With a new coach and state-of-the-art facility, Bowdoin’s club equestrian team is ready to get back in the saddle. The overhauls are part of the team’s efforts, spearheaded by Madison Nortz ’24, to revive the team following years of Covid-19 shutdowns and cancellations.
Once bustling with life from eager riders and half a dozen horses, an unfamiliar silence overtook Underwood Farm, the local, family-owned equestrian facility that the club uses. For a team once racing toward the finish line at a breakneck pace, the Bowdoin Equestrian Club found itself grinding to a halt as a result of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Although many student-athletes at Bowdoin are fortunate enough to take advantage of acres of playing fields and Farley Field House, one team prefers grass fields for grazing instead of playing soccer. The Bowdoin equestrian team has embarked on a new season, bringing horseback riding to beginners and advanced riders alike.
After an incredible performance at Regionals at Dartmouth last weekend, the Bowdoin equestrian team had its first rider in at least four years qualify for the next level of competition. Captain Carly Lappas ’17 took second place in intermediate jumping and qualified to advance to the larger and more competitive Zone 1 championships, which will be held at Mount Holyoke tomorrow.