Connection. Without it, the craft of an equestrian wouldn’t be much. The bond between horse and equestrian is unparalleled.
Freshman Sydney Aldrich shares her unique experience as one of seven equestrians on the Ann Arbor Public Schools competing equestrian team. Aldrich’s team has qualified for regionals in region B, competing Friday, Sept. 29, and Sunday, Oct. 1st at the Shiawassee County Fairgrounds in Division B.
Aldrich started horse riding amid the Covid-19 pandemic, being one of the few sports permitted. The connection with the animals excites her as an equestrian.
“It’s definitely a different connection than you get with humans,” Aldrich said. “I really like that because it’s something different, and it’s just you and the horse.”
The event Aldrich competes in is Hunt seat, meaning she jumps over obstacles with her horse Jorns, riding English otherwise meaning that Aldrich uses two hands on her reins to control Jorns. In these events you are scored on form, style and the discipline on both the equestrian and horse. The team won placing 1st in Hunt seat and 2nd in barrel racing. Aldrich shared that one of her biggest difficulties while competing was nerves.
“It’s definitely nerve-wracking when you’re going-you’re getting judged,” Aldrich said. The whole score is you getting judged on how well you do. You have so many eyes on you.”
However, when the equestrian is nervous, the horse feels it too.
“If you get stressed out, the horse gets stressed out because they can feel your heartbeat,” Aldrich said.
With only three years in horse riding and many more to come, “It’s just you and the horse as a team,” Aldrich said. “You just go around and you do what you need to do. It’s a lot of fun.”
