April 4, 2003

Kansas State Western equestrian rider Amanda Gigot's longtime dream to ride at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association National Competition will soon become reality. Her outstanding performances on the Western team earned her the American Quarter Horse Association High-Point Rider honor for Zone 9, Region 2. The award is given to the Western rider in each region who accumulates the most points in a single season. She is the first Kansas State rider to receive this award.

"This is her fourth year on the team and she had not previously qualified at regionals before this year," head coach Lindsay Breidenthal said. "It shows how much she has accomplished in the time that she has been riding with us. She stepped up this year with the confidence you need to have to be able to win."

"I'm very excited and overwhelmed with the privilege to ride for the region," Gigot said. "It's a great way to end my senior year, since I've had some really bad luck in the past."

Gigot earned High-Point Rider honors at the Iowa State show on Oct. 6 with her first-place ribbon in open horsemanship and second-place finish in open reining. She was awarded the Reserve High-Point Rider award four times, including the first three shows of the season. Between the two classes she has five firsts and six seconds under her belt this year.

Not only will Gigot be riding at nationals in the AQHA High-Point Rider competition, she will be the point rider for the 'Cats Western team in the open reining class in the team competition. She will be joined by Lauren Allen (intermediate), Katrina Myers (beginner), Erin Perry (open horsemanship) and Kristin Tanney (advanced).

Gigot has also qualified as an individual rider to compete in open reining at the Zone 9 competition April 13 hosted by St. Mary's of the Woods in Terre Haute, Ind. Should she place in the top two, she would qualify to ride in the individual competition at nationals.

The IHSA National competition will be May 1-5 in Murfreesboro, Tenn., hosted by Middle Tennessee State. The AQHA High-Point Riders from each region compete against each other in reining and horsemanship and is separate from those who qualify by riding at regionals and zones as individuals. The competition for AQHA High-Point Rider will take place on May 2.

-ksu-