Eisenhower wins district title again
Eisenhower equestrian team wins another district championship
Grew up on a ranch.
Diapers fashioned from denim. Didn’t bother with a stroller. Rode horses her entire life.
That had to be the way that Kendall Westgate, a senior at Eisenhower and a member of the equestrian team, was raised, right?
Whoa there pardner, don’t jump to any conclusions.
“To think that my involvement with horses all started with a Groupon for horseback-riding lessons is crazy to me,” said Kendall Westgate. “I’ve grown somuch as a person and a rider since I started nine years ago.”
Well, giddy up then. Then surely her mom, Holly Westgate, must have some early background with saddles, mucking stalls and four-legged animals not named Fido or Tabby.
“I was always a Marriott and Hilton kind of gal,” said Holly Westgate, laughing. “I was afraid of horses. I wouldn’t even hold one. I always thought I would get stepped on. Now I have no problem walking horses or putting one into a trailer.”
Things change. That is theway of life and of certainly the Westgates. Holly is the equestrian coach at Eisenhower. She restarted the program four years ago and this year’s squad won its second consecutive Michigan Interscholastic Horsemanship Association (MIHA) district championship. The district competition was held at Goodells County Park.
Eisenhower came in third at regionals. The top two teams from each regional advance to state competition.
The 2020 state championship was held at the Midland County Fairgrounds. The state champions were Caledonia (Division A), Clare (Division b), Meridian (Division C) and Michigan Lutheran (Division D).
The first MIHA state championship was held in 1976 at Oak Ridge Stables in WhiteLake. Romeo won the inaugural event.
Among the stated goals of the MIHA is to promote continuous growth in programs fostering horsemanship education, sponsor activities to encourage interscholastic participation and to have cooperative adult-supervised leadership (coaching) forall students in grades five through 12 who are desirous to participate ...
“Equestrian brings together all different disciplines into one show,” said Holly Westgate.
There were 10 riders on this year’s Eisenhower team. The team is based out of the Big R
Ranch in Ray Township.
Joining Kendall Westgate were fellow seniors Megan Morris, Kendall Green, Sara Rudich and Lily Sawyers; juniors Lili Rosel, Isabella Beck and Samantha Quartuccio; sophomore Ainsely Weigers and freshman Colin Westgate.
“I enjoy so much about this sport,” said Morris. “Whenever I’m at the barn I don’t think aboutmy problems, it’s just me and my horse. It’s indescribable really, it lets me have a moment to myself.
“I got into riding when I was around 10,” continued Morris. “I always loved horses, my cousin started riding and I expressed interest in it and my grandparents boughtme a few lessons and I fell in love.”
Kendall Westgate shares the warm sentiments of her teammate: “Ever since seventh grade, I was a part of the Michigan Interscholastic Horse Association and it really has become a part of who I am. Every year, I would work very hard to become better than I was the previous year, and every year I would improve my placings,” said Kendall Westgate.
“My horse, Paisley, has been with me formy whole journey. She has helped me to become the person I am today by teaching me various lessons like dedication, responsibility and most importantly my love for horses. Paisley has helped me through somany hardships and has taught me so much in the horse world.
“I can’t thank my parents enough for all that they have done for me,” continued Kendall Westgate. “My mom started the Eisenhower team back up from nothing because Iwanted to continue this MIHA journey after the junior high team with Romeo.”