LAKELAND, Fla. - After their best finish in program history at the regional championships two weeks ago, the Florida Southern College Equestrian team will send two members to the IHSA Zone 5 Championships tomorrow, April 2^nd in Savannah, Ga.
 
Sophomore Katie Portu and Freshman Kailey Fuchs will represent the Mocs after placing in the top two at the regional championships, qualifying for this year's zone championships, hosted by the Savannah College of Art and Design.
 
Portu competes in the Introductory Flat division, while Fuchs competes in Intermediate over fences.
 
Introductory flat focuses on the rider's ability to control the horse at the walk and trot, while maintaining proper form and the use of silent aids to ask the horse to move in different ways.
 
Intermediate over fences also emphasizes the riders form and how well they can handle the horse, but with the added difficulty of navigating over a course of 8 jumps. The course can involve tests where the rider is asked to speed up, slow down, and change direction all while maintaining a good rhythm and smooth pace.
 
Zone 5 consists of top schools such as SCAD, University of Florida, University of Central Florida, University of Georgia, Auburn University, College of Charleston, and Louisiana State University.
 
If Fuchs and Portu finish in the top two spots at tomorrow's zone finals, they will move on to the National Final on April 4^th, hosted by the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association in Harrisburg, PA.