Eliza Rawl finishes third in Interscholastic Equestrian Association national finals

Eliza Rawl, a rising ninth grader at Ashley Hall School, recently finished third in her division in the International Equestrian Association’s Hunt Seat National Finals held in Syracuse, N.Y.

Representing the Ashley Hall Riding Team, Eliza, 14, qualified for the Future Novice on the Flat individual competition. Riders had to have their horses walk, trot and canter.

“It was big, really good horses and really good riders,” Eliza said. “It was an indoor event and I had never been in one of those. To be able to get into the finals was big.”

Eliza said the riders drew out of a hat to find out which horses they would ride in the competition, and some riders were more fortunate in their draw than others.

“In my division, I got a horse that didn’t like to stop and that was difficult,” she said. “I definitely wasn’t expecting to (place third) because I had a huge fault. My horse didn’t stop when it was supposed to stop.”

Eliza, who has been riding since she was 6, usually rides out of Rosebank Plantation on Wadmalaw Island.