Saddling Up with Watauga’s Equestrians

Freshman, Marissa Willis, at riding lessons with her horse, Tardis, a thoroughbred. “I don’t own him, but I’ve been riding him for three months,” said Willis. “He’s really silly and very treat motivated. His cantor is really hard to control. If you get him cantering, he does not want to stop. So I’ve been kind of working on that, and he’s not great with other horses. He gets in a lot of fights.” Photo credits: Marissa Willis

Bethany Atwood, Staff Writer for The Powderhorn

From nationally-recognized sports, like football and basketball, to regional sports, like skiing and snowboarding, there’s a sport in Watauga County for anyone who just wants to get out, exercise, or have a good time. Whether you're looking for a fun, laidback atmosphere to play with your friends, or looking to showcase your skills in a competitive travel team, chances are you’ll find something that’s perfect for you. While it may not be the most popular or well-known sport, Watauga is home to a vibrant community of equestrians who enjoy an exciting and rewarding sport: Horse-back riding. A complex and multifaceted sport, many Watauga students have found fulfillment and joy in the world of saddles and gallops.

Freshman, Lilly Jarema, with her horse Sapphire. Sapphire is a Haflinger and Fjord cross. Jarema began riding in 2019 after being introduced by a friend. “My best friend Mary Echols was going to Yonahlossee in 2018 and in 2019 she told me about it,” said Jarema. “I thought it seemed interesting, so I started riding.” Photo credits: Lilly Jarema

Getting into horseback riding doesn’t have to be a complicated endeavor. Watauga County is home to various stables for equestrians to practice and ride. These stables provide a tight-knit community for riders, coaches, and horses. Many riders get into the sport after hearing about it from friends or family members who are involved.

“There’s a stable down the road from my house,” said freshman Mackenzie Merck, “and my dad thought it would be great to be around horses, so it went from there.”

An incredibly multifaceted sport, the world of equestrianism has a wide range of events and types of riding. From jumping to assessments of the horses skills, the possibilities are vast for people looking to get into the sport.

“I do three day eventing, which is like a triathlon,” said Merck. “It’s a mix of dressage, show jumping, and cross country. Dressage is a test of your horse’s responsiveness, and then show jumping is jumping with a time, and cross country is a test of your horse’s endurance and seeing what they can jump, how big and stuff. There’s also Hunter Jumpers, which is seeing how good you look on a horse, how easy it looks, and making it look nice.”

Merck with her horse, Miles. Miles is an off-the-track thoroughbred. “He’s a baby horse, I’m training him right now,” said Merck. “He was my coach’s horse, but now he’s my horse. He’s a little moody. He likes to kick and bite, but I love him. He’s really sweet when you’re not messing with him. So he’s a little temperamental, but he’s super athletic and he’s a great horse.” Photo credits: Mackenzie Merck

For equestrians, developing a strong relationship with their horse is crucial to the sport. Without a close bond between the rider and the horse, it can be difficult to perform the sport effectively. Freshman Marissa Willis and her horse Tardis have a bond that is built on an important idea within equestrianism.

“Understanding what your horse needs instead of just what you want,” said Willis. “For Tardis, I have to talk to him instead of just making him do things.”

Equestrianism is a good choice for anyone looking for a close community, fun experience, and the unique opportunity to develop a partnership with your horse. Equestrianism is unique as a sport due to its partnership between the rider and horse. For many riders, the motivation and reward of equestrianism isn’t solely focused on themselves. The feeling of developing and training a horse is unique and provides a sense of pride, because when your horse succeeds, so do you. 

“I think there’s a great community, if you find the right people and your coach is great,” said Merck. “[My favorite part is] probably the rewarding feeling of developing your own horse and seeing them succeed.”