For over two years, the BG equestrian team has been trying to get recognized by the University. Earlier this month, they got what they had been trying so hard to get – status as an official organization.
After starting the team in 2005, President Brenda Wilson, along with other members, has been working hard to get the team recognized by the University.
The team had to go through the Office of Campus Activities, Club Sports and Risk Management before they could be granted official status as an organization. But getting all the different offices on the same page was difficult, according to Wilson.
“Getting all the people together from the different offices took some doing because one would be like, ‘Go to the next one,’ and they kept passing us around in a big circle,” Wilson said.
“It doesn’t sound like it took a lot, but it really did.”
The main reason why the equestrian team was turned down was the fact there are a lot of liability issues and horses were involved.
“[The different offices] just thought it was too dangerous and they turned us down because of that,” said Sarah Colbry, a member of the team.
But with the help and advice of Paula Ribeau and Edward Whipple of the Office of Student Affairs and the team’s adviser, the team was finally recognized by the University.
Being officially recognized as an organization means the University will help with some of the funding, which helps because equestrianism can be a very expensive sport.
Dues were $300 per semester and didn’t include transportation and class fees, which are $25, according to Wilson. The projected costs for all riders next year is $12,000.
The team requested funding two weeks ago to the University asking them to help pay half of the training fees and all of the membership fees for a total of $6,000.
Members of the team were definitely excited when they heard the team had finally been recognized as an organization.
“I got a call [from Wilson] and was basically just excited because it had brought us down as a team overall knowing we couldn’t get in,” Colbry said. “We kept questioning why we couldn’t, so it was exciting because now next year, not only will we have money, but we will also be known because nobody knows who we are.”
Wilson was excited for the graduating team members.
“There are a lot of team members who are graduating this year that have been working on this pretty much the entire time we’ve been here,” Wilson said. “It’s nice to know that the team is for sure to live on after we graduate.”
The 16-member team can choose to ride either Western or English, but together they make up one organization.
The main differences between the two categories are the style of riding and the type of saddle used.
The English style is more equipped for jumping, while the Western style is more equipped for trail rides.
With shows in both the fall and spring semesters, members of the team begin practicing in September and go until March.
The English riders practice twice a week and are coached by Krissy Fox, who owns and runs her own program in Gibsonburg, Ohio. The Western riders practice once a week in Swanton, Ohio, under coach Chris Hill.
Despite the fact the team couldn’t use BG’s name or anything associated with them because the team wasn’t an official organization, they’ve been competing for the past two years.
Taking all liabilities on themselves, the team originally rode as the “Students from Bowling Green,” which according to Kevin Boyle, made the team look juvenile compared to the other teams that had official equestrian teams and facilities.
“Now it opens the door for a lot more opportunities,” Boyle said referring to being recognized by the University.
The team competes through an organization called the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association whose objective is to offer all riders the same opportunities, whether it’s their first year of riding or they’ve been showing for years.
The team competes in IHSA shows with many other schools in Ohio and Michigan.
So far, the team has competed against Ohio Wesleyan, Findlay, Otterbein, Miami (Ohio) and Wilmington College of Ohio.
The team has done well so far with many of the riders having placed at the different shows. Three members – Wilson, Colbry and Briana Ambrosic – will compete in regionals at Findlay in March.
For each competition the host school provides the horses, so everyone is on a level playing field.
Wilson, who has been riding since the age of seven, said having an organization where she can continue riding horses means a lot.
“So many people go away to college, and they don’t have any place to ride when they go,” Wilson said. “There are a lot of universities that have equestrian teams, but there are so many people that audition for them, they can’t have everyone on the team. Our team is nice because it’s small enough that everybody gets to ride. It gives people opportunity to still be around horses.”
With Colbry, it’s the fact she can compete and be with other people who love horses.
“It gives you a chance to be with other people who have the same passion for horses and we can travel to shows and horses are provided,” said Colbry, who has been riding since the age of 5.
“It’s basically an outlet for what we enjoy doing. It’s a lot of fun. It’s something we all enjoy and want to work hard at, and it feels good to be a member of a team and be able to compete.”
The team holds meetings every Wednesday night at 9:30 p.m. in the second-floor lobby of Olscamp.