Ashley Barrett from Ansonia, CT, a sophomore at Post University, was elated with her red ribbon at the Zone 1 Championships last Saturday held at Mt. Holyoke College.  The placing earned her a trip to the National Championships in Tennessee from April 22-26 in the Novice Over Fences class.  Equestrian Team Coach Heather Johnson said "It's such a great reward for Ashley to have the chance to represent her school at Nationals.  She's worked very hard over the last couple of years. I'm so happy for her."

In fact, the Post University Equestrian Team capped a rewarding season by qualifying eight members for Region 1 Championships on March 28th at Mystic Hunt Club in Gales Ferry, Connecticut and finishing fifth in the Region for the season.  Barrett earned a second place at Regionals and with it a spot at the Zone 1 Championships at Mount Holyoke College on April 4. 

Altogether four Post riders were called back at the Regional show.  Kelly Strout of Oldfield, Maine, who had already earned several blues during the season and had ridden off for High Point Rider several times, was called back with Barrett over fences, but missed qualifying for Zones by one placing as she pinned third and only the top two go on to the next round.  Niki Cogliano of Stamford, Connecticut was called back in Walk Trot Canter placing seventh, and Samantha Hough of Pepperrell, Massachusetts was called back in Walk Trot placing fifth.  The other riders who were honored to represent Post at the Regional Championships were Lana Dufour of Eliot, Maine, Oksana Gela of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Antoinette DeGruccio of Smithtown, New York, and Meaghan Hennessy of Roslindale, Massachusetts.

Barrett will be accompanied to the National Championships by Coach Heather Johnson of Litchfield, Connecticut.  This is Johnson's second year coaching the Post University team and her first trip to Nationals.  Other Post team members plan to drive to Nashville to support Barrett during the competition and are volunteering to work at the show.  Everyone at Post University will be keeping their fingers crossed for Ashley.