"Staying Plugged In" Why Collegiate Equestrian Teams are so Important for the Equine industry & for Colleges with Texas Tech Equestrian Team Coach Tabatha Taylor

Our time in college is so valuable not just from an educational standpoint, but through the teams and activities we are involved in. I know the time I spent on the IHSA equestrian team in college meant so much to me and I gained so much valuable experience that I still find myself using today.

Which is why when I heard the news that UC Davis was demoting their D1 Equestrian team

to a club sport, I was genuinely hurt for them and knew that not only do they need our support right now, but so do all collegiate teams! With that said, I am so excited about the guest I have for you in today's episode! Not only did we grow up showing together and our longtime friends, but she has built an incredible career as an equestrian team coach at multiple colleges. Tabatha Taylor is the head coach of the Texas Tech Equestrian Team and from her experience as a coach for Tech and for the St Mary's of the Woods team she shares some amazing insights and advice on the challenges equestrian teams face and what is needed to ensure their future in the industry.

As Tabatha will mention in the episode, the simple answer is always more money because as we know horses are expensive and this is an expensive sport, but beyond that we need to be involved in our communities in the equine industry from helping at shows, lessons, sponsorships and more. Getting the recognition from the public to support equestrian teams doesn't come as easily to us as it does with football or basketball teams, but that doesn't mean we don't still need to be recognized for our hard work during our show seasons and when we compete at Nationals.

Equestrian teams are so much more than getting to ride horses while pursuing a post secondary education. We are building a network of friends and connections that will take us into where we want to go in the future while training hard for the potential of a national championship. We are student athletes that deserve to be seen, supported and recognized just as much for our talent and work ethic.

As Tabatha says in the episode, being plugged into our community is so important for the continuation and future of collegiate equestrian teams.

For those high school students or maybe parents of high school students who are looking at wanting to ride on a team in college, Tabatha also shares some incredible advice on ways to get noticed by coaches and schools, how to determine the best college and team that is best suited for you, and what she looks for when she is recruiting as a coach!

I hope this episode sparks more conversations on this important topic and helps students find the right equestrian team for them!

APPLE SPOTIFY