Riding High: Equestrian Program Making Great Strides at AU

By Katie Jackson

When Auburn University's equestrian team came home with the Varsity National Equestrian Championship trophy last April, it was a remarkable coup for a relatively young Auburn sport. But it was no real surprise to those working with the team, and it heralds the beginning of a new Auburn point of pride.

According to Greg Williams, head coach for the team, the 34 young women on the 2006 team entered the national competition with a degree of confidence, but no guarantees they would win.

"We expected to do really well, but to win in this sport you have to have more than talent," he says. "Everything has to come together. The riders are ultimately responsible for their performances, but they also have to have good rounds with good horses."

All those factors came together for Auburn during the championship and the team won the 2006 Varsity Equestrian Championships with 30 total points-the first equestrian national championship in Auburn's history.

Since that time, the team has received a great deal of national and regional media coverage (they haven't made Sports Illustrated yet, says Williams, but only because the magazine doesn't cover "emerging" sports.) In addition, Williams has been speaking at civic and alumni club meetings all across the country to talk about the team's success story.

"It's an on-going opportunity to educate people about equestrian events," says Williams, who notes that more and more people are attending the meets and expressing an interest in the sport and the equine industry.

The strength of Alabama's horse industry was further illustrated in an Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station (AAES) research project. Joe Molnar, a CoAg professor of agricultural economics and rural sociology, recently published a new AAES bulletin, cosponsored by the Alabama Horse Association, on the economic impact of the horse industry. The report that showcases the industry's strength (it's worth some $2.4 billion annually to the state) and its potential for growth (see story).

In addition, CoAg's Department of Animal Sciences recently began offering an equine option major for students interested in working in the horse industry. Already there are 14 students enrolled in that program.

"Now that the equine science option is approved and is out on our Web site, and information is getting out about it, I think a lot more of the current high school seniors will see it, and many of them will declare it on their Auburn application," says Dale Coleman, professor of animal sciences who is the department's academic adviser.

Okay, so there's the success of the AU equestrian team and a rapidly growing interest in Auburn's new equine option.not to mention the already legendary reputation of AU's College of Veterinary Medicine as a leader in equine health training, treatment and research. All those factors offer a perfect chance to build a unique new partnership at Auburn-a proposed Center for Equine Education, Research and Performance.

Such a center is in the planning stages and will be a joint venture with the AU colleges of agriculture and veterinary medicine and AU Athletics. More information on the center will be available in future issues of Ag Illustrated, as will more updates on the equestrian team's season, or you can keep up with the team at the Auburn University Web site at http://auburntigers.cstv.com/sports/w-equest/aub-w-equest-body.html.

As for the 2006-2007 season, Williams is not counting on nor discounting the possibility of a 2007 national championship. "We're going to continue working on winning," he says, "but we also will be working on the important things, such as the team's involvement in the community and high academic standards. We intend to keep our 100 percent graduation rate, and continue to win Top Tiger award with most community service and team support. We've won it each year every year since they have had it."

"We're adding members to the team this year," he adds, noting there are now 40 members on the team. "It could continue to grow even more if our facilities continue to expand."

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