Equestrian team sends one to nationals
Brian Booth was able to end a one-year drought for the USU equestrian team by qualifying for nationals, which will be h in Nashville, Tenn. April 24.
Booth is in his second year with the team. Last year he represented the team at the semi-final competition, but this year placed second in the individual competitions which will allow him to compete for the national championship. He will be competing at the National Finals Horse Show in the individuals beginner walk-trot class.
The official title of the organization is the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. The more common name is the equestrian team, which is divided into two separate teams, an English style and a Western style. Booth qualified in the Western-style competition.
“English is more horse jumping, Western is more cowboy,” said Rebecca Lewis, coach of the Western style.
Booth was the only member of the equestrian team to qualify for nationals, after the team was shut out last year.
Every member of the team qualified for nationals two years ago, and USU has held the distinction of being regional champs for the last three years, Lewis said. USU has the means, the demographics and the skills necessary to be a major force in equestrian events for years to come, she said.
The current team finished seventh at the semi-final competition in Findlay, Ohio, ranking them as one of the top 21 teams in the nation.
Equestrian events are relatively new to collegiate competition and USU has only fielded a team for the last eight years.
Booth, a senior majoring in equine science and management, hopes to be able to parlay the animal training skills learned here at USU to a slightly different breed of animals. Booth’s goal is to one day work at SeaWorld training killer whales. However, because there aren’t many killer whale programs nationwide, Booth said he chose to hone his skills at one of the top agriculture programs in the nation.
However, Booths road to nationals has not been made easy.
Like most programs on campus, the equestrian team has been hit by recent budget cuts, forcing its only national qualifier to foot the costs of going to compete by himself. Costs include transportation to Tennessee, meals and hotel accommodations, just to cover the basics.
Lewis said for anyone interested in joining the team, open tryouts are held in the fall. Notices of the tryout should be posted around the Quad and TSC with more specific times and places. Lewis said that typically 100 people try out but that everyone is invited, she said.
“We have got riders who have been riding since they hit the ground and we also have riders who haven’t been riding until they came to tryouts,” she said.
Participants from any major or background are invited. Booth is one of those who hadn’t competed at all before coming to USU, but now stands poised to claim a national championship.
For those interested in the equestrian program, whether as a donor, competitor or simply as a spectator, more information can be obtained by contacting Lewis, or English-style head coach Colette Floyd.
For those wishing to help pay Booths way to nationals, donations in the form of checks can be given to any member of the team, Lewis said.
–gregory.aullman@aggiemail.usu.edu