Washington and Lee Set to Host at Virginia Horse Center

FOREST, Va. --- It has been seven years since Washington and Lee University served as host of the ODAC Equestrian Championships, but the Generals are set to serve as the stewards for this season's event at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Va. Each of the conference's five competing programs will take to the facility's indoor arena for two days culminating with the league championship event on Sunday.

It was at the 2015 championships where Sweet Briar College kicked off an impressive run of ODAC success. The Vixens lifted the league trophy in 2015 and 2016, finished as the runners-up in 2017 and 2018, and returned to the winner's circle in 2019 and 2021. The 2020 event was not conducted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ODAC Teams will begin competition at 11:30 a.m. ET in the Virginia Horse Center to cap two days in Lexington following five sessions of schooling on Saturday. Each of the participating programs will compete over three rounds of competition. Scoring for the ODAC Championships differs from that of the IHSA shows, where riders are split into two or three separate sections for competition. For the ODAC event, each team will feature four riders and will use their own horses. In IHSA shows, competing riders must use horses provided by the host.

Each ODAC rider will compete in two jumping rounds -- Equitation Over Fences -- and earn a score taken from the average of two judges. The low average for each team will be dropped and a point total will be assigned to each team's combined score in rank order. The final round, Equitation on the Flat, only features two riders per school.

RELATED: All-Time ODAC Equestrian Championship Results

At the 2021 championships, Sweet Briar earned 19 total points to claim a three-point win over second place Washington and Lee University for the Vixens second straight league title. Bridgewater College and the University of Lynchburg tied for third on points following two fences classes and one flat class at the Harriet Rogers Riding Center at Sweet Briar College. The Eagles earned third place distinction via conference tiebreakers.

Vixens' senior Lily Peterson added to her mantle full of honors with two more special awards. The 2018 ODAC Rider and Rookie of the Year bookended her career by claiming her second conference top-rider honor. Her average of 83.000 following both fences classes topped the field, earning her All-ODAC recognition for a third time. Peterson also excels in the classroom, which earned her a second straight ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete award.

SBC mentor Mimi Wroten took home ODAC Coach of the Year laurels. Washington and Lee University first-year Clare O'Brien received ODAC Rookie of the Year accolades after tying for second overall with an 80.500 average from her fences rides.

RELATED: 2021 ODAC Equestrian Championship Results

Listed below is information regarding this season's championships. For more, visit the websites of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com. Please sure to watch the LIVE stream produced by host Washington and Lee. Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and following @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram.