The skill of riding, driving, steeplechasing or vaulting with horses – equestrianism. Not your average high school sport. Sophomore Sali Thompson and Senior Makenna Hold are both equestrians.
Hold describes an equestrian as ”being able to bond with the horse and keeping the horse between you and the ground.”
The competitive sports aspect of being an equestrian requires a strong core, to prevent falling off the horse, strong leg muscles, and the ability to memorize patterns and cues to communicate with the horse.
Thompson has been riding horses since she was five years old.
“I got into it [riding] when I was really young, which probably is what helps me be a little bit better than other people, but basically you have to be comfortable with it and love to do it.”
Thompson competed in her first show last October.”It was very nerve racking,” mentions Thompson, “but I did pretty good,” she adds.
Thompson did not start riding competitively until she got into highschool, “Since I was eleven I’ve wanted to do barrel racing but I never had the time so I quit volleyball this year in order to have more time to do barrel racing.”
Makenna Hold has been riding horses for ten years, she now competes in horse jumping and has won many awards.
She claims that after watching the animated film: Spirit, she was suddenly interested in riding. “The wild horses were calling my name,” she states.
When Hold competed in her first show, she was nine years old. “I was very nervous, it was just trotting poles, I got second [place] so I was happy about that.”
Hold plans to continue being involved with horses for the rest of her life, “I want to train horses when I grow up,” Hold mentions.
To be an equestrian, there must be a personal bond between the rider and the horse. Thompson stresses how important it is to have a strong relationship with the horses.
“Bonding with the horses are very important, because you and the horse are constantly trying to figure out each other and once you do, you just kinda click, then you can achieve anything together,” states Hold when asked about the importance of the relationship between the horse and the rider.
“My favorite horse’s name is Bingo, [the horses] are not only my best friends but my teammates as well,” comments Thompson.
Hold’s favorite horse in her barn is named Sombrita, “she’s sassy,” Hold adds.
Being a true equestrian takes more than knowing how to ride a horse, it takes a passion, heart and a true love for the sport. What makes this sport much different from all the other sports is that equestrianism is about two athletes: the rider and the horse.