Lagging a bit behind, The University of Mississippi is the last school in the Southeastern Conference to offer an equestrian team. But, one passionate student made it official this fall. With already currently 37 members on campus, the Ole Miss Equestrian Club is more motivated than ever.
Founder of the Ole Miss Equestrian Club, Colleen Stimola has an immense amount of passion for horseback riding. Stimola has been horseback riding since the age of four. Previous to attending the university, Stimola assumed Ole Miss already had a team since every other SEC school did.
Upon finding out Ole Miss did not have one, Stimola was upset, but she knew she would do what it takes to begin a team at the university. Although founding an equestrian team would require hard work and long hours, Stimola did not give up. To her, there is no limit when it comes to doing something that one loves.
The 37 members involved on the equestrian team consist of both males and females. Uniquely, the equestrian team accepts all members of interest. The Ole Miss Equestrian Club plans to register in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) in the near future. The IHSA has divisions for all competitive levels of riders, so the Ole Miss equestrian team welcomes diversity in horseback riding skills.
Stimola said, “We have members who have ridden their entire lives, and ones who have never even seen a horse before.”
The team members train hard to build a name for themselves.
At the beginning of the semester, trainers watched the members practice to determine their correct skill level. Stimola said the trainers did this so that members are able to practice with teammates at the same level, which builds comfort and equality.
Although the team is brand new, the team members are determined to grow, and eventually compete with other schools in the SEC. Unfortunately Ole Miss does not have facilities for the equestrian team to practice. Stimola hopes to see facilities being built on campus in the near future. She believes this could be a huge opportunity for not only the equestrian team, but Ole Miss as well.
“By having a barn, and horses it can open many doors for Ole Miss,” Stimola said.
She said the university can use the barn as an opportunity to use horseback riding as a course elective, especially since the current electives offered are scuba diving and fencing. She also believes the horseback riding could lead to the University of Mississippi offering a veterinary degree.
“Students seeking a degree in being a vet have to attend Mississippi State because Ole Miss does not offer the degree,” Stimola said.
She also pointed out that horseback riding can be used therapeutically, and the university having facilities on campus could be open to the greater Oxford area seeking rehabilitation.
Currently, the equestrian team practices at facilities located an hour or more away from Oxford. The English-style riders practice at Hunters Edge Stables in Memphis, Tennessee. The Western-style riders practice at McDavitt Stables in Senatobia.
Stimola believes the lengthy drives are worth the effort. The team members make the long drives work by carpooling since two or three people usually practice together per lesson. At the facilities, the team members become familiar with riding various breeds of horses so they will be comfortable riding unfamiliar horses at competitions.
Dues per semester range from $750 dollars to $1,400, depending on how many lessons a member wants. Lessons once a week cost $750, and members practicing twice a week cost $1,400. Along with these dues the expenses of joining the Ole Miss equestrian team also include gas money, transportation, and funds for travel once the team begins competing.
Stimola said she was in contact with other IHSA teams, and pricing is similar for their teams as well.
Interested students wanting to join the Ole Miss Equestrian Club by the spring semester may contact Stimola by cmstimol@go.olemiss.edu. Visit its Facebook page at Facebook.com/UMequestrian for more information.
Marissa Caputo is a senior journalism major at the Meek School of Journalism and New Media and a staff writer for HottyToddy.com. She can be reached at macaputo@go.olemiss.edu
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