Naomi Dachis: Rising Up After Being Kicked Down
Friday, June 27 2025
By Jessica Grutkowski
Portraits by Ella Petereson
Cue the song “Fireball,” and into the ring trots Naomi Dachis, a competitive rider on the Sweet Briar College NCEA equestrian team. Her red hair is tucked neatly up in her helmet, … [Read more]
- Published in General, Weekly Feature
Isabel McGovern: Walking On, Despite the Odds
Thursday, June 19 2025
By Jessica Grutkowski
Portraits by Lauren Ann Wagner
Isabel McGovern had nothing to lose when she attended tryouts for Auburn University’s National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) team on her first day of school freshman year. The chances of being recruited … [Read more]
- Published in General, Sidelines Feature, Weekly Feature
Sydney Berube: Finding a Home at Texas Christian University
Thursday, September 01 2022
By Jan Westmark Bauer
Portraits by Isabel J. Kurek
Sydney Berube has been riding her entire life, thanks to her mother who had a passion for horses and passed it on to her daughter. Growing up in Bedford, New Hampshire, … [Read more]
- Published in Weekly Feature
Ava Stearns: Academics and Auburn Equestrian
Monday, March 02 2020
By Carter Anderson - Ava Stearns is a name many in the horse industry know and admire. She credits her success as a junior to trainer Missy Clark and North Run Farm. During her time with North Run, she discovered college riding through Maggie Gampfer, an assistant trainer who was on the equestrian team at Oklahoma State. This opened Ava’s eyes to college riding as a possibility in her life. Fast forward, Ava is now in her second semester of freshman year at Auburn University and is truly enjoying not only the team but also her academic course load. Currently, Ava is an undeclared math and science major and her passion for learning will hopefully lead her to graduate school.
- Published in Sidelines Spotlight
Erica Rosinski’s Journey to Fresno State and Becoming a Bulldog
Thursday, January 30 2020
By Carter Anderson - Erica Rosinski is from Charlotte, North Carolina, and is currently a senior on the Fresno State equestrian team in Fresno, California. She began her collegiate riding career in Las Cruces, New Mexico, at New Mexico State University. After Erica moved over 1,700 miles to pursue her dream of riding in college and fell in love with Mexican food, the equestrian program was removed from NMSU athletics. She decided to continue her collegiate equestrian career at Fresno State.
- Published in General
Abbie Hopkins: Life as a Skyhawk at University of Tennessee Martin
Wednesday, December 11 2019
Abbie Hopkins, a junior at the University of Tennessee at Martin (UTM), is a Skyhawk through and through. Her love for warm weather and passion for horses brought her all the way from Seekonk, Massachusetts, to Martin to join 43 … [Read more]
- Published in General
Kirsten Ostling: The Ins and Outs of Equitation on the Flat
Friday, September 13 2019
Southern Methodist University junior Kirsten Ostling didn’t always know the ins and outs of the flat ring like she does now. Like most collegiate Equitation on the competitors, the format is something they pick up within the first few weeks … [Read more]
- Published in General
Mimi Wroten and the Sweet Briar Vixens Take on the NCEA
Monday, August 13 2018
By Carter Anderson
The Sweet Briar Vixens, of Sweet Briar College in Virginia, have completed their first year as a National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) team with Head Coach Mimi Wroten leading the way. Mimi is excited to add to … [Read more]
- Published in Sidelines Spotlight
National Titles for Caitlin Boyle and Auburn University Equestrian
Monday, July 09 2018
By Carter Anderson
Caitlin Boyle knows a thing or two about riding into the winner’s circle, not only from her junior career but in her collegiate career as well. Caitlin attends Auburn University, where she is a vital piece to … [Read more]
- Published in Weekly Feature