Taylor University’s equestrian team is proving they’re a force to be reckoned with on the regional stage.
Since its beginning in 1984, the Taylor Equestrian Team has provided students the opportunity to hone horsemanship skills, build meaningful community, and compete at the university level. As a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA), Taylor’s club team competes in the western and hunt seat divisions alongside 400+ colleges across the nation.
During this past season, riders Lauren Dykes, Lydia Grier, Caleb Ledbetter, and Katelyn Vanden Brink performed exceptionally well and qualified for regionals, which were held in March. In addition to this milestone accomplishment, the Taylor Equestrian hunt seat team took home the reserve championship in September, placing second in the competition against noteworthy equine programs including Purdue, University of Illinois, Ball State, Indiana University, and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.
National Champion Jenny Schamber of Rope this Ranch, an equestrian barn located close to campus, has served as head coach since fall 2019.
With riders of abilities ranging from beginner to advanced, Taylor’s team is composed of nine hunt seat riders and eight western riders (and two who compete in both disciplines). There are six levels that riders can compete in, including Open flat and fences, Intermediate flat and fences, Limit flat and fences, Novice flat, Pre-novice flat, and Introductory. The Equestrian Team began with the hunt seat division in 1984 and expanded to include the western division this past fall of 2024.
The athletes take one to two group lessons each week with Schamber and prepare for the show season, which takes place September to February. As part of IHSA, horses are provided by host colleges, so athletes can ride without owning their own horses. The hunt seat and western divisions have around eight shows each season. Each rider accumulates points throughout their career, which determines what class they compete in. For each competition, Schamber selects one rider from each class whose points will count for the whole team.
Junior Hannah Beidelman joined the team her freshman year and currently serves as president alongside officers Lauren Dykes, Lydia Grier, and Katelyn Vanden Brink.
Having ridden her whole life, Beidelman knew she wanted to continue doing so at a Christ-centered university.
During her visit as a prospective student, Beidelman was impressed with the team’s close-knit community and varied experience levels. Not only did they emphasize enjoyment of the sport, but it was a place to grow in skill and technique. Over the last three years, the team has nearly doubled in size, especially with the addition of the western division this past season.
Beidelman has met some of her closest friends through riding at Taylor. She loves the quality time they spend together, whether traveling to competitions, carpooling to the barn, team dinners, or at regular lessons.
“Knowing you have a community of people from different dorms and majors and interests with common love for riding is such a blessing,” Beidelman shared.
Students across campus have participated in the equestrian community as well. Through Beginning Horsemanship, a class taught by Schamber each semester, students have the opportunity to fulfill a Foundational Core kinesiology credit.
As a club team under Taylor Student Organization (TSO), the Taylor Equestrian Team receives some funds from the university. Through individual funds and sponsorships from local businesses, riders pay for lessons, membership to IHSA, show equipment, show entry fees, and travel costs.
At Shop the Loop, an on-campus market that student vendors participate in every semester, the TU Equestrian team members sell puppy chow mixes named after their horses. The team also welcomes the community to Rope this Ranch for Barn Day where attendees can enter raffles and watch demonstrations of the team's skill.
Building on this season’s success, the team is ready to keep pushing forward—one stride at a time—toward tougher competition and higher goals, but always with community at the center.