Dover, Del. (June 14, 2014) --- Delaware State University Equestrian Head Coach Jennifer Ridgely has announced that seven incoming freshmen have signed to attend the university and compete for the Hornets during the 2013-14 season.

The newcomers include five English riders and two Western competitors. Two reside in Maryland and two in Canada; and one in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Georgia.

2013-14 Delaware State University Equestrian Signees

Abi Buckwalter             FR        Western            Westminster, Md./Westminster HS
Buckwalter is a four-time Top 10 finisher at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress; and has qualified in each of the last three years for the Youth World Show. She has earned the Youth Superior in showmanship and horsemanship; and has accumulated nearly 300 AQHA youth performance points with her current horse.  

Emily Fick                    FR        English                        West Grove, Pa./Avon Grove HS
Fick, a two-time world champion, plans to compete as an English rider for the Hornets. Fick captured Reserve World Championship titles in 2009 and 2011. She has also earned numerous American Paint Horse Association Honor Roll championships in Working Hunter, Hunter Hack and EQ over Fences.

Rachel Dantley             FR        English                        Capital Heights, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt HS
Dantley has earned numerous awards since she began riding at age four. During the 2012-13 National Capital Equitation League season, she was the individual Finale Class winner and individual high point rider. Dantley was a finalist in the Maryland Horse Show Association Horse Medal and Gittings Medal competition from 2010 to 2012. In 2008 and '09, she was a finalist in the United States Equitation Federation Zone 3 Jumper competition.

Alaina Halter                FR        English                        Bridgeton, N.J./Cumberland Regional HS
Halter was the 2012 Reserve Champion 14-to-18 Justin Rookie-of-the-Year and New Jersey 14-18 Top Rookie. She was a Top 5 finisher in the 14-18 Western Pleasure at the 2011 AQHA Congress and Western Pleasure NSBA champion. Halter has been a Top 10 finisher at the Pinto Worlds, APHA Honor Roll and in the 2012 AQHA Congress in the 14-18 Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle competitions.  

Hayley Jeske                FR        English`           Tsawwassen, B.C.(Canada)/So. Delta Secondary
Jeske has an impressive list of accomplishments since her riding career began just five years ago. She is a Mini Canadian Equestrian Team champion and a 2012 British Columbia Summer Games Jumper Division qualifier. In addition to the South Delta Secondary School, Jeske will be graduating from the Thomas Haney Equestrian Academy this summer.     

Darby Mailhot               FR        Western            Mansfield, Ontario (Can.)/Centre Dufferin District HS
Mailhot has earned multiple Ontario Reining Horse Association and Reining Canada year-end awards. In 2009, she was third at the Canadian Congress competition; and finished seventh in the NRHA Novice Horse non-pro level two in 2012. The previous year, Mailhot took first place in the level four non-pro derby.   

Caroline Schock           FR        English                        Acworth, Ga./Corky Kell HS
Schock is a United States Equestrian Federation Maclay Regionals medal finalist. She was also a Georgia HJA Year-End Children's Champion. While in middle school and high school, Schock competed on an International Equestrian Association team. Twice in her IEA career, she competed in the national finals. Her best finish was sixth in the fences competition.