Feb. 15.
The team exceeded expectations as individuals placed first, second and third in their respective levels, helping the team as a whole.
“We hoped to end the year by qualifying two individuals for the regional competition held Sunday afternoon, and we did,” Bailey said.
Amber Parmley qualified for regionals in the intermediate level and “pointed up” into the novice. Tasha Gibson qualified for regionals in open horsemanship and reining.
“At the regional, both girls rode exceptionally well,” Bailey said. “Amber has been working extra hard this spring to qualify and do well at regionals. She was in the largest class, with 10 competitors.
“Amber took home fourth place in intermediate horsemanship out of the whole region,” she said. “She also is the horse show team’s president and has continued to work with the IHSA regional president concerning prizes for regionals and IHSA nationals.”
“First-year reiner Tasha Gibson rode smart in reining and horsemanship, bringing home reserve champion in reining and Regional Champion in horsemanship,” Bailey said. “Tasha’s placing advance her to the semi-finals, where she will represent CNCC and IHSA zone 8 region 3.
“Tasha and I will be traveling to El Reno, Okla., the weekend of March 21-22, when she will compete against 16 people in each class to qualify for the IHSA national championship.”
This was the horse show team’s first full year of competition and Bailey said she could not be happier.
“The girls worked extremely hard and it paid off for them,” she said.
Bailey added, “The team also would like to give a big thank you to everyone who assisted with our fundraising efforts and student government for financial assistance. Also, a big thank you to Dustin Davis and Judy Allred, who traveled with the team this year and helped and supported in many ways.”
The following are the individual results for the regular season shows:
Tasha Gibson: Horsemanship: fifth, second and fifth. Reining: first, sixth, fourth.
Amber Parmley: first, second and sixth.
Kelsey Priestley: third, first and fifth.
Kathryn Costales: third, fourth and fifth.
