EQUESTRIANS kicked off the 2024-2025 horse show season with a weekend of camaraderie, teamwork and spirited competition, as four teams gathered to contest the first leg of the Bahamas Interscholastic Equestrian League (BIEL).

Defending champions Mariposa Gold Drops looked strong in their first start, winning convincingly with a total of 48 points. 

The Camperdown Equestrian Centre Blue Marlins were 2nd with 40 points, while the Mariposa Monarchs and CEC Sand Dollars finished 3rd and 4th respectively.  

The competition took place at Mariposa Stables and was judged by Mary Knowlton, USEF ‘R’ judge and former president of the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA).  

Once the awards were handed out, riders lined up to confer with judge Knowlton and receive feedback on their performances.  

Founded in 2017, the BIEL competition circuit is favourite amongst Bahamian junior equestrians because of the unique format, based on collegiate competition rules, in which competitions are team-based and riders and horses are matched by random draw. 

BIEL competitions are subsidized by Equestrian Bahamas, the national federation for equestrian sport, providing affordable competition options while also preparing athletes for college competition.