College is an exciting new venture for recently graduated high school students. There are sorority or fraternity options, clubs to join, deciding if you’re moving into a dorm or apartment, and the list goes on.
For equestrians, college may mean something a bit different. For those who lament aging out of youth, but want to continue showing while in college, riding for a National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) team is one of the most popular options.
Riding for a top collegiate team such as the 2015 NCEA Champions, South Carolina, the 2014 NCEA Champions, Georgia, or one of many other outstanding programs, involves a long process of recruiting, committing, signing, and finally making the roster. When two of AQHA’s most talented youth riders, Deanna Green of Pilot Point, Texas and Taylor Searles of Scottsdale, Arizona announced that they had verbally committed to ride for Auburn University, we wanted to know more about how and why they made their decisions.
Q: Why did you choose Auburn over other NCAA schools?
Deanna Green (pictured right): All the schools I went and looked at were beautiful and great schools. I really considered TCU also, it is a beautiful school in an awesome town and it was close to home. Melissa Dukes, the TCU Equestrian coach, is an amazing lady and coach, and I would’ve been blessed to be a part of her team. When I went to Auburn, I stepped on the campus and knew it was my school. Western Coach Mary Meenely is the most passionate and talented woman I’ve ever met. Her drive to win and her coaching ability is simply spectacular. Head coach Greg Williams has that same passion and welcomed me to Auburn with open arms. He made sure I got to see every aspect of what school would be like as an athlete as well as a student.
The Hunt Seat coach Jessica Braswell had a huge impact of my decision on Auburn as well. Even though I may not be an English girl, she had so much respect for the western aspect and treated me just like I was a hunt seat rider. The team there is very united. There was absolutely no separation between the hunt seat girls and the western girls. They were just one team that all supported one another.
Taylor Searles (pictured above left): Auburn was my first visit, and as soon as I was on campus, I had a special feeling about it. I visited two other schools and I liked those schools, but there is honestly something just so special about Auburn. Not only is it a big family, but equestrian is a highly respected sport on campus and that was really important to me. Not to mention that the coaches and team are very welcoming and already like family.
Q: Did your friendship with each other have any impact on deciding where to go to school?
Taylor (pictured right with family): Deanna and I are best friends so it’s easy for people to think we committed because of each other, but I committed before she had visited. I knew she was planning on visiting, and of course, I hoped that she loved it just as much as I did. I talked to her after her visit and when she described the way she felt about Auburn, I knew she loved it like I did. I can’t wait for us to not only experience college together, but to be on the best team in the nation together.
Deanna: Although I’m sure a lot of people will think that, I picked the school that was the best fit for me and the fact that my best friend is going there too is just the icing on the cake.
Q: How will this affect your showing career in AQHA? Will you take the four years off or continue to show?
Deanna: I definitely plan on still showing while in college. I’m sure it will be much less time showing but I plan to continue to show.
Taylor: I’d love to keep showing since I will still have a year of youth left when I start college, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the team and school and as long as my parents are willing to pay.
Congratulations on committing, ladies! We hope to see you two competing with Auburn very soon. The official signing date for Deanna and Taylor will be in November of 2017.
Author’s Note: We reached out to Auburn Western Coach Mary Meneely, but due to NCAA rules, she is not allowed to discuss the matter until they officially sign with the team in November, 2017.
