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USC Aiken eventing team places third at Stable View challenge, prepares for nationals

Aiken, SC (06/24/2023) — The University of South Carolina Aiken Eventing Team placed third at the Stable View team challenge held May 6. The team, consisting of Heidi Gyselinck, Wesley Norton and Sydney Shinn, followed first and second place teams from the University of Georgia. Other schools participating included Clemson, Auburn and the University of South Carolina.

Gyselinck, a senior nursing major from Athens, Georgia, is vice president of the team. A lifelong rider, she began competitive eventing at USC Aiken, and the Stable View challenge was her first opportunity to compete at the training level.

"I was very excited to compete with my horse at a new level," Gyselinck says. "It was the first opportunity we've had in a while to compete together as a team. It was fun to cheer everyone on and see other riders wearing USCA logos."

Norton and Shinn competed at the novice and preliminary levels, respectively. Individual rider scores determine the overall team score and ranking.

Team President Carson Langenberg, an allied health and sports sciences major from San Diego, has been riding since the age of five and competing since age 10. She attended Stable View to support her team, but did not compete to allow her horse to recuperate from a previous challenge.

"It was great to have our riders compete as a team," Langenberg says. "Heidi has been waiting to move up a level. Wes has been under stress with her horse related to fitness and soundness, so it was great to get back in and have a positive experience."

Stable View was the team's second challenge for the 2022-23 school year. Next, Langenberg, Gyselinck, Norton and Shinn, as well as team member Alexa Duncan, will compete May 26 at the national championship in Tryon, North Carolina.

"It's neat that all of our riders are going to Tryon," Gyselinck says. "We've performed well as a team at home, and hopefully we can keep it up in North Carolina."

Langenburg adds, "Last year Heidi was the only one who went to nationals due to horse fitness and financial issues. Everyone is fit this year, has been training really hard and is ready to go. There will be at least 30 to 40 teams competing. It's big-the competition of the year."