WT’s Equestrian Squads Sending Five Riders to Regionals After Season-Opening Contests

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — Five riders for West Texas A&M University’s equestrian teams qualified for regional championships at contests this month.

In the hunt seat division, qualifiers are Cat Borchardt, a sophomore equine industry and business major from The Woodlands, and Hannah Minton, a junior animal science major from Lynnville, Indiana.

In the western seat division, qualifiers are Ashlynn Albaugh, a junior equine industry and business major from Odessa; Kaitlyn Evans, a senior mechanical engineering major from Valley View; and Charli Wells, a sophomore animal science / pre-vet major from Holdrege, Nebraska.

Regional competition is set for March 8 in Oklahoma City for the hunt seat team and Feb. 22 at New Mexico State University for the western seat team.

“I am extremely proud of every rider,” coach Lori Jaixen said. “Each student excelled in professionalism in and out of the arena, and they all embraced the challenge of riding for WT.”

The hunt seat team won its first regular season show Oct. 4 and 5 at the University of Oklahoma. Lexi Woestman, a junior marketing major from Fort Worth, was the high-point rider Oct. 4, and Minton took top honors Oct. 5.

The team also scored 14 individual wins: Johanna Anderson, a senior sport and exercise sciences major from Wray, Colorado; Muireann Benn-Rothstein, a junior biology major from Peyton, Colorado; Sarah Johnson, a sophomore equine industry and business major from Plano; Myleigh Lindsey, a senior equine industry and business major from Pensacola, Oklahoma; Minton; Jayden Stater, a sophomore animal science / pre-vet major from Bushland; Ashley Vaught, a freshman equine industry and business major from Zionsville, Indiana; Borchardt; Sabrina Welch, a freshman equine industry and business major from The Colony; and Woestman.

The hunt seat team next will compete Nov. 1 and 2 at Tarleton State University.

Photo: Members of West Texas A&M University's western seat squad are, front from left, Madalynn Schmidt, Bailey Wormstadt, Marina Caroll, Kamdyn Shubert, Jayden Stater, Elizabeth Ross, Hana Craycraft and Leah Tate; middle from left, Caoimhe Benn-Rothstein and Willow Stanfield; and, back from left, Kaylen Langhofer, Mikah Wareham, Thea Whitmore, Ashlynn Albaugh, Myleigh Lindsey, Kaitlyn Evans, Charli Wells, Miranda Whitten, Peyton Podmolik, Camryn Barton, Ashton Hollingsworth, Alaina Scher and Idalia Warren.

The western seat team also won its first regular season show, held Oct. 18 and 19 in Oklahoma City by Southern Nazarene University. Kamdyn Schubert, freshman agriculture education major from Edmond, Oklahoma, was high-point rider on Oct. 19, with Evans and Wells tying for reserve champion.

The team also scored 16 individual wins: Albaugh; Camryn Barton, a sophomore agricultural media and communication major from Amarillo; Caoihme Benn-Rothstein, a senior animal science / pre-vet major from Peyton, Colorado; Marina Carroll, a junior nursing major from Grand Junction, Colorado; Evans; Ashton Hollingsworth, a senior equine industry and business major from Fort Worth; Kaylen Langhofer, a junior animal science major from Plains, Kansas; Peyton Podmolik, a junior animal science major from Pella, Iowa; Elizabeth Ross, a sophomore equine industry and business major from Rosharon; Alaina Scher, a senior equine industry and business major from Pflugerville; Shubert; Leah Tate, a senior agricultural business and economics major from Wimberley; Wells; Miranda Whitten, a senior animal science major from Durango, Colorado; and Bailey Wormstadt, a sophomore animal science / pre-vet major from Troy.

The western seat team next will compete Nov. 22 and 23 at the WT Horse Center.

The hunt seat team also includes Amber Cox, a junior equine industry and business major from Smithville; Brooke Forsse, a senior animal science / pre-vet major from Kingman, Arizona; Violet Hodgson, a junior agricultural media and communication major from Geneseo, Illinois; Langhofer; Samantha Lightboum, a junior animal science / pre-vet major from Bedford; Helen March, a junior agricultural business and economics major from Orlando; Samantha Taylor, a sophomore animal science / pre-vet major from Splendora; Emma Thomas, a sophomore pre-vet major from San Antonio; and Alexis Zavala, a freshman animal science / pre-vet major from Fort Worth.

The western seat team also includes Itzel Alvarez, a junior wildlife biology major from Laverne, Oklahoma; Isla Anderson, a sophomore psychology major from Elbert, Colorado; Jenna Arens, a sophomore equine industry and business major from Shawano, Wisconsin; Hana Craycraft, a senior animal science major from Keller; Abigail Davis, a freshman equine industry and business major from Archer City; Helene Keiser, a senior animal science major from Gothenburg, Nebraska; Lindsey; Madalynn Schmidt, a sophomore agriculture education major from Bridgman, Michigan; Willow Stanfield, a sophomore equine industry and business major from Geneva, Illinois; Stater; Ridley Strackbein, a junior animal science major from Fredericksburg; Mikah Wareham, a freshman agricultural business and economics major from Norwood, Colorado; Idalia Warren, a sophomore wildlife biology major from Lexington; Thea Whitmore, a freshman agribusiness major from Orange, Massachusetts.

WT sent its equestrian teams to the national championships in 2024, winning an individual championship and securing several other Top 10 placements.

WT’s equestrian teams are an example of the University’s responsiveness to the Texas Panhandle, as outlined in the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World .

That plan is fueled by the historic  One West  comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign has raised more than $175 million and will continue through 2025.

About West Texas A&M University

A Regional Research University, West Texas A&M University is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. A Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, WT boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The University also is home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Top photo: West Texas A&M University Equestrian team (hunt seat division) includes, front from left, Sarah Johnson, Jayden Stater, Muireann Benn-Rothstein, Sabrina Welch and Cat Borchardt and, back from left, Helen March, Violet Hodgson, Hannah Minton, Johanna Anderson, Myleigh Lindsey, Ashley Vaught, Lexi Woestman, Kaylen Langhofer, Emma Thomas and coach Lori Jaixen.

—WT—