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Thursday, October 18 2018 / Published in General

Kathleen Harrigan is Living Her Dream on the TCU Equestrian Team

Kathleen and her teammates cheer on the horn frogs during the 2018 National Championship.
Photo by Jada Taylor

By Carter Anderson

Kathleen Harrigan’s goal was to ride in college, but she didn’t receive an offer from a team. Her academic accolades took her to Texas Christian University, and because of her hard work and dedication to achieving her goals, she ended up at TCU’s equestrian team tryouts. These tryouts would change the course of her collegiate career and grant her the opportunity to pursue her dream of being a student athlete. She joined TCU’s roster as a walk-on.

When did you decide to pursue being on an equestrian team?

I decided to pursue an equestrian team when I saw older girls in my barn start to go to college. I was able to hear about their experiences being a part of NCAA, and that inspired me to look into riding in college. It quickly became a goal of mine to be on a team.

Kathleen riding over fences for the TCU equestrian team during her first season as a horned frog.
Photo courtesy of Kathleen Harrigan

What did you do during the recruiting process before walk-on tryouts?

As a junior, I was mainly competing in equitation classes, such as the USEF Medal, Maclay, and Washington hunter and jumper phases. I was able to compete in both the USEF Medal Finals and Maclay Finals. After I graduated high school, I took a gap year and worked for some amazing people throughout the circuit. My working student experience made me a stronger rider. During that time, I competed and sent in videos and results to all the equestrian coaches. I made sure to contact them regularly, so they remembered who I was.

How did you decide TCU was the right school for you?

From the moment I stepped on campus during my junior year of high school, I knew I wanted to come here. It was always my top choice, regardless of the equestrian team. I loved the campus and felt like the school suited me academically.

Describe the TCU tryout process.

The first day of my freshman year, I met with the coaches, filled out a lot of paperwork and signed up for tryouts. I figured out what days worked with my class schedule to go to the barn and ride. The day of my tryout, the coaches watched me ride and I was evaluated over fences and on the flat. After the riding portion of the tryout, I was invited to participate in a week of team activities. This included practice, workouts and basically anything the current equestrian athletes were doing. At the end of the week, they offered me a spot, and here I am!

Has being a walk-on affected your experience on the equestrian team?

I don’t think it has affected my experience on the team. The coaches did a great job of integrating me with the girls and made me feel like I was equal to everyone else. The transition was smooth and simple thanks to both the coaching staff and the girls. The only thing that I felt was different was my appreciation for my spot on the roster. Being a walk-on made me work harder and always strive to do my absolute best. It’s a special opportunity that I’m very thankful for.

Kathleen poses with teammate Jada Taylor during a home meet.
Photo by Many Fithian

Now that you have been on the team for a year, how has your role changed?

My role changed gradually over the year. In the beginning, I was still adjusting to the schedule. I was working really hard and was given the opportunity to exhibition and travel with the team several times.  At the end of the year, I was given the Coach’s Award, which recognized all of my hard work and dedication throughout the season. The award truly solidified my love for the team and everything I’d brought to it during the season. I’m looking to keep building on that this season and taking on more of a leadership role as the incoming freshmen join our team.

What’s the best advice to give someone going into walk-on tryouts?

My best advice would be to pick a school that you’re passionate about going to regardless of the team. No one knows what’s going to happen, and you have to be happy there no matter how tryouts go. That was my biggest thing about TCU. It’s also important to come into tryouts as strong as possible. You need to be academically, mentally and physically prepared for not only tryouts, but also for what might come after. During tryouts, make sure to communicate with the coaches and ask any questions you have about the team. Lastly, do your best to integrate yourself into the team and establish that you really want to be there.

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Tagged under: Kathleen Harrigan, ncaa, texas christian university

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We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on o We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on our socials where we share some of the lovely stallions, and their breeders featured in each month's magazine. Our first feature on this #STUDSunday is...

 ✨ALVESTA OWAIN✨
Thistledown Arctic Lore x Alvesta Fairy Lustre
13.1hh, Welsh section B
Stud Fee $750 (plus collection)
AI only and EVA negative
Fairfield, VA

Contact Cheryl Maye at (703) 431-9096 for more information
https://www.mayeshowponies.com/more-info/stallions

You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

📸  SAS Equestrian
‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️ The purpose of this ‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️

The purpose of this month’s column is to help the young equestrians of our sport develop and maintain healthy friendships within the industry. Cultivating healthy relationships with other members within the industry is not as easy as one may think. As a young equestrian, it may be difficult navigating friendships at the barn and at horse shows. Typically, kids have friendships within the barn they ride at but also friendships with others from different barns in their area. 

Initially, it may seem as though making other friends in the sport would be easy and ideal; after all, there is the common interest of horses. However, because of the natural therapeutic benefits of horses, the sport has a history of attracting all types of people, with a wide range of personalities. This can be both an advantage and a drawback. We are now in an era that acknowledges the growing need to discuss and manage one’s mental health. 

One thing I have learned is that we are likely to notice mental health challenges at an age younger than most people may think. Some of the friendship dynamics I have observed over the years have caused me to pause and really think about the future of our sport. Without looking for a source to blame for the cause of this, i.e. social media, parents, school, teachers, etc., I think if all adults involved worked to encourage, affirm, love, and respect our youth, the likelihood of them developing authentic friendships with their peers may increase.

Both humans and horses were designed to have connected relationships. These relationships allow a greater sense of security when one experiences challenges in life. Cultivating the quality and authenticity of these relationships requires intentional work. 

Thank you Rob for providing your helpful insight on developing healthy relationships. Check out his tips in his column you can find in the link in our bio.
Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine🦄 

Photo by Blenheim Equisports

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #sidelinesmagzine
Don't get caught without your green on today!🍀🍀
 
In today's featured article, we have Jessica Howington, who is dressed for the occasion in her green shirt! Jessica is the Owner/Rider at CrownView Dressage, a Realtor with Showcase Properties of Central Florida, and a Nurse Practitioner! Jessica has been involved with horses since she was a little girl. Everything from bareback to eventing she tried until she found her love for dressage.

Today, she and her family own CrownView Dressage, a 157-acre training, boarding, and breeding facility in Ocala, Florida. Jessica started training and teaching but felt as if her life was still missing something. Until Jessica focused on horses full-time, she didn’t realize how important the healthcare field was to her life. Jessica missed seeing patients and being in the medical field. Jessica is now back to working again as a nurse practitioner while also focusing on training her five competition horses, including her Grand Prix mare Cavalia. 

Jessica feels lucky 🍀 to have two amazing parents who have supported her in all of her endeavors and instilled the importance of work ethic, morals, dedication, and sacrifice. 

You can read all about Jessica and how she's finding fulfillment in her busy lifestyle in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine! Click the link in our bio for more 

✳️Tag us in your “lucky” photos for a chance to be featured on our story! Happy st. Patrick’s day everyone!🍀🍀

📸Photos by Melissa Fuller, msfullerphotography.com 

#stpatricksday #irish #stpattysday #green #ireland #luckoftheirish #stpaddysday #shamrock #happystpatricksday #lucky #saintpatricksday #leprechaun #stpatricks #stpatrick #kissmeimirish #clover #paddysday #march #potofgold #stpattys #love #beer #guinness #shopsmall #handmade #stpatricksdaydecor #stpatricksdayoutfit #fourleafclover #stpatricksdayparade #luckycharms
Like many equestrians, eventer Devon Tresan is no Like many equestrians, eventer Devon Tresan is no stranger to balancing a busy schedule. From serving as president of the Pony Club South Region Youth Board to working on her online high school courses and modeling gigs, Devon has nearly every minute of her time planned out. And with her horses right in her backyard in Ball Ground, Georgia, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Devon’s fast-paced lifestyle stems from growing up around her parents’ animal casting business, Animal Casting Atlanta, where they train and provide animals for projects in the film industry. Devon’s parents, Carol and Greg, took her on her first film job at just two weeks old; both parents pushed Devon toward acting when she was younger. While Devon didn’t want to be an actor herself, she did follow in their footsteps with her love of animals, especially horses. 

“My parents’ company has provided animals for ‘The Hunger Games,’ ‘Black Panther,’ ‘Suicide Squad,’ a majority of the Marvel TV shows, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and so many more,” Devon said.

Devon started her equestrian journey when she was 9 years old. Initially, the Tresans bought a flashy gray Welsh pony, I Am Superman, for Devon to take in the hunter ring. However, Superman lived up to his name and proved to be too speedy for the job. 

“He was super cute and just a great little ride,” Devon said, “but he was still a pony! He made me work hard for everything we accomplished together. I was lucky enough to ride with a trainer who did both hunters and eventing, so we were able to switch disciplines pretty easily. Those eventing lessons together kickstarted my love for the sport.”

Read all about Devon and her busy life in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more
@TrDevon Lane Tresan  @Devontresan

📸Photo by Carol Lane Tresan
📸Photo courtesy of Devon Tresan
📸Modeling photo by Sara Hanna, @atlphotos 

#model #fashion #photography #love #style #instagood #photooftheday #beauty #instagram #beautiful #like #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #horselover #instahorse #Sidelinesmagazine
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