The ASU English Equestrian Team is a competitive team a part of the Sports Clubs at Arizona State University that has recently placed second in the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association Southwest region.
However, students don't need any experience to join this elite team.
The ASU English Equestrian Team accepts students with all different types of experiences. During fall tryouts, students can showcase their knowledge and be placed in a division that best meets their skill level.
Nearly all ASU Sports Clubs offer an intro level, but Rachel Marsh, a captain of the ASU English Equestrian Team and president of the Sports Clubs, said it's important to have different training levels in the sport.
"It's a really cool experience and I think it adds depth to our team," Marsh said. "If it was just the people who've been doing it since they were little, you wouldn't really get the same broad experience level. It really helps add diversity."
According to Marsh, around 60 students try out with 10 to 20 participants having little to no experience. While tryouts take place during the start of the fall semester, students are still welcome to join later in the year for a possible spot on junior varsity.
Students on the "intro squad," will usually rotate throughout the semester to get a chance to show and learn, Marsh said.
Riders on junior varsity practice once every other week and riders on varsity practice once a week in a group lesson with other members. Varsity and junior varsity compete in shows all over Arizona, but only varsity travels to nearby states in the southwest region.
Katie Lorraine Clark, a freshman studying biological sciences, feels that joining the team is a way for her to immerse herself in the ASU community, despite having only one year of riding experience.
"I thought horseback riding would be such a great experience, a new skill and a wonderful way to spend time with other people who share the same passion," Clark said.
Holly Hover, a former ASU Western Equestrian team coach, expressed how joining the English Equestrian Team is a safe environment to learn, bond and compete for students with little to no experience.
"I think it is a great opportunity for people to immerse themselves in quality, top-tier, national competition and still be on a team level and enjoy the perks of being on the team — the friendships, the camaraderie," Hover said.
After Hover's 40 years of coaching equestrian teams, coaching at the collegiate level has made the most impact on her, she said.
The team is partially funded through the University Student Government and the rest comes from fundraisers, sponsors, donors and student fees.
Most of their funding goes to Rachel Jansen Jones, the coach of the ASU English Equestrian Team, who provides the horses and facility at Crossroads Farms in Gilbert, Arizona.
"It's a really great arrangement," Marsh said. "We're very lucky to be able to be housed out of there because she has such a big operation."
Marsh said she believes the 2024 Paris Olympics equestrian events being televised inspired more people to try the sport.
"It's really cool to see the sport grow and it's really cool to see it on that scale," Marsh said. "But then also, in our little corner of the world, how so many people are interested in it and come out to see if they like it, or see if they can make the team."
The team's show season kicks up in October and the team will be hosting a home competition on Feb. 1 and Feb. 2.
Marsh said she is "very excited," to get the team back together for another season and was appreciative of the opportunity she gets because of it.
"It's like a pinch-me moment every competition that I get to do this at the collegiate level with a great group of people," Marsh said.
Edited by Senna James, Abigail Beck and Natalia Jarrett.
Reach the reporter at alillest@asu.edu and follow @allylillestol on X.
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Allison is a sophomore studying journalism and mass communication. This is her first semester at The State Press. She has also worked at Arizona PBS and Blaze Radio.
