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We Are EC
he fi rst time I rode a horse was when T he taught me more than I taught him. Hank I was four years old. This horse, or should I was a baby and I had to teach him what to say pony, was part of a traveling petting zoo do. Hank is now six years old and lives at that would come to your house for birthday Deerfi eld Farm. My third horse is Lulu, and parties. At fi rst, I didn’t want to go on a she lives in Palm Springs. I travel there to pony ride and fought against my dad. In the ride and compete. end, my dad just plopped me on the horse Each horse I’ve worked with has taught and watched me ride around the street. me something new. Rio taught me the After that, I was hooked. basics of riding and showing and how to be
I began taking lessons when I was seven a good equestrian, competitor, athlete and and I started competing when I was nine. person in general. Hank taught me to be Deerfi eld Farm in Issaquah became my tough, fi ght for what I want in life and how second home. Not only do they have a to love the struggle, even when all you want lesson program for beginners, but they to do is give up. Lulu has taught me to be also have a competition team. At the time, bold and lay everything out in the pen. aspects of the program. the assistant coach told me that being an At Deerfi eld Farm, some of the girls who In college riding, the schools provide the equestrian is competing and riding at the have graduated before me have gone on to horses. They are not necessarily top horses. highest level and training and living like Riding is all about making it look easy. So, an athlete. To this day, I think that is an at meets, the horses’ names are put in a hat accurate representation of myself and all and you pull a name out. You have four other equestrians that I compete with and minutes to tune, school and train the horse will attend college with. in whatever way you need to be prepared
Many people do not have experience for the pattern, which is multiple sequences with riding horses and are not familiar with of maneuvers. what it entails. People I meet think it is Each horse has one rider from each team easy—the horse does all the work and you competing on them. So, for example, there is just sit there. Riding and competing is about a meet between Georgia and Auburn. It is a communicating only with your aids (hands, home meet for Auburn. The home team has seat, voice and legs) with a 1200-pound the advantage of knowing the horses because ball of live energy, that while domesticated, those are the horses they use for practice. could easily injure or kill a person. Each team has four distinctive styles
The horse doesn’t necessarily want to do of riding: jumping, fl at, reining and what you want it to do. Not only does the horsemanship, and only four spots per horse need to be in the correct form and style, per meet. I compete in horsemanship, position while doing what you ask of them, ride in college. There are 18 schools with which is the pattern work. At Auburn, but the rider has to perform too. Riders D1 equestrian teams. Most of them are part out of the team of almost 40, only 20 girls have to appear polished and put together, of the Big 12 schools or SEC schools (i.e. compete at each meet. The number of girls dress appropriately and make it all look Auburn, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas per style of riding also differs on every team. effortless. I think that’s why people think A&M, TCU, Oklahoma, MSU). Riding Per horse, the rider with the highest score it is easy—what they don’t see is what or in college is the next level up, the next gets the point for their team and there are how the rider is asking the horse to move. challenge, and I am excited to be a part of it. only 20 points per meet. Not to mention that a horse is not like a At Auburn, the staff and team is a winning The cool thing about the horse industry baseball that can be put in the closet. Horses machine—it’s not a program for the faint of is the fact that you do not have to go pro need vets, food, water, clean stalls, dentists, heart. It is the highest level of competition to keep riding. Some people do, but as an farriers, chiropractors, spa treatments and to vie for meet spots. adult, you can ride and show as an amateur, much more. Riding in college is just like any other ride for fun or with others. I don’t know if
Horses are like big dogs; you build D1 sport. The equestrian team trains, eats, I’ll keep riding after college, but I know I bonds with them. But bonds with horses studies, works out and lives like a football will gain so much from riding at Auburn. go further because when you ride, you team. At Auburn, the equestrian team Teamwork, friendships, the ability to deal communicate through energy. A horse feeds actually works out with the football staff with defeat, tackle challenges and perform off the rider’s energy and body language. It and uses their equipment and facilities. under pressure are just a few of the skills is a dance with no words. The coolest thing about college riding I hope to experience in college. Eastside
My fi rst horse was Rio. I was 10 and Rio is that it is a team effort. In college, you Catholic has given me an incredible was 12 when I began working with him. He’s compete, live and work as a team. Not foundation as I prepare to move to the 18 now and lives happily retired in Issaquah. everyone is competing in meets. Some next level. I look forward to fi nding my
My second horse is Hank. Hank was my individuals’ strength lies in supporting the place on the team, competing and gaining “project horse.” Rio was already trained, so team, workouts, training horses or other independence.
