USC equestrian team sets its sights on a national championship

The sun shines bright and high in the sky as the galloping horse approaches. The rider is calm and in control, as if she is one with the horse.

The horse’s hooves beat against the ground, throwing up dirt as it approaches the obstacle ahead. The majestic beast and rider at the rein are lifted into the air in the next moment, almost like in a scene from an old Western movie. This is just one of many scenes from a day of practice for the USC equestrian team.

Showing off · Equestrian team member Annie Grove hurdles an obstacle at a show in 2008. The team has to make the most out of its practice time because the cost of equipment and time with the horses is expensive. - Photo courtesy of USC equestrian team

The equestrian team first got started in the early 1980s but did not last. The club was reignited four years ago and has been on the rise since then; the team continued to excel and recently made it to nationals last season, though it remains under the shadow of other USC athletic clubs.

Coach Karen Perlow made her expectations of the team quite clear this year.

“Our goals for this year are to qualify as a team and individual division riders for the 2010 National Finals,” Perlow said.

Like any other team, the desire to be number one is always a driving factor. For the USC equestrian team, the desire is reflected already at the start of the season.

“We had our first show in San Diego on Oct. 10 and 11. The team was the overall high point champion both show days and is leading the region by 19 points. We have started the season better than ever,” Perlow said.

The team is on track to breeze through the season and to nationals.

“We have a lot of good riders and are definitely going to be a threat to not only the West Coast teams but those from the East Coast as well,” captain Annie Grove said.

Despite the positive attitude and hard work, the team still faces potential setbacks; financial obstacles are always the hardest of all hurdles for the team to overcome.

“It’s a very expensive sport,” Co-president Katherine Buckley said.

The total costs for the team, according to Buckley, can exceed $200,000. For this reason alone, a lot of effort is put into fundrasing.

The university gives each sports club a certain amount of money each year, which Buckley estimates to be around $4,000. But it is not enough for the team to continue to operate.

Because of these financial setbacks, the team is limited to one practice a week, which also limits the amount of available horses for the riders.

“Because we only practice once a week it is really important to work hard during your ride,” Grove said.

Despite the limited time, the team continues to improve.

“I have riders on all levels that are extremely talented and competitive,” Perlow said. “The weakness is the lack of support to make this program stronger and more productive. I want my riders to be more physically fit and ready to challenge the best teams at the national finals.”

The club still finds time to exercise its humanitarian side off the field as well.

“The members have spent countless hours and weekends helping and being a support group to the Compton Jr. Posse … a program to keep kids off the streets and on horses,” Perlow said.

The team has been working with the Compton Jr. Posse in order to achieve one of coach Perlow’s goals of not only striving athletically, but also giving back to the community.

The USC equestrian team has its eyes set on the No. 1 spot at Nationals and coach Perlow predicts being No. 1 in its region. While it is still too early in the season to know for sure whether these predictions will come to pass, the team’s determination in the face of adversity is enough to make believers out of most.