I came to Springfield College in the fall of 2023 as a sophomore, transferring from Bay Path University in Longmeadow, Mass. I was very excited to join Springfield College’s community, as I felt that this school would offer way more opportunities for me. And one of those opportunities was the chance to ride for the College’s Equestrian Club team. 

The first time I started horse riding lessons, I was 4 years old, but I have been riding consistently, multiple times a week, since I was 7. I ride English and specialize in the hunter/jumper discipline, which involves attempting to flawlessly direct the horse over a course of jumps that the rider must memorize. I took lessons at various barns in both Connecticut and Massachusetts. I have competed at various levels of rated shows for over a decade now, from local schooling shows to A-rated shows under the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). In 2022, I won my divisions at the Connecticut Horse Shows Association (CHSA) finals. 

While I’ve always been a very anxious rider, I was excited for this new challenge and opportunity to broaden my skills and confidence. In the past two years of being on an IHSA team, my effectiveness, strength, and skill as a rider have improved astronomically. This year, I am now a captain of Springfield College’s team, and I compete in the open division in the shows, which is the highest, most advanced division out of the six in IHSA. Over the years, I have successfully qualified for and competed at all three post-season finals: Regionals, Zones, and Nationals, which bring together the top college riders in the country to compete against each other. 

Another thing I value about the equestrian team is the unique experience of being part of a united group. Horse riding is often considered to be an “individual sport,” with rare opportunities to compete with other riders rather than just against them. But in college riding, we have the opportunity to succeed both individually and as a team. Everyone is always supportive of each other and helpful at the shows. We always have a good time during group practices at the barn and lift sessions in the gym. The Springfield team has done consistently well in season, though it has had fewer than 10 members in recent years. During my previous two years on the team, Springfield College finished third and fourth place overall in our region (out of about 12 local colleges), right behind schools with three times as many riders as us. 

Message to students: If you are interested in joining the Equestrian Club, you can fill out the “Submit Your Recruitment Information” form on the Club Sports Web page.