Today@Sam Article
SHSU Equestrian Team Hosts First English Horse Show
Dec. 19, 2024
SHSU Media Contact: Mikah Boyd
The Sam Houston State University Equestrian Team recently hosted its first ever English Horse Show with the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA). While the team has been around for only five years, Coach Karlie LeBlanc said that hosting the event solidified SHSU’s place as a leader in their division.
“Behind Texas State and Louisiana State University (LSU), Sam Houston is actually the third strongest team, even though we’ve only been competing in the region for four years,” LeBlanc said.
To LeBlanc, the key to the team’s success lies with team captain and SHSU junior, Sydney Walters. Walters joined the team upon her arrival at SHSU three years ago, bringing with her only a baseline amount of horseback riding experience and a passion for ponies.
“I came to Sam because I wanted to join the team here. At the time, it was still very small, and they were just starting to get around to competing,” Walters said, “I joined as an art major, but decided to try something new because I’ve loved horses my whole life. I changed my entire career path, but I know I found a home here at Sam with the team, so I’m very happy with where I’m at.”
The joy Walters experienced as a general member in the club encouraged her to continue pushing to perform. As she worked on her riding ability and dedicated herself to the team, LeBlanc took notice and nurtured Walters as a budding leader. Her guidance allowed Walters to rise to her current station as team captain and take the reins on organizing the team’s first show as hosts.
In the IHSA’s English shows, riders participate in flat and over-fences classes. In over-fences classes, riders jump their horses two to three feet, varying by division level. Riders in flat classes perform different gaits, or movements, such as walk, trot and canter, as well as other skills like the “two-point” position. While executing a perfect walk, trot, canter and jump can be challenging enough, riders in the IHSA meet their mounts the day of the competition.
“The amazing thing about IHSA and what we do as an organization is we offer the chance to show without all of the financial aspects of owning the horse,” LeBlanc said. “When we travel, I provide some of the horses that we use to train as a team, but they never know what horse they’re going to ride for the day until about 15 minutes before they walk into the ring. I think that’s amazing for these riders, because it really tests their skills, and it tests their bravery to get on a horse that they’ve never ridden before.”
Learning to face new horses and challenges helped prepare Walters for her role as captain. Her leadership skills came into play when the time came to orchestrate the event. This left Walters and LeBlanc to find a venue, secure donations, recruit other teams in their IHSA region for the competition and gather up enough horses to offer to all of the competitors on their own.
“I’m not going to lie, it was pretty overwhelming at first, but I had so much help from my co-captain (Hailee Eskelund), English ambassador (Lyndsey Ballard) and the team overall,” Walters said. “Everyone was eager to help out and they made the process so much easier, smoother and less overwhelming.”
LeBlanc was blown away by Walters’ leadership while the team was orchestrating the event. Adding to her sense of pride was the simple fact that her team, which is still in its early years, was able to step out and host shows just as their large competitors Texas State and LSU have done. When the show date arrived, the SHSU team was able to rest on their laurels knowing they not only performed well but did so under the added pressures of hosting.
“They deserve all the recognition in the world, we couldn't have run this show without them,” Walters said of her teammates. “Whether it was holding horses, getting them groomed and tacked up for their scheduled classes, directing parking or running the concession stand, everybody helped out so much and I'm so thankful to have them not only as teammates, but as my best friends.”
Walters’ appreciation extends to her peers not only on the English riding team but to the Western riders as well. While many of the Western team members were competing in Amarillo, those who remained close to home pitched in by holding horses, running concessions and doing other supportive tasks during the event.
The coach and captain realized the significance of what they’d done at very different times. Walters cruised through the preparations and event itself before the reality of it all hit her on the drive home with Ballard, as they both had a “we did it” moment shortly followed by tears. For LeBlanc, the first time she saw their program printed out, reading, “Hosted by Sam Houston State University” on the front page, and ready to distribute provided her with a flush of pride and a sense of accomplishment.
“It was the most humbling and prideful moment. It’s hard for me to put into words because I see these young people come into my barn and they’re learning to be adults outside of their home,” LeBlanc said. “But seeing Sydney, who came in as a general member, say, ‘I’m going to do this,’ then she became a captain and said we can put on a show. Seeing the initiative being taken was so humbling and proud all at the same time.”
With their first show as hosts being a major success, the team is excited to host many more in the future and are currently looking for new riders interested in joining them. To keep up with the SHSU Equestrian Team, follow them on Instagram and Facebook.
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