Aiken, S.C.—May 3—For the Texas A&M Eventing Team, this year’s return to the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championships wasn’t just about competition—it was about perseverance and the power of community. After three years away from the national stage, the Aggies were dedicated to making a comeback, arriving in Aiken with a 12-person squad and eight competing riders (Hailey Alfaro, Bella Koon, Payton McBee, Brenna McDonald, Scarlett Pienado, Sarah Talcott, Brianna Ulmer, and Brett Youssi).
“It feels surreal to be here,” said team president Sarah Smith, a graduate student in Biological and Agricultural Engineering and a longtime member of the club. “This has been in the works for a long time. We’ve had friends and past members talk about how amazing these championships are, and we wanted to get back.”
Founded in 2016, the Texas A&M Eventing Team has grown steadily over the years but faced challenges returning to championships due to timing conflicts with final exams and financial hurdles. With championships once again falling during finals week, the road to Aiken was anything but easy. Team members individually petitioned professors to take exams early, while simultaneously managing a rigorous training and fundraising schedule.
With the goal of covering all the expenses for their riders to make the trek to Aiken, the team turned to creative solutions and hard work, generating over $3,000 through merchandise sales at Area V shows and selling handmade horse treats. But their biggest boost came from a groundswell of sponsorship support—10 new sponsors this year alone—including a key partnership with Pyranha, a recurring donor providing both financial contributions and product support. Pyranha even visited the team for a pre-championship seminar on equine nutrition, deepening their investment in the Aggies’ success…