Fresno Leader

Fresno County issued the following announcement on Nov 17.

Fresno State equestrian head coach Eric Hubbard, along with assistant coaches Mary Brown and Caitlin Marshall, announced the addition of six new Bulldogs to the 2021-22 roster as the early signing period opened last Wednesday.

The Bulldogs welcome three jumping seat riders and three western riders to next year's team. Madeline Ahern, Jillian Spencer and Kate Villas will join the jumping seat riders for 2021-22. The western team adds Kendra Lee, Shelby Robinette and Colby Sayles to its group. Each rider brings a wealth of experience to the program, including several champion titles and top 10 finishes.

"We are very excited for these Bulldogs to join us here in the Valley," said Hubbard. "Each and every one brings something different that will help continue to build success in our program.  I want to thank Coach Mary and Coach Caitlin for their great work building the relationships with our potential student-athletes. So much of our success comes from these great individuals that select Fresno State to receive an outstanding education and represent Fresno State as we compete."

Kendra Lee - Western

Lee, a native of Bellingham, Wash., is a five-time Washington State champion in Western Horsemanship. She has also earned two Washington State Reserve Champion titles in hunt seat equitation. In her riding career, Lee has also had multiple state and regional top five finishes.

Shelby Robinette - Western

Robinette, a native of Sterling, Colo., is an experienced rider with years of show history under her belt. Most recently, Robinette competed at the 2020 Low Roller Reining Classic, Co-Champion Green Reiner Level 2 and Reserve Youth Team Tournament.

In 2019, Robinette was the Rocky Mountain Reining Horse Association (RMRHA) Summer Slide Co-Champion Green Reiner Level 1&2, Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association (RMQHA) Gold Rush Reserve Youth Ranch Rider, Reserve AQHYA Reining team at 2019 Youth World, American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Youth Performance ROM with Gunnafoolya, ninth in Green Reiner Level 2 at National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby. She was also the 2018 RMQHA Rocktoberfest Youth Reining co-champion. 

Robinette was the 2016 RMQHA Year-End Youth 13&under High Point Reserve champion, AQHA Prairie Classic All-Around Novice youth, Iowa Show Circuit Reserve All-Around 13&under. She was also sixth overall 11&under and sixth youth horsemanship 11&under at the 2015 AQHA Quarter Horse Congress, AQHA Youth Performance ROM on Ms. Ashwood Flash, RMQHA Overall 13&under Year End Award winner, RMQHA first in Youth Showmanship for Year End awards.

Colby Sayles - Western

Sayles, from Lake Stevens, Wash., is a 2019 L1 Championship finalist in horsemanship. She also placed in the top three in horsemanship, top five in showmanship, and top five in western riding at the 2019 L1 Washington State Quarter Horse Association (WSQHA) show. She was top five in horsemanship and western riding at the 2019 14-18 WSQHA event. Sayles also finished top 10 all around at the 2018 L1 WSQHA show.

Madeline Ahern - Jumping Seat

Ahern, from Stoughton, Mass., joins the jumping seat squad with a wealth of experience in her young riding career.

Ahern has qualified and/or competed at the following shows: United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Pony Hunter Finals 2011-2016, USEF National Pony Medal Finals 2012-2016, Washington International Horse Show (WIHS) Pony Equitation Finals 2014 & 2015, PNHS 2014 (Small Pony Hunters), WIHS 2014 (Small Pony Hunters), Devon 2015 (Small Pony Hunters), Rhode Island Equitation Championships 2016-2017, THIS National Children's Medal Finals 2017, New England Equitation Championships 2016-2021, Massachusetts Horseman's Council (MHC) Finals 2013-2021, Massachusetts Hunter Jumper (MHJ) Finals 2012-2021, SEHA Finals 2016-2020, NCEA Finals 2020, USEF National Junior Hunter Finals 2018-2021, USHJA Zone 1 Horse of the Year Champion 3'3 Small Junior Hunter 2019 & 2020, Gladstone Cup 2017-2020, USEF Medal Finals 2017-2020, ASPCA Zone 1 Maclay Regionals 2017-2020, ASPCA Maclay Finals 2020, Hamel Foundation NHS Medal Finals 2017-2020, USHJA Jumping Seat Medal Finals 2017-2020, and USHJA Hunter Seat Medal Finals 2020.

Some other amateur highlights for Ahern are Best Child Rider on a Pony Head of the Bay 2014 & 2015, Fieldstone Summer Showcase 2017 Talent Search Win, USEF National Junior Hunter Finals East 2018 - 6th place 3'3 Small Younger Classic Round, Lake Placid II 2019 Champion 3'3 Junior Hunter's, Vermont Summer IV 2019 Festival Champion 3'3 Junior Hunter's, and USEF National Junior Hunter Finals East 2019 - 6th place 3'3 Small Younger Classic Round, 9th place Handy Round and 6th place Overall.

Jillian Spencer - Jumping Seat

Spencer, a native of Manchester, N.H., joins the Bulldog equestrian team with multiple champion titles to her name.

She was 13th in the MHC junior medal and Top 30 at the USHJA 3'3 Hunter Seat Medal Final- East. Spencer was the Stone Pony Junior Equitation Classic champion, and the New Hampshire Junior Medal winner. She was also the New England Horseman's Council 15-17 Equitation Year End Reserve Champion and the NHHJA 15-17 Equitation Year End Champion.

Spencer had a busy and productive riding career while maintaining a 4.0 GPA in her academics.

Kate Vilas - Jumping Seat

Vilas, a Valley native from Ceres, Calif., joins the Bulldogs' jumping seat squad for the 2021-22 season. She finished first at the 2017 Almaden Farms Hunter Derby and the 2018 LEGIS league jumpers. She also made the top 10 at the 2019 Cloverleaf medal finals. Most recently, she placed fifth at the 2020 Horse and Hound Medal Finals.

"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.

Original source can be found here.