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Dean places third at national collegiate horse competition
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Recent Purdue University graduate and Greencastle native Emily Dean represented her university and her hometown quite well at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) National Championships in early May.
Dean placed third overall in the open western horsemanship finals at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg.
More than 60 colleges and universities were represented at the finals, and at the beginning of the season, more than 4,000 riders nationwide were competing for a spot in the national finals.
Dean made her way to the finals by first winning the regional show in New Castle, which qualified her for the semi-national event in Laurinburg, N.C.
At semi-nationals in March, Dean finished fourth to qualify for nationals.
The third-place national finish also earns Dean an invitation to the American Quarter Horse Association World Show in Oklahoma City on Nov. 19 and 20.
Dean has been riding on the Purdue western equestrian team for four years, riding as an open event rider each year.
Riders compete on the IHSA teams at different ability levels from beginner to the open level. As a veteran rider, she also served as the assistant coach for the Purdue team.
Emily is the daughter of Michael and Teresa Dean and sister of Tanner Dean of Greencastle. She graduated from Purdue on May 17 with a degree in agricultural economics/sales and marketing and is now employed with Helena Chemical Co.
Dean was not the only Putnam County native in the field at nationals.
St. Mary-of-the-Woods College junior Sarah New placed seventh in advanced western horsemanship. New has been a member of the western equestrian team for three years and went to SMWC on a scholarship to ride for the team.
In February, New also won her class at the regional competition, allowing her to move on to semi-nationals in North Carolina.
Her second-place finish at semi-nationals garnered a spot in the national event.
This was New's second appearance at the national show, having placed ninth overall in 2013.
Sarah is the daughter of Joe and Mary Cash of Fillmore and has two brothers, Justin Bumgardner and J.D. Cash. She plans to graduate from SMWC in May 2015 with a degree in elementary education.