No horsing around: Equestrian team pushing forward through challenges
This new school year has brought some changes for the Utah State University’s English equestrian team. Fee prices have increased, and there is a new temporary coach, taking over the team after Colette Tebeau left last semester. The team has also been facing challenges due to a lack of support and recognition.
The team is considered a club, not a sport, by the university.
“As a club, we are able to be more flexible with member’s schedules, allowing them the outlet for horseback riding with the ability to focus on classes and other extracurricular activities when they need to,” said Jocelyn Cuthbert, the temporary coach for the English team. “Members don’t need to choose between doing something they love and exploring other aspects of college life. We give them the ability to do both and find their best balance.”
There are two riding teams, the western and the English team. USU charges $500 per team, per semester for use of its facility and horses once a week. This is a new charge and is one of the reasons for the increased fee prices. The second reason is due to the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, or IHSA, increasing its fees to $10 per rider, per show. The English team has three to four shows per school year.
“We are a nonprofit organization that operates using membership dues, donations and fundraising by team members,” said Sarah Price, one of the English team captains. “The only support we receive from the school is our coach, who is currently a graduate student here at USU.”
Fees this semester were $650 per team member. This is up $50 from the previous fall semester’s dues. However, the increased fees do not bother some of the riders and is even looked at as a good thing.
“To a non-horse person, the team fees would seem high, but showing horses for 11 years, it’s a great price,” said Abbey Spencer, one of the team’s newest members. “We have shows in Utah and Montana, and it costs money to travel and pay for judges and use of the facilities. If you’re dedicated to the sport the fee is acceptable because the more we are able to give to higher-level judges, the better feedback we can receive and improve our riding skills.”
Spencer said that the fees also go toward buying the riders team jackets, which helps promote the team and gain support, since a lot of people do not know the team exists.
The English team is not the only school in the district facing some challenges with gaining the support and recognition that they need.
“Our region is small and struggles to hold horse shows that can meet the IHSA requirements and have enough horses to accommodate all the riders,” Price said. “Due to the lack of support, there is not a strong English riding program in any of the schools in our region.”
For these reasons, the team had to already cancel one show this semester and will be hosting a home show in the spring semester, with or without a coach.
“This lack of support for the region makes me worried about the future of the English team as a whole,” Price said. “We are trying to keep our name out there and establish ourselves so that people can know about us and what we do and hopefully draw more support from the school.”
There have been some positive changes to the team as well. Cuthbert is the temporary coach until USU finds a replacement for Tebeau. Cuthbert brings her own style of teaching to the team and helps the riders work on more practical riding skills.
“Jocelyn has been great for the team this semester and brings a higher level of riding to the team, which is awesome,” Price said. “It’s been a challenge but because of all the changes and new things we are learning the team has had to be really proactive and communicate with one another, which creates good friendships and a great team environment.”
— jillian.mccarthy@aggiemail.usu.edu