As LSU equestrian coach Leaf Boswell goes through a weekly practice at Ravenwood Stables in Prairieville, a smile never leaves her face.
With riders like juniors Kelsey Gore and Maggy Case, it’s hard not to feel thankful.
Though the 2013-14 season is still in its infant stages, Boswell said both Gore and Case have a chance to contend for the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Nationals. In her eight years coaching at LSU, Boswell said she has not seen this type of talent from two riders.
“There are rare occasions that they lay it all out there and the cards don’t fall their way,” Boswell said. “When they go out there and they ride their best, they are going to finish at the top of their class, because their best is very good.”
Both riders spent the offseason remembering what could have been last spring. Needing a second-place finish to advance past regionals, Case finished third in the Flat and Fences sections of regionals, leaving herself out of the competition.
Meanwhile, Gore tasted the bitterness of finishing one point away from qualifying for last season’s Cacchione Cup, which is awarded to the national individual hunter seat high point rider.
Riders qualify for the cup by accumulating points throughout the year. Having started the year in the intermediate division and then switching, Gore spent much of last season making up lost ground.
With last year’s heartbreak still in mind, Gore and Case said they are determined to hold nothing back.
“As last season started, I kind of just rode and did not put much detail into what I was doing … that changed this season,” Case said. “Now I give 110 percent in practice and that really helps.”
Due to IHSA rules, LSU must compete as “catch riders,” meaning it must compete with the horses owned by the host school for each show. Though making these adjustments are tough, Gore said she has become a better rider and learned more discipline in shows.
Sometimes, the riders will get horses they have never interacted with prior to the show, Boswell said.
Both riders agreed that having someone with the same skill set benefits them in practice and forms a healthy competition. Case said the competitive nature during the week helps them in competition.
“I’ll admit, I’m a competitive person … but sometimes I just want to have fun,” Case said. “But it needs to be said: Kelsey is very competitive, especially during the shows.”
The team took part in its first show of the season Nov. 2 in Norman, Okla., finishing second on the first day of competition and first on the second day.
Gore said her goals include getting to Nationals and finishing either top 10 or top five in the Cacchione Cup. Case, who has one more year left of eligibility than Gore, said she hopes to make it to nationals this season, but is all right sharing dominance with her teammate if it means they both succeed.
“Maybe we are going to say, ‘Kelsey can have [nationals] this year, and I can have it next year.’” Case said. “If that’s the way it’s going to be, I am all for it.”

Gallery • 4 Photos

Angela Major

Kelsey Gore, member of the LSU Equestrian Club, rides a horse during practice Sunday, November 10, 2013 at Ravenwood Stables.