5 college students awarded usef increased schooling equestrian scholarship


Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian (USEF) is happy to announce the 5 recipients of the USEF Increased Schooling Equestrian Scholarships for graduating high-school seniors. Created to assist college students who’re dedicated to persevering with their involvement in equestrian sport whereas in faculty by means of an equestrian-related diploma, volunteerism, or internship; driving on an intercollege equestrian group; or different equestrian-related exercise, the scholarship awards a $1,000 grant to every recipient for use in direction of training bills at their respective faculty or college.

 

The 5 recipients are:

 

Kendall Austin (Virginia Seashore, Va.) is attending Texas A&M College this fall and is majoring in Biology and Chemistry with the purpose of medical or veterinary college sooner or later. She started competing in horse reveals on the age of six and has earned prime ends in hunter pony and junior hunter divisions at A-circuit hunter jumper reveals. Austin overcame a childhood sickness with the assistance of horses, and she is going to now proceed her driving profession on Texas A&M’s Nationwide Collegiate Equestrian Affiliation group.

 

“I credit score the horses and my relationship with them for all of the restoration and success in my life. Whereas nonetheless present process therapy, I went straight from the two’9” on my giant pony to the three’6” Juniors on my new horse Bandit, aka ‘Decide Six.’ Like some other athlete, I set objectives for myself as a aggressive rider. I push myself, and I’ve conquered obstacles as a teen that almost all adults would wrestle to beat. In contrast to different athletes, the objectives that I set for myself had been depending on one other residing and respiration creature—the horse,” mentioned Austin. “I’d not have been in a position to obtain my objectives with out the care and consideration of the opposite element who shares in my success. I discovered at a younger age the significance of the bond that exists between an equestrian and the horse. I’ve by no means had a groom and I’ve spent extra time caring for the horses than precise driving time, and in alternate they’ve led me to success. The horses and my involvement within the equestrian sport have taught me to by no means quit or give in, at all times anticipate the surprising, and most significantly that the toughest roads in life typically educate us the best classes. My experiences with the horses have molded me into a person that can proceed to thrive in any setting.”

 

Study extra concerning the hunter self-discipline by visiting our acknowledged affiliate, the United States Hunter Jumper Affiliation.

 

Augusta Rose Lewis (Longmont, Colo.) is attending Colorado State College within the fall and pursuing a Bachelor of Science as an honors scholar within the Equine Science division. She started driving on the age of 4 and vaulting on the age of eight. Lewis has been to 2 FEI Vaulting World Championships for Juniors, going as a squad alternate in 2019 and as a member of the silver medal-winning squad in 2021. She is within the enterprise and science aspect of the horse trade and hopes to mix her passions to contribute to equestrian sport.

 

“Looking forward to the long run, I would like to have the ability to give again to the horse group that has given me a lot, in addition to nonetheless develop with it. Horses are grounded, massive, sleek, delicate, loving, and humorous. Being round them has made me a greater particular person, giving me confidence, emotional and bodily energy, and pleasure,” mentioned Lewis. “I’ve seen how horses can work magic with individuals who have disabilities, emotional points, or have suffered trauma. Horses naturally convey folks collectively and create communities of caring folks. That is one thing we’d like extra of in our world, and I wish to be a part of sharing and creating that particular equine group.”

 

Study extra concerning the vaulting self-discipline by visiting our acknowledged affiliate, the American Vaulting Affiliation.

 

Ian McFarlin (Canton, Ga.) is attending the College of Florida within the fall, pursuing a Mechanical Engineering/Pre-Veterinary diploma, and driving on the Intercollegiate Horse Reveals Affiliation group. Regardless of solely beginning his driving journey 5 years in the past, McFarlin has discovered a lot success within the present ring, profitable the Varsity Open Equitation on the Flat on the 2022 Interscholastic Equestrian Affiliation Nationwide Finals. He has volunteered at an equine veterinary hospital and therapeutic driving middle, and hopes to mix his passions right into a profession creating “assistive and rehabilitative medical gadgets for horses and their riders.”

 

“Equestrian sport has given me an extremely priceless talent set, in addition to a wholly totally different outlook on life. Maybe most significantly, my publicity to this wonderful world has given me a brand new yardstick by which to measure myself and others,” mentioned McFarlin. “Actual horsemen, I’ve discovered, decide others not by look, title, or web value, however by the care and consideration given to the horse and his wants and the willingness to work onerous and sacrifice for the great of our equine companions and our sport. It’s success underneath this measure to which I aspire.”

 

Study extra concerning the hunter self-discipline by visiting our acknowledged affiliate, the United States Hunter Jumper Affiliation.

 

Christina Spiliotis (Centennial, Colo.) is attending the College of Kentucky within the fall and majoring in Equine Science and Administration. She first rode a horse on the age of 4 and has competed in numerous features of equestrian sport, together with Western pleasure and hunt seat courses at American Saddlebred reveals and A-circuit hunter jumper reveals. Spiliotis was identified with epilepsy on the age of 12 with a set off of in-depth studying, inflicting her to regulate her studying model with the assistance of audio textbooks and voice-to-text.

 

“This can assist me proceed my horse ardour and improve my equine training. It’ll enable me to have extra funding to place in direction of my driving actions and permit me to discover my new Kentucky environment throughout my college years,” mentioned Spiliotis. “Since most of my aggressive horse experiences have been based mostly in Colorado and the west, I’ll now be capable to discover the totally different circuits in Kentucky which is able to additional speed up my training and expertise. Since my Kentucky driving expertise has centered across the World’s Championship Horse Present through the years, I’m trying ahead to residing in Kentucky and exploring many extra Kentucky alternatives. This is without doubt one of the most important causes that drew me in direction of choosing the College of Kentucky for faculty.”

 

Study extra concerning the American Saddlebred by visiting our acknowledged affiliate, the American Saddlebred Horse & Breeders Affiliation.

 

Clara Jean Thompson (Cornersville, Tenn.) is attending Clemson College within the fall and learning Pre-Skilled Well being Research. Whereas she was a four-year-old lead line champion, Thompson didn’t experience horses once more till the age of 15 when a path experience led to an curiosity in horses and a summer time job at a horse farm. She has acquired prime ends in a short while, starting from top-three finishes on the Tennessee Central Area and State 4-H Horse Reveals and 4-H Extension horse present judging, and top-10 finishes on the Junior North American Discipline Hunter Championship. Thompson will proceed driving horses whereas in faculty as she begins her journey to turn out to be a pediatric basic surgeon.

 

“To say I’ve personally grown due to the equine trade is a little bit of an understatement,” mentioned Thompson. “I discovered this development at a time in my life when it was most wanted. I’ve at all times been the highest of my class intellectually, however not at all times well-liked socially. These horses have given me an outlet that I had not present in some other sport. These horses have revived a ardour in me that I had misplaced.”

 

Discover out extra concerning the US Equestrian Increased Schooling Equestrian Scholarship.

 

Congratulations to the US Equestrian Increased Schooling Equestrian Scholarship winners. Study extra concerning the youth packages supplied by means of US Equestrian.

 

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