Imagine, being assigned a horse to ride through a draw, warming up for ten minutes, then riding this unfamiliar horse in a judged dressage ride . . . this catch-ride experience is what an Intercollegiate Dressage Association IDA) competition is all about. The Cal Poly Dressage Team qualified for then competed in the IDA National Championships held at the National Equestrian Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
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Cal Poly Dressage Team Places 5th in the Nation
12 teams from colleges around the nation represented their schools at the 2025 Intercollegiate Dressage Association National Championships.
Four students competed in the National Championship Show, each representing a ride at the four levels that make up an Intercollegiate team. The Cal Poly Dressage Team finished 5th overall in in the nation! The team placings were: Lucas Rupp – 10th in the Introductory level; Caroline Kargenian – 2nd in the lower-training level division; Kaileen Grace finishing – 4th in the Upper-Training Level Division; and Lily-Rose Bacon finishing – 7th in the First-Level class.
In the individual competition, Caroline Kargenian placed 5th in the lower-training level division, Kaileen Grace finished 11th in the Upper-Training Level Division, and Lily-Rose Bacon finished 12th in the First-Level class.
Competing at an Intercollegiate Dressage Association Competition
At an Intercollegiate Dressage Association show, riders compete on horses provided by the host school. Riders are placed into levels based on their previous experience. In competition, riders compete at the Introductory, Lower Training, Upper Training, or First Level. Each rider is allowed a ten-minute warm-up period under the supervision of a coach before performing his or her assigned test. Tests are scored by a licensed judge, and riders are placed individually based on the percentage score received.
An Intercollegiate Dressage Association team consists of one rider per level. Individual scores are converted into points: 7 points for first place, 5 for second, 4 for third, etc. These points are combined to calculate the team’s total score.
Competing at the National Competition
The Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) National Championship brings together the top teams and riders from across the country. Riders qualify through regional competitions, with each region sending its highest-scoring team and individual riders in the four levels: Introductory, Lower Training, Upper Training, and First Level. At Nationals, both team and individual competitors ride horses provided by the host school, selected through a random draw.
“The National Championship took place at the National Equestrian Center in St. Louis, Missouri,” explains Lily-Rose Bacon a three-year member of the team. “Our team flew out to Missouri on Wednesday, April 23, and returned on April 26, 2025. We stayed in an Airbnb during the trip. The championship included an opening ceremony featuring a parade of teams, individual award presentations, and a team awards ceremony. We were active participants in the event and volunteered in several roles to help the competition run smoothly.”
Personal Stories from the Nationals Competition
Making Memories
Caroline shares, “My favorite memory from Nationals was placing 5th as a team in the nation. Seeing the improvement we have collectively made from last year to now was showcased through our performances on team day and was illustrated by our team placing.”
Bolstering the 5th place finish as a team was Caroline’s team competition result. She recounts the ride, “My most memorable ride of this season was on team competition day at Nationals where I was placed on a horse named Al. I remember sitting in the saddle and immediately feeling a connection with Al and an overwhelming sense of confidence. I really think that confidence was illustrated in the court during my test and allowed me to place 2nd in my class that day.”
Lily-Rose Facies a Difficult Horse, Twice
“I drew a horse at Nationals this year that tested me as a rider,” Lily-Rose describes. “It walked out of the stall on competition day in the form of a 23-year-old, 16.1 hand, Grey Arabian. And while, like anyone, I would love to say that I achieved exactly what I set out to do when I got on, I’ll admit, my ride in the individual championships was more like a master class in how to do flying changes at first level.” Flying changes are not part of a first level test and that would not be the last time Lily-Rose meets up with this horse.
“Often in intercollegiate dressage, we only have the opportunity to ride a horse once. So, drawing the same horse for the team competition presented me with a unique chance to revisit my strategy,” says Lily-Rose.
So, she applied the experience gained the day before to her team ride. “One of the hardest parts of riding is learning how to separate personal emotions and competitive endeavors when in the saddle. When I got on the second day and managed to set aside my previous disappointment to produce a ride that truly showcased the horse, it reminded me of the maturity that riding demands—and, more importantly, that fact that adaptability is key to being a successful equestrian. Sometimes, I think the hardest rides become the most meaningful.”
Cal Poly Dressage Team’s History at the Nationals
Cal Poly has cultivated the appreciation of Dressage through their Dressage team for about 25 years. A team has represented Cal Poly at the IDA Nationals a few times over the years. This year and in 2024 the team qualified for Nationals by being the team with the highest point in their region.
“To qualify for the Intercollegiate Dressage Association’s National Championship, a team must first win their region’s Regional Championship,” explains Lily-Rose. “This year, the Cal Poly Dressage Team competed in six shows, earning the championship title at four of them to secure the Regional Championship and an invitation to the National Championships.”
Two-year team member Caroline Kargenian describes this year’s qualifying journey, “Qualifying for Nationals this year held a lot more pressure for me compared to last year. I went from competing in the walk/trot Introductory level to Lower Training, which includes walk/trot/canter. There’s a lot more variables involved in these tests and as I just started competing dressage last year, I’m still developing confidence and keeping my calm in the court. Despite that, I’ve been learning so much from our practices and have truly felt the joy of this sport when competing.”
From Rebuilding the Cal Poly Dressage Team to a National Championship Win
“Over the past three years, we have rebuilt our competitive team,” explains Lily-Rose. “In 2023, our focus was on recovering and rebuilding the region after an absence from competitions as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, we returned to competition for our first full season back. This year, in 2025, we achieved a historic 5th place finish at the national championships.”
The team practices at the Oppenheimer Equestrian Center on the Cal Poly campus. Every Sunday, a dedicated show team practice is led by student coach Makenzie Ford and the team mentor, along with local breeder and professional rider, Jackie Ahl Eckhaus.
Life Lessons Learned by the Cal Poly Dressage Team
The entire Cal Poly Dressage team gained valuable life lessons through their work on the team. Taking the team experience to the National level also demonstrated the value of team work. Two members tell their stories.
Lily-Rose Bacon Shares
Lily-Rose reflects back on the take-away lessons from being on the Cal Poly Dressage team: “Often, I would argue that outcome, especially in reference to placing, is never the most important moment. However, there was something about the 5th place finish that the Cal Poly Team accomplished this year that was powerful. Yes, the pink ribbon was exciting! Yet, the awards ceremony was most memorable because, in the moment, it served as a reminder of the hard work we’ve put in, the camaraderie we’ve fostered within our team, and the friendships that have formed through collegiate dressage.”
“Intercollegiate dressage is a unique introduction to strategic riding. It demands the ability to adapt to each horse, to identify and overcome limitations, and to present a test that showcases each horse to the best of its ability. Prior to joining the Cal Poly Dressage Team, I had competitive experience with my own horses. Transitioning to a catch-riding format required me to shift my approach and develop a new level of feel as a rider.”
Lily-Rose finishes with this thought about team work: “Outside the arena, I’ve learned the value of being part of a team. I’ve come to appreciate the camaraderie and the friendships built in the barn. Dressage is far from an individual sport, and I’m grateful to be surrounded by a dedicated and determined team.”
Caroline Kargenian
Caroline appreciates the value of team work: “Teamwork really does make the dream work! Whether it be setting up or taking down the dressage court for practice, to pulling your weight on competition day, everyone has a part that contributes to the success of this team. And ultimately, the memories you make together and the fun you have with the horses, is the most important thing to come out of competition.”
Beautiful Outcomes
Lily-Rose sees the challenges she faced resulted in beautiful outcomes. “As athletes, our competitive endeavors are filled with highs and lows. I was sidelined from our final qualifier with an injury and drew challenging horses that truly tested me as a rider in qualifying competitions. But if I were to dwell on the hardships, I think I would miss the many moments where this sport has shaped me, both personally and professionally, into who I am today. That’s why I like to say, “everything happens for a reason,” because sometimes the hardest lessons lead to the most beautiful outcomes.
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What a great story, thanks for posting this! Good to hear the riders thoughts on the competition.