The Generals’ equestrian team concluded their 2025-2026 season after sending two riders to the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Zone 4 Championships.
The Generals placed third at the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Championships in October, finishing behind the University of Lynchburg and Bridgewater College. The Lynchburg Hornets won their fourth consecutive title.
The Generals’ Kaycie Miranda, ’29, was named ODAC rookie of the year.
Sam Bourque, ’29, and Lydia Bowersox, ’26, qualified for the IHSA Zone 4 Championships, hosted by Goucher College in Baltimore on Saturday, April 4. They competed against the zone’s top qualifiers after standout performances at Regionals. Bourque won the regional title and Bowersox finished runner-up in their respective classes.
At the Zone 4 Championships, Bourque placed fourth in the intermediate flat. Bowersox competed in limit fences, placing seventh overall.
The Generals did not advance to the IHSA National Championship, but they did see progress under new head coach Chris Mitchell.
“Even though we didn’t win the conference or have the exact season we wanted, we learned a lot about how to become better riders and teammates, which will help us improve next year,” said Graham Absolom, ’29.
Before coming to Washington and Lee, Mitchell coached numerous national-caliber riders across collegiate, preparatory and open circuits. Mitchell’s last position was the interim director and hunt seat head coach at Albion College in Michigan.
Before the ODAC Championships, Mitchell said that the team was “poised and ready to make a run at the title.” Though the team placed third, Mitchell said he hopes to make great strides in the future to hoist the team to first.
Ella Hudson, ’29, said that Mitchell “leads the team with lots of enthusiasm and energy.”
Hudson said that Mitchell and assistant coach Emily Guyer made a great effort to prioritize the team atmosphere, and they have had multiple team dinners. She added that the coaches have also prioritized checking in one-on-one with all of the riders, promoting individual improvement.
Hudson said that at the beginning of the season, the coaches put a great emphasis on them being students first.
In March, the IHSA named 20 Washington and Lee students to its national all-academic teams, which consist of students with GPAs of 3.5 or higher.
“Washington and Lee’s commitment to excellence aligns perfectly with [my] passion for developing exceptional student-athletes and equine programs,” Coach Mitchell said in a statement.
Team and individual practices will continue through the spring to prepare for next fall, and the riders will continue to train throughout the summer on their own.
The team has high expectations for the coming years, Hudson said.
“I’m really looking forward to next year and watching the team continue to improve under our coaches’ leadership,” she said.
