When the USC Equestrian Team arrived at the Los Angeles Equine Center on Feb. 9, 2020 to host their final regular-season competition, they had no idea it would be the last time they would compete for over a year.
At 8 a.m. sharp, riders watched horses warm-up and walked their jumping courses in preparation for the competition. Finally, it was time to ride. Riders were randomly assigned a horse to compete on, and without a warm-up, each competitor entered the ring on a horse they’ve never ridden before. As the long day went on, USC piled up wins. At the end of the horse show, it was announced that the USC team had won their region, sending them to Zone Finals for the seventh consecutive year. Individual competitors geared up for Regional Finals where they had the opportunity to advance to the next step.
Collegiate equestrian competitions came to a halt when the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association released a statement on March 13, 2020 that the remainder of the season was canceled due to the pandemic
It’s been over a year since USCET attended a competition, practiced together, or met as a team.
“Obviously, everyone’s a little bummed out about everything, but luckily we have been doing like individual shows outside of the team. So that has helped a lot,” said USCET President, Heidi Ansorge.
As a club team on campus, USCET follows Recreational Club Council rules and guidelines. Due to the pandemic, the RCC is not allowing any club sports to have in-person activities.
But, because the team rides at a private barn, Sunset Equine Farms in Shadow Hills— which is owned by their coach— team members are still allowed to sign up for lessons on their own, which are private and not associated with USC.
Team members, like Ansorge, who want to take lessons are required to bring their own grooming supplies, wear their masks at all times and have their temperature checked before they enter the barn.
“We’ve definitely had to make some adjustments,” said sophomore co-captain Alexa Webber. “We’re still able to do lessons, but obviously no competitions or anything like that.”
Webber has been riding horses her entire life. She joined USCET in Fall 2019, but took a leave of absence this fall semester due to the pandemic. Although she is back in school, she is currently at home in Portland, Ore.
During the offseason, Webber consistently competed on her personal horse, Dauphin, to keep her in riding shape. Even though Webber considers herself lucky that she’s able to compete, she misses being at USC.
“I’m just very excited to get back to school,” Webber said.
The USCET is a tight-knit group of equestrians who’ve missed being able to see, practice and compete with each other this past year. Despite being unable to physically see each other, the team has met their new members over Zoom.
“We’re planning on going pretty much fully back in August. So we want to keep everyone in riding shape,” said co-captain Cory Williams, a junior at USC studying public policy with a minor in public health.
Williams began riding when she was four years old and has been a member of USCET since her freshman year.
She is currently working for a barn that competes at Desert International Horse Park in Thermal. Despite Williams riding hunter seat— a style of English riding— for the team, she plays polo as her main sport.
Although USCET has not been able to compete in over a year, throughout the pandemic, members have been able to do what they all love: riding horses.
The team is looking forward to practicing, attending competitions and just being able to see each other as soon as it is safe to do so. For now, they’re just jumping through obstacles and riding along until the next time they can meet.