Providence Hill Farm Hosts MC Equestrian Spring 2013 Benefit Show

Mississippi College equestrian team members plus riders from four Southern states will compete for prizes at a two-day show at Providence Hill Farm. And the public is invited.

The MC Equestrian Program Spring Benefit Show is set for April 13-14 at the beautiful 2,000-acre farm that’s a 20-minute trip from the Clinton campus. The event will feature two hunter derbies, a luncheon, silent auction, hunter and equitation classes for all levels and much more.

Riders from Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Tennessee are among those invited. The group is expected to include some riders from the region’s colleges, potential MC student recruits and others with riding skills.

"We are very excited to be hosting this show and hope people from MC and the community can come out to watch and local riders can participate," says Tina Davey, the Mississippi College equestrian program director and the team’s coach. "It is a fun event to compete in and watch."

All proceeds will benefit the MC equestrian program that recently wrapped up its sixth season. Funds will help pay for the care of the university’s horses, among other things.

The weekend horse shows are free to attend on both days. Tickets to the Sunday luncheon, immediately before that afternoon’s 1 p.m. show, cost $35 per person. Saturday’s horse show and classes begin at 8 a.m.

The two Hunter Derbies will simulate riding out on the countryside with jumps resembling those found on a fox hunt, such as hedges, walls, brush, gates and logs.

Sponsors for the Derby are Flora Feed and Farm Supply and Kaleio. There will be prize money, ribbons and other nice prizes for the winners.

Fresh Cut Catering and Floral will cater the Sunday luncheon. There also will be a silent auction during the luncheon with items such as free hotel stays, travel, golf and spa packages, riding apparel as well as artwork by MC students up for grabs.

With more than two dozen riders, Mississippi College’s team is ending its season with much to celebrate. In the fall, the MC team turned in impressive performances, including a third-place finish at October competition hosted by Berry College in Georgia.

The success continued into the spring. Sophomore Katherine Mooney of Jackson did quite well at the regionals in early March at Berry College. The Jackson Academy graduate nailed second place in flat and was named a champion in over the fences. The performance landed Katherine a spot in zone competition at Georgia Southern University April 6th for novice flat and novice over the fences.

Mooney will need to be awarded first or second place at Georgia Southern to move onto the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Nationals May 3-6 in Harrisburg, Pa. "We are very excited for Katherine," Davey said.

In its final competition of the season on February 23 at Berry College, Mississippi College’s equestrian team earned a 6th place finish. MC ended its 2012-2013 season in 4th place among the 12 colleges in its IHSA area.

For more information, contact Tina Davey at CDavey@mc.edu or 601.925.0557 at Providence Hall Farm or Margaret Cole of the MC Office of Student Affairs at 601.925.3809.