FOREST, Va. --- ODAC equestrian has been front and center with the addition of the ODAC Single Discipline regular season and postseason events. The conference’s traditional equestrian event returns to action this weekend with the ODAC Equestrian Championship hosted by Hollins University.

HU, which last hosted this event in 2017, will open its campus along with the Hollins Riding Center and Kirby Arena for the five-team affair on Saturday, April 13. Competition is slated to begin at 10:00 a.m. ET following a Friday full of school times in HU’s facility.

Scoring for the ODAC championship differs from that of regular IHSA shows where riders are split into two or three separate sections for competition. The ODAC event features teams of four riders using their own horses. In IHSA shows, competing riders must use horses provided by the host.

The ODAC Championship features two jumping rounds -- Equitation Over Fences -- which form the basis for All-ODAC consideration. Two judges score each rider during the fences rounds with averages taken for each. From a team perspective, the low average of the four riders will be dropped with the three remaining riders cumulatively forming that team's score for that session.

The third round of competition -- Equitation on the Flat -- focuses on two appointed riders per school. Those riders will follow the commands given by the judges and will be awarded a score based on several factors surrounding the judges' directions. Both riders' scores are counted and applied to the team's overall total to determine which school lifts the ODAC trophy.

RELATED: Live Championship Scoresheet

Last season’s host proved to also be the champion with the University of Lynchburg lifting its first ODAC equestrian trophy. That was in prelude to the Hornets repeating as the NCEA national champions a month later.

Lynchburg collected 18 points to best reserve champion Sweet Briar College (awarded on tiebreakers) and third place Hollins with 13 points apiece. Washington and Lee University (11) finished fourth with Bridgewater College (8) chiming in fifth.

Eagles junior Kelsey Quinn collected ODAC Rider of the Year accolades as the top overall scorer from the two competitions over fences. The same criteria was used to determine ODAC Rookie Rider of the Year with WLU first-year Elisabeth Marek placing fourth to earn that moniker. Lynchburg mentor Phillip Williamson garnered ODAC Coach of the Year distinction from his peers, while fellow Hornet Lori Ohanessian received ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year recognition from the conference's athletic communications personnel.

Listed below is information regarding this season's championships. For more, visit the websites of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at odaconline.com. Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram.