Two local riders win Scholastic Equestrian Leagues top honors

FALLBROOK – Fallbrook Union High School’s equestrian team competed this year in the San Diego Scholastic Equestrian League (SDSEL). Junior high and high school aged students, from as far away as Palm Desert and Murrieta, competed at different levels and venues this year. The finals competition for the league was held on April 30 at Del Mar Horse Park in Del Mar.

Fallbrook’s team won the overall championship title, first place, for team competition in the children’s division of hunters/jumpers. The team included rider Ashley Dobbs and club members Kristina Huff, McKenzie Huff, and Elizabeth Collier. Dobbs, a senior this year, won the championship title, placing first overall in the children’s division of hunter/jumper competition riding Capistano. She also won the individual medal class competition for her division, competing at the 2’9” jump height level.

Taylor Maurer, another Fallbrook resident, competed in the league finals for Linfield Christian School. Maurer, a high school junior, won the Modified Junior Amateur Division with her horse Cameo, competing at the 3’3” jump height level. Both Dobbs and Maurer train with Shayne Wireman of Bonsall.

Kathy Beal, an English teacher at Fallbrook High School and an equestrian herself, sponsored the Fallbrook High team and equestrian club. Meetings of the equestrian club are held at lunch twice a month, (first and third Thursdays), at Fallbrook High School in Room 14.

The Scholastic Equestrian League is an organization that provides high school students in the equestrian sport the support and recognition that mainstream sports receive. Students who are already a part of the equestrian world of sports participate in many of the local and regional horse shows in hunter/jumper/dressage/western classes and earn individual and team points and awards.