Elli Yeager

The sun was just peeking out of the sky as early dawn broke over the World Equestrian Center. The second time in history that the Mustangs made it to the final day of the NCEA Championships and we felt ready. 

The team did a bunch of cheers and really got hyped up, and the cheers from the other teams made us feel ready to take on the Tigers.  I laughed a little when I say the other teams wearing our colors and holding signs that said “hunting season” and displayed mustangs on top and tigers on the bottom. Our team added a little glitter face art for good measure, and turned to face our competitors. Let the games begin! 

We intimidated the other term right from the start with our reigning team grabbing all 4 points. Then we added a little drama when one of the Auburn horsemanship girls was given a foul for drawing blood on her horse’s side. Zero for Auburn and 3 for SMU. The Western team members had dominated, and now it was time for the English team to bring home the win.

The flat riders did not disappoint, earning two points and a tie to put Auburn on the defensive. SMU only needed one point from the fences riders to ensure the championships. When the very first rider earned her point, the  whole stadium erupted in cheers and happy tears.

The SMU Equestrian team just made history. We won our first national championship in Equestrian. It was well-deserved and hard-earned, but it made all the ups and downs of the 22/23 season worth the victory.  Now it’s time to get some much-needed sleep. 

Day two was the day that our team spirit really showed. We had stayed up late the day before making signs to cheer each other on and break up the pressure we were all feeling with a little fun. 

As we waved our blue-striped “Pony Express” and polka-dotted  “Pony Up” high in the air in the stands, the competition really began to gain momentum. First the fences girls killed it, and I was relieved to bring a point to the team.  Then we gained more and more points as the flat and reigning girls brought their A-game. By the time the horsemanship division began, the day was already won. 

The cheers were deafening and the indoor stadium crackled with excitement. SMU, the unlikely #1, showed the world that we deserved to be at the championships defending our ranking. We spent all school year working towards this goal, sacrificing the “normal” college experience in exchange for time at the barn and in the gym…..

And it was worth every minute. 

Today was supposed to be the easiest match. Baylor was the number 8 ranked team in the country. They were supposed to be our easiest battle but they turned out to be our most difficult. 

Imagine this. Stands full of parents, coaches, team riders, fans and press. The pressure is on for the first rider to enter the ring and start the 2023 NCEA National Championship. I was the first rider to walk into the ring and start the tournament, and all eyes were on me. I had to take a breath and focus. Even though I am used to high-pressure events, competing for an entire school raises the expectations and nerves of every college athlete. 

I entered the ring on a horse that was already excited, but became tense and nervous as the cheers went up from the crowd. I tried to reassure him and give him a good ride around the course, but I knew right away that this would not be my best ride. I focused on the course in front of me and hoped that my best effort would be enough. I left the ring disappointed that I did not win my point, but ready to cheer on the rest of my teammates who came after me. 

Fences: SMU 1 point and Baylor 3

Flat: SMU 2 and Baylor 2

Reining: SMU 3 and Baylor 2

Horsemanship: SMU 4 and Baylor 1

Horsemanship was last, and the girls competing in that division knew that it was up to them to pull us out of a loss. With the entire team behind them, the girls were able to pull it off. With such a close call, I knew we would have to step up our game to keep our number one spot. 

The stereotypical college apartment is often portrayed as dirty, messy, and overcrowded with furniture, books and scattered clothes and shoes. My apartment disproves this theory.  I keep my apartment sparkling clean, and every piece of furniture is carefully arranged. My pots and pans are put in their proper place, and shoes and clothes are in the closet where they belong. 

Opposite of messy and dirty, my college apartment is a place that calms me down and gives me a feeling of home. My latest idea for home improvement, inspired by my team-bonding activities, is to create a plant wall. I have the perfect place picked out. The wall on my patio that faces the sun. 

Instead of a bland, blank canvas, the wall will be a work of art, mixing colors and plants to bring the wall alive. I can already envision blue-painted wood and different shaped cubbies, holding plants of all different colors and shapes with some crystals and stones thrown into the mix for some variety. Different kinds of plants from flowers to succulents and cactus. It will bring life to the balcony and make a boring wall something intriguing to look at. 

It is a project my roommate and I will make together. I love DIY projects. They don’t have to be perfect, but they bring me a great sense of accomplishment.

Participating in college athletics at a D1 school teaches a student about responsibility. This week we miss 5 school days for excused athletic absences sanctioned by SMU. Which some students might think is an awesome perk, but in reality is just a lot of extra stress and work. 

I ride better when I have full focus on the competition, and at nationals, I need to bring my best. This means getting a week ahead in all my classes, finishing any assignments and papers for the week before I get on the bus, and organizing all my dates for make-up exams/quizzes.  The bus is a great time to do simple assignments and busy work, but I need to have a clear headspace  and not be worried about any difficult assignments. 

It’s hard to paint the picture of the weekend before nationals, but think of the teacups at Disneyland. I spin around and around. Working on school work, prepping the horses, packing the horses, packing myself, taking a breath for team bonding activities, and then starting all over again. 

So when the alarm goes off at 3:30 to make a 4:15 bus to the airport, I will stop spinning in circles, find my inner sanctuary, and focus on the task at hand– bringing home SMU’s first National Equestrian title.