As the fall leaves start to settle and another show season comes to a close, the Brighton High School equestrian team looks back on a year of growth and achievement.
This year, the Brighton equestrian athletes competed across central Michigan and represented their school. The riders participated in multiple meets throughout the season and focused on team dynamics and personal skills.
“So overall, going into the season, I thought we had a very good chance at going to regionals,” senior Tessa Carter, current captain of the BHS equestrian team, said. Her prediction came true, though the team experienced hurdles—both literal and figurative—along the way.
The season began in the first week of September with the team’s first show at Milford High School, setting the tone for the season ahead. Over the next several meets, the team faced many challenges but also had many accomplishments.
The 2025 season was a large step for the equestrian team because they made it to the regional competition for the first time in five years. Not only did they make it there in the first place, but they took fourth place overall.
One of the many accomplishments of the team was senior Colbie Chewning’s performance.
“Over the three meets, we had a lot of good placings, Colbie winning all three Showmanship classes at each district meet,” Carter said.
Along with winning the Showmanship classes at the second and third meet, she took first place in every event she participated in, which totaled to ten different events.
Every accomplishment is usually matched with a challenge, and Brighton’s equestrian team is no exception. During their district meet, which decides which teams move onto the regional competition, they had some issues.
“We worked at a disadvantage at districts, Brynn [Morris] being away at a reigning show for the first meet, meaning the rest of us had to pick up her slots, as well as Soco, Joselynn [Musolf]’s horse, getting injured right before the last district and unable to run speed,” Carter said.
Even with these disadvantages in their district competition, they were able to push through it and make it to regionals.
Unfortunately, the BHS equestrian team did not make it to states this year, just missing the requirement to qualify third or higher at regionals. This doesn’t mean they won’t make it next season, though; as senior Joselynn Musolf suggests, setting expectations high is an important part of both achieving goals and having fun.
“To next year’s teammates: competing is so much fun, so chase your dreams because you might not get the same opportunity again. Ride hard, give it everything and enjoy every moment!” Musolf said.
