Equestrian club forms a new sport on campus
By Mike Ferdinandi
After becoming an official organization last fall, the Santa Clara Equestrian Club expanded its membership and is looking to begin competing. Although they did not compete this past year, the club has developed a team of five riders that are planning to attend horse shows next year.
Andrea Bray, Julie Deroche, Aloe Driscoll, Christina Flynn and Christina Sabella are prepared to compete in Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) competitions that take place October through March. The team will compete in eight to 10 shows where riders use horses provided by the hosting school and stable. This is the most fair way of running the shows as horse selection is done at random to ensure each rider is placed on an even playing field.Ã
According to Bray, the process is necessary because of the tight bonds that are established between rider and horse, especially after a rider has been with a horse for years. It would be unfair for a rider who has been training with a horse for most of their life to compete against a rider who either does not own their own horse or has only had their horse for a brief period.
The team plans to offer lessons that will help riders to improve in their respective disciplines. The two primary disciplines in IHSA are Western and English, which includes "hunter jumper" riders.
In hunter jumper competitions, riders jump their horses over a set course of obstacles.
Western riding is a style that is similar to the work a horse would do on a farm as portrayed in cowboy movies, according to Bray.
Next year, the team will be joining Zone 8, Region 1 and competing against Bakersfield College, Cal Poly, College of the Sequoias, Fresno State, Reedley College, Stanford University, UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz and the University of Nevada, Reno.
The competitive shows are only one aspect of what the equestrian team does. Julie Deroche, who will be co-president of next year's team along with Aloe Driscoll, focuses on fundraising and is determined to make the team a permanent establishment at Santa Clara.
Deroche was also involved in bringing horses to campus in April to help publicize the club's growth.
Despite their efforts, the team has not received significant funding from the school to help reduce costly dues and fees. Deroche is optimistic that through continued efforts on the part of team members, they will eventually receive more school support and be able to be competitive against other local schools with equestrian teams.
The pioneers of the club are keeping the long run in mind. Although they currently only have a select number of dedicated riders involved, they are hoping the club will become a fixture on the Santa Clara campus and expand in upcoming years.
"Our goal is to have a team here for students in 10 to 15 years," Deroche said. Ã Ã Ã
Next year, the Broncos will not be the only newly-formed team in their region. UC Santa Cruz also recently formed a team, and they, like Santa Clara, do not currently have a stable on campus. Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã
According to Deroche and Bray, the special bond that develops between rider and horse is something that attracted them to the sport.
Bray considers it a unique partnership that is difficult to find across team sports.
Bray, who has owned her horse "Rocket Rose" for seven years, understands that relationship between the horse and rider duo firsthand.
Her horse has a distinct personality and sometimes acts like a two-year-old. Just like anyone, her horse has good and bad days, Bray said.
Continued Bray, "She (Rocket Rose) plays around and tests boundaries with me all the time."
Bonds between horse and rider result from daily interaction and a constant training routine, which requires a great deal of patience.
One commonly-used training method is the Parelli style.
This training style is in effect, "natural horsemanship," Deroche said.
The Parelli style includes riding without the aid of a bridle in order to gain the horse's trust.
The club is open to all students who are interested in competition or simply want to learn more about or get involved with horses and take lessons.
For more information about the club, contact Julie Deroche at JDeroche@scu.edu.