Completed Event: Equestrian versus Sacred Heart on November 9, 2025 , Win , 6, to, 3
Final
Equestrian
vs Sacred Heart
6
3
Saturday, October 14
Hanover, N.H. / Morton Farm
11:00 AM
Dartmouth College
2
vs
6
Lynchburg
Photo by: Justin Lafleur
Dartmouth Shows Great Promise in Tight Defeat to 2X Defending National Champion Lynchburg
10/14/2023 5:01:00 PM | Equestrian
In her first National Collegiate Equestrian Association meet, Cassidy Exner earned Most Outstanding Player in fences
ETNA, N.H. — The Dartmouth equestrian team put forth a strong effort in Saturday's season opener, falling to two-time defending NCEA Single-Discipline National Champion Lynchburg, 6-2, in an extremely tight meet. The Big Green were ever so close to finishing in a 4-4 draw as freshman Samantha Takacs fell just one point short in both fences and the flat. The Hornets secured three of the four points in both segments of the meet to pick up the victory at Morton Farm.
Saturday's result showed impressive growth by Dartmouth, who fell to Lynchburg last fall (7-1) and spring (8-1).
"We had a lot of competitive rides against a very good team today," said Big Green head coach Tenley Walsh. "For six of our eight rides to come from freshman, and to feel like we were in it at the end, we can build off of this."
Senior Margot Luria earned Dartmouth's first point of the day, turning in a strong performance on the flat, winning 79-77.
"I've been working a lot on very specific movements on the flat," said Luria. "We know the test ahead of time, which is cool in this sport, so we have the ability to identify areas we want to work on leading up to a meet, and that's exactly what we spent time doing. For me, it has been very specific pieces with my position as a rider. And I spent a lot of time on it, so I was excited that it feels like it paid off today."
Later, freshman Cassidy Exner collected her first collegiate victory, winning 85-81 in the jumping seat portion of the show. Exner was also named the fences' Most Outstanding Player for the competition.Â
"I had a great week of practices, including yesterday riding the horse that I ended up drawing today, which was very helpful," said Exner. "I just focused on what we talked about in practice. My horse was a very forward ride, so I had to work on keeping everything settled and under control. Definitely the practice this week was a really big help in terms of feeling prepared on that particular ride."
The Big Green will be back in action next Saturday, when they host Sweet Briar at 11 a.m. at Morton Farm.
Saturday's result showed impressive growth by Dartmouth, who fell to Lynchburg last fall (7-1) and spring (8-1).
"We had a lot of competitive rides against a very good team today," said Big Green head coach Tenley Walsh. "For six of our eight rides to come from freshman, and to feel like we were in it at the end, we can build off of this."
Senior Margot Luria earned Dartmouth's first point of the day, turning in a strong performance on the flat, winning 79-77.
"I've been working a lot on very specific movements on the flat," said Luria. "We know the test ahead of time, which is cool in this sport, so we have the ability to identify areas we want to work on leading up to a meet, and that's exactly what we spent time doing. For me, it has been very specific pieces with my position as a rider. And I spent a lot of time on it, so I was excited that it feels like it paid off today."
Later, freshman Cassidy Exner collected her first collegiate victory, winning 85-81 in the jumping seat portion of the show. Exner was also named the fences' Most Outstanding Player for the competition.Â
"I had a great week of practices, including yesterday riding the horse that I ended up drawing today, which was very helpful," said Exner. "I just focused on what we talked about in practice. My horse was a very forward ride, so I had to work on keeping everything settled and under control. Definitely the practice this week was a really big help in terms of feeling prepared on that particular ride."
The Big Green will be back in action next Saturday, when they host Sweet Briar at 11 a.m. at Morton Farm.
Senior Margot Luria earned Dartmouth a point on the flat against Lynchburg today, and we caught up with her after the meet!#TheWoods🌲 | #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/jFXahnVlmw
— Dartmouth Equestrian (@DartmouthRiding) October 15, 2023
ÂWe caught up with freshman Cassidy Exner after today's meet vs. Lynchburg, which saw her earn fences' Most Outstanding Payer!#TheWoods🌲 | #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/J1lXDmUZCT
— Dartmouth Equestrian (@DartmouthRiding) October 15, 2023
Players Mentioned
Dartmouth Equestrian Press Conference Following NCEA National Championship
Wednesday, April 30
Dartmouth Equestrian NCEA National Semifinals Press Conference
Saturday, April 19
Interview: Coach Conversation with Tenley Walsh, Mar. 22, 2023
Wednesday, March 22
Highlights: Dartmouth Plays of the Week, Feb. 27, 2023
Monday, February 27
