The UT Martin sports website has a roster for all teams at the school. When we want to learn more about a player, we click their picture, and we can see a player bio. The bio is quite simple: experience, name, family and past school. Yet, what that bio does not cover is the reason they play the sport they play: their why.
Now that the season has come to a close, below is a deeper dive into why some of the riders on the Women’s Equestrian team compete.
Julia Gilman’s Why
Event: Jumping Seat
“My love for this sport has not come through accomplishments, but the hardships and resiliency it has taught me. I didn’t even know the meaning of hard work until recently and how to trust the process when you don’t know where else to turn. I grew up not having privilege like some, but learning how to make do with what you have and create your own opportunities, something I am forever grateful for. Having the opportunity to compete with a team as strong as this one has been the pleasure of a lifetime. These girls are my why; this team is my why. My love for the sport is infinite – but our girls are the ones that make every step worth it and the biggest learning experience.”
“There are few words to describe the adrenaline you feel when you are playing for a purpose bigger than yourself, playing for the future of your team, success of the girls around you and most importantly, the coaches that give their lives to us. I owe every step of success, every lesson learned, and every ounce of future success our team will see to the girls I have the privilege of being surrounded by day in and day out. They are the reason my love for this sport is larger than I ever could have imagined.”
Casey Ruggiero’s Why
Event: Jumping Seat
“My ‘why’ for collegiate equestrian is quite simple in concept: connections. Equestrian, no matter your age, level, or discipline, is remarkable because of the connections and relationships you can form with a horse. If you haven’t experienced this before, it is perhaps one of the most special and restorative things in the world (it’s also just straight-up fun). Beyond having the ability to work on what I am certain will be a lifelong endeavor in my sport, I get to do it with almost 40 girls who are like my sisters. I wanted to ride in college for the community of like-minded athletes I knew I would have, but this team is more connected and in-sync than I ever imagined it could be. It is more than just riding horses; my coaches and teammates are devoted to lifting each other up as women.”
Bridget Vieau‘s Why
Event: Flat and Fences
“I guess my ‘why’ has changed over the years. My original reason for getting into the sport was to be just like my older sister, who began riding when I was born. Since then, the sport has been why I get out of bed everyday, why I know what hard work is, and why I have such a special place in my heart for horses. I can never repay this sport for all it has given and taught me throughout the last 15 years, and it will continue to be my ‘why’ for the rest of my life.”
“I can take my ‘why’ back to when I was just a kid. I grew up in a horse show family that goes back to my grandparents. It started out for me as just a fun hobby with my family, and I didn’t get the competitive bug till middle school. I have my family to thank for pushing me to always strive to be better inside and outside of the arena. Now, there were many times when I took a step back and thought that life would be so much easier if I took a break from showing or just dropped it all. However, it’s the opportunities and relationships that I’ve had that has made it worthwhile. The life skills, friendships, and places that I’ve been able to travel is what gives me my ‘why.’”
Abigail Myers’s Why
Event: Jumping Seat
“The reason why I have chosen to follow my passion of riding at the collegiate level isn’t simply because of the trophies, rings, and titles. It’s because riding gives me a moment to step back from the stress of the world and do something I am truly passionate about while also having the time of my life. Riding has also given me my best gift in life: a group of amazing young women who I can call a second family here at UT Martin.”
Emma Schaefer‘s Why
Event: Western
“For me, my ‘why’ really surrounds my love for horses. I was sitting on the back of a horse since I could sit up straight on my own. I was up on a horse’s back even before I could walk. It’s always been horses. Even once I could make the decision for myself, I was always drawn to them. Because of this, I spent the majority of my teenage years more interested in horses than I was with going to the movies Friday night with my friends. Looking back I wouldn’t have it any other way. Horses have led me to some of the greatest success I can imagine, they’ve led me to friendships everywhere I go, and at the end of the day they have always been there for me know matter what.”
Mia McAfoos’s Why
Event: Western
“I started riding when I was 7 years years old, and just like every other girl I did it because I loved horses. As I have gotten older, I love it for more than that. Throughout my life there have been ups and downs and situations that are out of my control, both good and bad. Riding has taught me to embrace this aspect of life. Horses are not vehicles with a simple gas and brake pedal. You must work to find a connection with your horse in order to be a successful team. There is no greater feeling than working with such an amazing animal day in and day out.”
Tyler Anderson’s Why
Event: Fences and Flat
“When I was a kid I started riding because I was a little adrenaline junkie and when you are a 4 foot tall kid, there was nothing as exciting as trying to jump a giant horse over poles.”
“When I got older, outside of competition, I loved to ride because my trainer was big into rescuing and I liked helping her figure out what they would be good at, etc. to retrain them so that they could go on to get a second chance to be happy with their new family. Knowing where they came from and watching what they turn into will always be the most rewarding experience.”
“In college, I was fortunate enough to add another why, which is the 30 girls I do this with. This team is my family, and there is no feeling that will ever compare to getting to step into the ring knowing 30 girls have your back, and stepping out and hearing all of them screaming and cheering for you.”
Alexandria Bailey (Lexi)’s Why
Event: Western- Horsemanship and the Reining
“The question “Why do I ride?” is a loaded question to me, it has a lot of different meanings to me. I started riding before I could walk, so riding has become a lot of different things for me over the years. When I was little I was forced to go and show and did not start to actually enjoy riding until middle school. Once I started to enjoy and focus on a couple of events, riding became a true passion of mine. At home when I rode it was a way for me to decompress and go trail riding with friends. It was a different way to have fun and make memories, showing with your closest friends make for some of the most unforgettable weekends.
The main reason I ride today is because I wouldn’t feel like myself if I didn’t. I have been riding for so long, even a week without it feels weird and makes me want to go ride whatever horse I can. The reason(s) I ride are to be myself and feel like myself. It provides me with so much of myself, that is why I ride, and why I could never stop.”
Elizabeth Becker’s Why
Event: Jumping
“I started riding horses at the age of 8 and you could say that ever since then, I have been hooked. If you would have asked me two years ago why I started riding horses I would have told you I did it because I loved them and that is was fun. Since then, riding has helped me through some of the toughest obstacles in my life. It has been the reason that even through the hardest times in my life I can wake up each morning with a smile on my face knowing that I can go and ride and escape from the world outside. When I enter a barn my fears and worries disappear. The constant anxiety I feel vanishes and the only thing present is the comfort and bond you feel with you and your horse. A horse you know would do absolutely anything for you this is a feeling like no other.”
______________________________________________________________________________
These women ride for a reason, but each of their reasons are unique to them. The “why” is what drives them to compete. The “why” makes them more than just an equestrian. The “why” is what made them rank #9 in the country on Feb. 1st, 2022 in the NCEA.
