Fort Atkinson Equestrian Team members advance to state-level competition in Madison 

By Kim McDarison

School District of Fort Atkinson officials have announced that the Fort Atkinson Equestrian Team competed last month in a Wisconsin Interscholastic Horseman Association (WIHA) district show where it earned the title of reserve champion.

The title earned the team a place in the upcoming WIHA state-level competition, which will be held later this month in Madison. 

According to a team coach, Lisa Haas, members of the competing teams earn points for their various ribbons. At the competition’s end, the points for ribbons earned by members within the team are tallied, and the two teams earning the top two highest scores within their division advance to the state competition. 

As reserve champion, Haas said, the Fort Atkinson team was the second top-score earner within its division and will therefore move to the next competition at the state level. 

According to information supplied by the school district, the WIHA district show was held on the Elkhorn grounds of the Walworth County Fair.

The state-level competition will be held at the Alliant Energy Center, Madison, later this month.

As stated in the release, the Fort Atkinson Equestrian Team is a club run through Fort Atkinson High School for students in grades 6-12. The competitions organized by the Wisconsin Interscholastic Horsemanship Association showcase versatility, requiring students to participate in multiple disciplines including driving, speed, showmanship, jumping, English, Western, Saddleseat, and trail. Teams finishing at the district show within the top two placements within their divisions qualify for the state competition.

Team members include: Analisa Boshart, Mackenna Farrell, Caitlyn Farrell, Magdalina Farrell and Anabelle Fehly. 

The team is coached by Lisa, Caley and Lauren Haas. 

For more information about the state-level competition, visit the association’s website: https://sites.google.com/wiha.us/wiha/home.

Team coach Caley Haas, from left: along with team members Anabelle Fehly, with her horse, “Porsche”; Analisa Boshart, with her horse, “KitKat”; Caitlyn Farrell, with horse, “Gunner”;  Mackenna Farrell, with her horse, “Jack”; Maggie Farrell, with her horse, “Cooper,” and coach Lauren Haas display their ribbons earned at the Wisconsin Interscholastic Horseman Association Division Show held last month in Elkhorn. The team will next advance to the state-level competition, which will be held this month in Madison. Contributed photo. 

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