University of Vermont’s equestrian team captain Madison McKay was awarded sixth place in the United States Equestrian Federation’s Cacchione Cup, May 2-5. Collegiate riders nationwide gathered in Harrisburg, Pa., to represent their colleges at the 40th Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) National Championship. McKay, a graduating senior from Melville, N.Y., represented the Catamounts in the prestigious Cacchione Cup. The competition consists of the top 37 riders across the IHSA, representing the top 10 percent of collegiate riders.

Madeleine Austin, coach of the University of Vermont’s equestrian team for the past 30 years, has lead both the team and individual riders to IHSA Nationals with much success. Austin, owner of Imajica Farm in Williston, Vt., has been responsible for coaching four of the Cacchione riders in this region over the past ten years.

The UVM equestrian team finished its season in second place in the Zone One, Region Two standings behind the University of New Hampshire. Eight of the Vermont riders qualified to compete at Regionals held at Dartmouth College March 30. There, three UVM riders, including McKay, continued on to Zones at Mount Holyoke College on April 6. First-year Annie Fitzgerald finished third, just short of qualifying for nationals in the intermediate flat.