Meet the SMU Western Coach: Trista Adkins

Once the western program was officially added to our equestrian team, the next task was for SMU to hire a western coach.

While starting a new program it is extremely important to hire the right coach that will make a good fit for the team. It was also extremely important for us since our hunt seat team was already so established last year and adding a whole new discipline could really effect our overall standings. Luckily in the middle of August, just before our season was about to get underway, SMU officially signed Trista Adkins to join the hilltop.

Adkins arrived at SMU in order to start and develop a strong western program. She comes to the program with previous experience starting a western team. In 2006 she was hired by Baylor, as the assistant coach of the equestrian program, to startup the Bears western team. In 2007 she led the team to a fifth-place western finish at the NCEA National Championship.

In 2001, Adkins graduated from Oklahoma State University where she was a member of the Division I riding program. After graduating she directly went into her coaching career at Ohio State University. Upon completion of the season she transferred to Fresno State University. There she led the Bulldogs to a reserve championship title at the 2004 IHSA Championship and a reserve title at the 2005 Varsity Equestrian National Championship.

After that she went on to Baylor where she spent five seasons creating and developing the young western program. Once finished at Baylor, she took time off to focus on training individual students and working for renowned western coaches in Texas.

Now SMU Equestrian is lucky enough to have her on the coaching staff, where she has definitely proved how successful she is at starting a young program. This fall season has definitely been a good one for the western program as we were able to keep up with all the highly ranked team and take numerous points from them.

Coach Adkins is truly an honor to work with and I have definitely enjoyed my transition into a western rider because of her! I look forward to continue working with her and the western team in the upcoming spring season, where we will hopefully achieve our ultimate goal of a national championship ring in April.

 

 

PONY UP!

My Transformation: Hunt Seat to Western

Unlike my last two years apart of SMU Equestrian, this year was going to be a lot different for me. I had accomplished my goals on the hunt seat riding discipline so I decided to make a dramatic change this season.  

I decided to go from this…

 

To this…

Since we just added the western program, we only had four western riding recruits coming to SMU. In order to benefit the entire Equestrian team though, we really needed five girls to compete in the western riding events. So, being the crazy person I am, I decided to begin my transformation into a western rider. 

Never having ridden western before this was going to be an extremely difficult task. Once I was officially on the western team, I only had less then two weeks to learn an entirely new style of riding before our first scrimmage. But I am forever reminded of Bethany Hamilton’s wise words, “I don’t want easy, just possible.”

Though it may seem like the transition from hunt seat to western is impossible to most, I was determined to prove that I could do it.

Here is a picture at one of my first western practices 

Throughout the semester I have worked extremely hard with the Coach Adkins and my fellow teammates on learning both horsemanship and reining. I am so thankful to all of them for helping me! Without their help and knowledge I could not have done it!

Because of them I have been able to compete successfully as a western rider this season!

Over the semester I won **** horsemanship points and *** reining points. At my last meet I was even the MVP in reining! I hold an overall combined western record of *-* for the season. I truly believe I have made a successful transition from a hunt seat rider to a western rider. 

You know.. people always ask, “So Courtney, do you miss hunt seat?”

Well the answer is no. I really enjoy riding western and have learned an incredible amount this semester. I am a true horse-person and enjoy learning everything I can about all riding disciplines. I am super happy I decided to make the switch because I probably have learned more this semester then most people could in years of riding. For that I am forever grateful to my fellow teammates and coach! 

 

Before this year, I had always dreamed of riding western and now I can officially say I am a western rider. 

 

 

My First Two Years On The SMU Equestrian Team

My first two years as a student-athlete at Southern Methodist University (SMU) were incredible and I will never forget them! I really could not have asked for a better collegiate riding experience, and I am still extremely grateful for everything that has happened to me.

My freshman year I competed in both the flat and jumping disciplines, and as just a freshman I could not have been more lucky. Coming in and being on the starting lineup was no longer just a dream, it was a reality for me. My real success came though during last season as a sophomore.

Since I was much more settled in and had goals in mind, I was ready to accomplish everything. During the season I mainly focused on jumping and only had a few performances on the flat. In jumping I went 9-2 over the regular season and had a first-round high score victory at the national championships in Waco, Texas. Besides that I also received two huge awards, Second Team Academic-All American and Second Team Equitation Over Fences All-American.

 

Finally to top off my incredible sophomore year, I was elected captain for the 2013-2914 season and also received two more very special awards that had truly shown my dedication and success over the course of the year.

The first award I received was at our team end of the year brunch. Our previous head coach, Haley Schoolfield, had chosen to award with me the special honor of the teams MVP over fences for the 2012-2013 season. I was honored by the award since two of my other teammates, and close friends, also had successful seasons like myself.

 

The biggest honor of my life was yet to be received though.

 

At the SMU All Sports banquet, at the end of the school year, I was blessed to be awarded the SMU Mustang Character Award. This award is voted on by all of the athletic department and is given to one male and one female student-athlete each year who are an inspiration to others, giving unselfishly of their time and talents for the betterment of the team.   

So like I said earlier…

My first two years apart of SMU Equestrian are ones I will never forget!

Truly blessed.

 

PONY UP!

 

 

NCAA Western Riding

In NCAA equestrian there are two different styles of riding on the team. One of the styles is known as Western riding.

 

Western riding evolved from the ranching and warfare traditions brought to the Americas by the Spanish Conquistadors. Both the equipment and riding style evolved to meet the working needs of the cowboy in the American West. A western saddle is large and heavy with a design to spread the weight of the rider over a large area of the horses back. Most western riding horses are ridden on little or no contact and the rider uses their seat, his weight and neck-reining to give aids to the horse.

In both NCAA western riding events, riders are judged starting at a base score of 70 points. During their performance, the judge may then add or subtract points based on the maneuvers performed. Penalties can also be assessed for major, minor and severe errors. A final score is then given as well as a collective mark based on the overall performance and effectiveness of the rider.

Western scoring for maneuvers is as follows:

+1 1/2 = Excellent

+1 = Very Good

+1/2 = Good

0 = Average

-1/2 = Insufficient

-1 = Bad

-1 1/2 = Very Bad.

In the world of equestrian, Western riding has numerous different disciplines, but NCAA riders only compete in horsemanship and reining.

Horsemanship is an event where the rider is judged on on their ability to ride a predetermined pattern that consists of 7-9 maneuvers plus a collective mark. A horsemanship pattern, riders should show complete control, precision, accuracy and smoothness during the maneuvers. Execution and correct form of both the horse and rider while performing the pattern are essntial. Maneuvers may include walk, jog, trot, lope and extension of these gaits, pivots, lead changes, counter canter and no stirrups.

On the contrary to horsemanship, reining is an event judged on a horse’s willingness to be guided and controlled with little or no apparent resistance. This event is not based on the riders position like horsemanship. Judges mainly look for precision, technical application of natural aids and the rider’s ability to show a horse. Reining movements include small slow circles, large fast circles, lead changes, back, rollbacks, 360-degree spins, and sliding stops.

 

Even though both of these western disciplines are extremely different, they are well known riding styles in the equestrian show circuit, which is why they were the selected western styles for NCAA riding.

If you have any questions, please comment on my blog!  I am more then happy to answer them!

NCAA Hunter Seat Equitation

As mentioned in a previous blog, there are two different styles of riding in NCAA. One of the styles is known as hunter seat equitation, which is actually a specific type of English riding.

 

An English rider has direct contact with the horse’s mouth through the reins and uses them to aid the horse along with their seat and legs. This gives the rider complete control of the direction and speed of the horse. An English saddle is typically small and light and designed to give the rider close contact with the horse’s back.

Hunter seat equitation, usually just referred to as hunt seat, is a type of riding that is based on the riders ability, style and body position while jumping over fences or riding on the flat. In NCAA riding, these two disciplines are specifically known as equitation over fences and equitation on the flat.

 

 

In equitation over fences, the riders are judged not only on their ability to negotiate a course of jumps on their horses, but also on their style and position while they do it. The overall goal is to execute a smooth and consistent round, using invisible aids to make the round seem completely effortless. In NCAA equitation over fence, a jumping course consists of eight to ten jumps at a height of 3’-3’6’’. The jumping round is scored based on the judge’s discretion and the rider will receive a single score from 0-100.

 

In equitation on the flat for the NCAA, riders must perform a predetermine pattern. They are judged on their body position, use of aids, precision and accuracy of maneuvers, ability to work in harmony with the horse, leg strength and style.

The pattern consists of nine maneuvers within a rectangular-shaped, lettered arena, just like dressage. Maneuvers that can be demonstrated are the walk, trot, and canter, the extended and collected versions of the precious gaits, counter-canter, halt, back, lateral work, and no stirrups. Each of the nine maneuvers is scored from 0-10, along with an overall collective mark based on the judged discretion of the rider. These numbers are than added together for an overall score of 0-100.

Maneuvers are scored on the following scale:

10 = Excellent

9 = Very Good

8 = Good

7 = Fairly Good

6 = Satisfactory

5 = Sufficient

4 = Insufficient

3 = Fairly Bad

2 = Bad

1 = Very Bad

0 = Not Executed.

That is just an overview of the events used in NCAA riding for hunter seat equitation. If you have any questions, please comment and I will respond!

Even though I usually write about equestrian, I feel it is important for us all to be reminded of one of my greatest inspirations. She has truly shown everyone that we can do anything when we put our minds to it, even if have a life changing, near death experience.

Whether you know everything about surfing or nothing, you have heard of Bethany Hamilton. 

  

When she was just 13-years-old she was attacked by a shark and her entire left arm was ripped off.

It was just an ordinary day for young Bethany as she paddled out with her friend and father’s friend at Tunnel Beach in Kauai on October 31, 2003. Less than an hour of being in the water, she was attacked. Quickly she was rushed to a hospital where she almost died from losing 60% of her blood, but this young girl was a fighter.

 

Watch her story below:

Her bravery and courage are just two things people can admire from Bethany. Not even a month after being attacked, she was back in the water teaching herself how to surf with only one arm. She was not going to let a 13-foot tiger shark and the loss of her arm stand in the way of her passion for surfing.

Bethany was not only just able to surf again, she was able to become a professional and compete and place at numerous major tournaments. To learn more about her accomplishments click on this link to her website!

Career Highlights

Numerous books, television series, and movies have been released in honor of Bethany and her amazing story. She has also traveled around talking to people hoping that her story inspires others to never stop trying even when the impossible happens. Throughout years this woman has truly made a lastly impression on many people and is honored for that. She is definitely an amazing role model for everyone to look up to.

Bethany is still a prominent figure today even though it has been 10 years since the attack. She was recently married in August to Adam Dirks and is currently in production for Dolphin Tale 2. Bethany hopes to continue to stars in movies and television shows as herself to continue her story for many more years.

 

“Courage doesn’t mean you don’t get afraid. Courage means you don’t let fear stop you”

               -Bethany Hamilton 

 

What Will Tomorrow Bring?

 

Pulling down the driveway of BuckBranch Farm, you could see them, the SMU equestrian coaches, hard at work. One coach stood in the middle of the arena directing some student athletes where to put jumps for the upcoming horse show, while the other coach and student athletes were quickly unload large gates and fences from a nearby truck. With eight jumps, the coaches created a jumping course in order to prepare for the upcoming competition against South Dakota State University tomorrow.

 

Together the coaches were able to direct the girls and organize a challenging course for the horse show. With numerous difficult obstacles the girls would have to listen to the coaches directions on how to ride the course. This meant that the coaches would really have to work together to prepare the girls in the best way possible.

 

After the arena was ready, the student athletes mounted their horses and began to jump some of the smaller option jumps. The coaches watched the girls and supervised to make sure everything was going well. Once the girls were confident the coaches raised the jumps to make the fence height higher.

 

Once the girls had tackled the course set for tomorrows show, the coaches wandered off into the barn together smiling. They knew it had been a successful day at the farm and they felt that the girls were ready to win the following morning.

 

Inside the office the coaches designed a meticulous schedule to layout the day to have the horse show run smoothly. Since the entire show had to be moved indoors the coaches worked together to formulate specific jobs for each student athlete to do during the long day of the competition.

 

Both of the coaches were had a stressed look on their face. You could tell both were worried for the competition even though the girls had practiced well. “The team needs this win,” one coach said to the other. Slowly a smile crossed the other coach’s face and said, “We got this and our girls are more then prepared. Lets just wait and see what tomorrow brings.” 

 

One of the SMU riders practicing the course for the show! 

 

 

What will tomorrow bring?

PONY UP! 

 

SMU EQUESTRIAN DOWNS NMSU

 

This season the team is off to an amazing start! After winning the scrimmage at Baylor and now winning the first official competition of the season, I could not be more thrilled!  

 

It was a close matchup for the team but we all worked together to pull through with a victory. The official score was 10-9-1 with the overall raw score being 1358-1338.5. This was definitely extremely close and the team needs to learn how to not let meets get down to the last point.

 

The day started out with the hunt seat jumping roster leader the pack with a 4-1 victory over NMSU. While running simultaneously, horsemanship took place and defeated the Aggies 3-2. In horsemanship I was one of the riders who contributed a point with a score of 69.5.

 

The second half of the competition kicked off with the flat roster winning 3-2. Reining finished out the day with a loss to NMSU but did manage to tie them in one point, which gave us the overall win for the day!

 

SMU Equestrian is on the rise and nothing will hold us back this year. Even though we have a young western team, we will find a way to balance hunt seat and western in order to qualify for nationals in April 2014.

 

Once again CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who competed and to the entire team on this victory! I know I could not be more proud and I look forward to our next competition this Sunday at home again UTM!

 

 

 

Here is the official score sheet from the show!!!

 

Click to access stats_20130927aaa.pdf

 

 

PONY UP Y’ALL! 

 

SMU Equestrian For The Win

 

 

We did it!

Our first competition of the year was a scrimmage against the Baylor Bears, and we won! We ended up tying the Bears 11-11 and went to a raw score tally for the victory. The end result was 1460-1187.25.

With a bus full of freshman and a few veterans, we left campus at 6:45 a.m. to head to Waco for the day. The hunt seat roster included freshman, Julia Fowler, Sylvia de Toledo, Charlotte Jacobs, Taylor Schmidt, Isabel Eastment, sophomore, Colleen McKenzie, and senior, Renick Townsend. On the western side, making its debut season, consisted of freshman, Morgan Redwine, Jaclyn White, Hannah McCain, transfer junior, Kristen Schramm, and myself. This is our western teams inaugural season, so it was an exciting day for all of us.

The day started off a little slow as we showed up late to our competition.  Rushing around and making sure everyone was prepared for the big “W” was not an easy task. We all quickly suited up in our clothes and started watching the horses warm up. You could see everyone had some nervous tension, but we all channeled it to ride even better during the competition.

In jumping, the score ended up a tie in points, 3-3. In horsemanship we lost 2-3. Then we ended up rallying back with a 4-2 victory over the Bears on the flat. Lastly, we lost in reining 2-3. This left our hunt seat team with 7 points and our western team with 4 points.

The Baylor Equestrian team was the 2012 hunt seat National Champions and 2013 National Semifinalists, so to tie such an established team put an automatic smile on all of our faces, but we still wanted the win. After we boarded the bus, we anxiously awaited the final raw score to come in. We knew the final score would be exceptionally close, but as the coached entered the bus she exclaimed that we ended up beating Baylor by 272.75 points!

What a way to start the season we all shouted! Overfilled with joy and happiness, we were all so proud of each other and our victory. It will be an amazing season and we are ready for our first regular season competition to get underway against New Mexico State University on September 26!

PONY UP!

The SMU Western Team

The official SMU press release:

http://www.smumustangs.com/sports/w-equest/spec-rel/091413aac.html

The official competition scoresheet:

Click to access stats_20130914aaa.pdf

Equestrian is an NCAA sport?

The answer is YES!

Most people do not know, but Equestrian is a Division I Collegiate sport, and it is on the rise across the country. Currently there are 18 Division 1 schools and 4 Division II schools according the NCEA (National Collegiate Equestrian Association) website.

Each school has two teams that makeup the Equestrian sport. There is a hunt-seat team and a western team. A new rule was made this past year that a school must have both teams in order to qualify for Nationals. In the past my school, SMU, was able to attend Nationals with just our hunt-seat team, but this year we were forced to start a western program.

For those of you who are not horse fanatics unlike myself let me explain the different disciplines that we do at the collegiate level.

Hunt-seat is the “english” style of riding in which we have two disciplines, flat and jumping. The flat is done in a dressage arena with a flat pattern test. This test is used to challenge both the horse and rider while judging the rider’s position and the accuracy of the movements. In jumping a course is set of about 8 jumps. Each combination goes over the jumps and gets penalized for mistakes. The rider’s position is also very important while jumping. The judge looks very closely at that and the smoothness of the course.

Western’s two disciplines are horsemanship and reining. Horsemanship is much like the hunt-seat flat. They are given a pattern with movements and are judged on position and accuracy. Western though is much slower paced then hunt-seat. Here it is much more about control and supposed to look effortless. Reining on the other hand is much more about speed and efficiency. In reining the riders are given a pattern full of circles, sliding stops, and spins. Below is an attached link of a reining video from the 2012 AQHA World Championships.

With SMU just adding a western team it will be interesting to see what happens. Our first scrimmage is Saturday against Baylor. We will head to Waco with a van of rookies to see what they have. Then with a combination of our veterans and rookies, our roster will be stacked for success this year! I look forward to what the new season brings when we kick off at home against New Mexico State University on September 26.