When it comes to showing horses, your “team” is comprised of you and your equine partner and your competition is literally everyone else.
Like any other sport, riding and showing horses takes countless hours of dedication and practice, therefore, for many growing up on the show circuit, it leaves little time to participate in any other sport, particularly team sports.
However, in the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) “team” is the name of the game, as equestrians compete together for a win for their university.
A concept very foreign, yet incredibly appealing, to many youth that show at the highest levels of competition.
Last week, several AQHA youth signed their letters of intent to take the plunge and become a part of an equestrian team at the collegiate level.
We caught up with five of these incredibly talented young women to find out about their signing day and their thoughts about what it will be like going to college and being a part of a team… for most it will be their first time.
The Perfect Fit
One of the most exciting times in a high school senior’s life is choosing which school(s) to apply to.
But it can also be a challenging time– as many factors should be considered when choosing where to receive a higher education.
For Alex Albright, the factor of academics was at the top of her list and is what led her to choose Texas A&M as her future alma mater.
“There were a couple schools I was looking at based on the academics and wound up visiting three,” she said. “My goal is to go really far in business and Texas A&M has a really good business school so that was a huge factor. The coaches also really seem to mother all the girls on the team and it really felt like a big family. It just seems like the right fit.”
In addition to academics, finding the right atmosphere where one feels comfortable is also a consideration when it comes to which school to attend.
“When I saw the town, I was instantly attracted,” said Deanna Green on her first visit to Auburn University. “The coaches made sure not to leave any detail out, not just about the team, but about life at the school in general. They wanted to make sure I would enjoy life there. The whole atmosphere just attracted me to it.”
Audrey Alderman said, “I visited many schools, but what I really liked about Fresno State is that it is small and the team is very family oriented. I also liked the fact that the barn is actually on campus. The coaching is amazing and it just had so much to offer, I couldn’t say no.”
“The fact that the entire school accepts and supports the equestrian team made it all feel very close and family oriented,” said Taylor Searles who also signed to Auburn University. “On the equestrian team, the English and Western girls are all very close with one another too. I liked that everyone was just as welcoming.”
Location is also something many consider when looking at universities, some want to stay close to home, while others want to spread their wings and attend a school far away, but for Sydney Scheckel, her heart belongs in Texas.
“Honestly, the thing that attracted me to Baylor University is the fact that it is in Texas,” she said. “I know a lot of people there and have family in Cleburne so everything just made sense. The fact that it is a private Baptist university and is based on good moral values also attracted me there. The fact that Cindy (Walquist) is one of the coaches just made the stars align perfectly and it all felt like home when I visited. Just very welcoming.”
New Experiences
One of the best parts about the “college experience” is the amount of new experiences one is allowed to enjoy and the lifelong friends one hopefully walks away with.
For these young equestrians, what they are hoping to take away from their time at school and their time on a collegiate team, is really no different than anyone else going to college.
“I’m super excited to move to California,” laughed Alderman (pictured right). “I hate the cold and since Fresno is right in the middle of the state, I have easy access to all the best parts of California. I’m also excited to have a roommate and live with someone, I don’t know why, but that is super exciting for me. I’m also excited for all the cheering at the meets and obviously I’m excited to get my education.”
“I want to make a lot of lifelong friends and I can’t wait to meet a lot of new people,” said Albright. “I really feel that Texas A&M is the place where that can happen.”
Green agreed, “I’m homeschooled so I am really excited to actually go to school and meet other people. Other athletes and others that aren’t even involved in horses. Being a part of such a cohesive team too, is really exciting.”
“I’m really excited about everything,” said Searles. “During my official visit I got so close to a lot of the girls on the team and the fact that Deanna (Green) will be there too, just makes it all very exciting.”
“Getting my education is what I am the most excited about,” said Scheckel (pictured left). “I’m also excited that I will have so many coaches that can give me advice and that I will be surrounded by girls who are all in the same boat as me.”
As previously mentioned, the idea of being on a team is a new concept for most of these young women, but it is something they are undoubtedly excited about.
“My parents have always told me that at some point in my life, I need to be on a team,” said Scheckel. “I’ve never been on a team before and I think it will be a valuable experience to get to know what that is like. I want to be a good team member and help the team in any way I can. And I really just want to be able to gain lifelong friends.”
Alderman agreed, “It’s so different to compete as a team and a whole new experience that I am excited for,” she said.
“I’ve never been a part of a team,” said Green (pictured right). “So being concerned about the team as a whole and not as an individual is an experience I am looking forward to. And getting to know about the English girls and circuits I am unfamiliar with along with getting to know those I may have shown with before but didn’t get a chance to know.”
For Searles, who is the Captain of her school’s golf team, team sports are nothing new, but the experience is still exciting.
“I’m excited to get the whole college sports experience,” she said. “I love growing with a team and the fact that I can go into college knowing a group of people makes everything a little less scary.”
And of course, these ladies are all horse crazy, so being able to continue to be a part of that life is surely a bonus.
“Being able to experience showing and riding while being so far from home will make it feel like I have family around,” said Albright. “And I am really looking forward to just going to college in general.”
Leaving Home… And Youth Careers Behind
When asked what they were most nervous about, the consensus was, in a nutshell: leaving home.
Said Alderman (pictured left), “Going so far from home is a little nerve wracking for me. I am really thankful that I will have a team and people I know from horse showing around to ease that.”
“I’m a little nervous to move so far from my parents and be a grown up,” agreed Albright. “But I know I will be okay.”
Searles agreed saying, “Moving away from home, of course is what I am most nervous about. And I like to feel like I am pretty independent considering how much I travel for shows and how much my parents are gone for them. I think I can manage living on my own, but I will miss my family and my horse.”
“I’d like to say I am not nervous about leaving home because I know how much opportunity lies ahead,” said Scheckel. “But leaving home is still hard. I know I will really miss my dad. And also the idea that once I pull out of the driveway and leave home with all my stuff, that my childhood is officially over… is tough.”
Green added, “My family is so close and they will be ten hours away. Living on my own and not having my parents there will definitely be an adjustment.”
Speaking of childhood, we asked the girls what their most memorable youth accomplishments were that they would always look back on fondly.
For Searles, it was difficult to choose just one.
“Each accomplishment with each horse is very special to me,” she said. “But I think there are three that really stand out. Winning my first Youth World title in 2012 with Flashy Attraction in the Western Riding is definitely up high on the list.”
Searles also shared that placing third in the hunt seat equitation in 2014 and Reserve World Champion in western riding in 2015 riding Al Be Sweet On You and winning the gold in the hunter under saddle at the AQHYA World in 2016 on She Says Aloha are also memorable.
“We bred, raised, and trained those two horses,” said Searles. “It’s just really rewarding to know all your hard work paid off.”
Surprisingly, as much as Scheckel is known for her AQHYA World Championship in Showmanship and being a Triple Crown winner in the same event (winning the Youth World, Congress, and NSBA) with her mare, A Perfect Pleasure, those accomplishments aren’t her absolute favorite.
“Honestly, winning both my classes at the Congress in 2010 is my favorite memory,” she said. “It’s what started it all and I had only had Pip for three months before taking her. I won both the Youth 11&Under and the Novice Youth 13&Under in the Showmanship.”
Like Scheckel, Albright also cites Congress accomplishments as her most memorable, even though she was recently crowned World Champion in Showmanship and Reserve World Champion in Horsemanship at this year’s 2016 Youth World Show.
“This year is the best year I’ve had,” she said. “But last year, after only having my horse (Best Gift Yet) for six weeks we went to the Congress and ended up 4th in the Horsemanship. It was only my second time showing her. That was huge for me.”
Falling in line with that mindset, Alderman, who won the 2011 AQHYA World Championship in Three-Year-Old Halter Geldings with Anexecute also cited other accomplishments as her most memorable.
“Placing 12th in the Equitation at the 2014 AQHYA World Show with Butch (Zippos Tiger Bar-pictured right) was very special for me as it was our last world show together,” she said. “Also winning the All-Around at the 2012 Novice World Championship show and being awarded the Road Warrior award the same year are quite memorable.”
For Green, who has had a long time partner with Blazenmytroublesaway (Buttercup), her first win on the mare also carries a special place in her heart.
“In 2011, when I was just eleven years old and Buttercup was a green three year old, I showed her at the Reichert in the Ron Reichert Memorial Three-Year-Old Novice Horse Non-Pro slot class and won,” she said. “Everyone was crying, my whole family was there and it was just really cool.”
Looking Ahead
The beginning of this journey all starts with a piece of paper and each of these accomplished equestrians shared with us what their signing day was like.
“I went to my high school really early in the morning,” said Albright. “There were a lot of baseball kids signing. Of course, I was the only one signing to an equestrian team. It was cool to see where everyone was going to go and since no one had ever even heard about an equestrian team I was asked a bunch of questions.”
Albright also chuckled that her signing ceremony seemed to legitimize her absences from school for horse shows.
“It was kind of like all my counselors and teachers finally believed me that I don’t just miss school to sit on the couch,” she laughed. “But that I really was doing it for a goal.”
“My mom decorated it so adorably,” said Scheckel. “We held it in the library at my school. The lighting was actually really perfect and it was such a surreal feeling. Everyone who has always been there for me was there. From family, to horse show friends, Brent Wright; my reining trainer, even my veterinarians.”
Scheckel said that the love she felt that day was incredible.
“It was a perfect day,” she said.
Searles and Green’s parents were away at the AQHA World for their official signing day so both young ladies told us it was very casual.
“I did it early in the morning before school and had to email it to all parties involved for their signatures,” Searles said.
“I wanted to sign on the official signing day, Wednesday, but we waited til we got to the World Show to celebrate,” said Green.
During the AQHA World Show, the Searles held a party in conjunction with the Greens to celebrate this hallmark moment.
“We just talked about Auburn and ate a bunch of cupcakes and cookies,” Green said.
For Alderman, the signing day experience was quite the ordeal as there was something unique about it.
“I go to a really small school and so I was the only one at my high school to even sign to a school,” she shared. “My family and trainers were there, and it was a little intimidating to have all the attention on me.”
She continued, “I didn’t know signing a piece of paper could be so special. But it really was.”
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We know these young ladies are destined for success and in the words of Dr. Seuss:
“You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So… get on your way!”
