Equestrian Mom 101: Being an NCAA "roadie" Mom

I had the pleasure of attending three of the University of Georgia's Equestrian competitions this past weekend.  Three competitions in two days, in two states!  The bonus of this trip allowed me to see family that I haven't seen in a few years.


I flew into Oklahoma City on Thursday.  Two things that were a bonus to this particular flight.  One, it was my first time flying to the OKC airport and my hats off to you OKC!  Wow!  Snazzy airport!  And two, the Oilers hockey team was on my flight... need I say more?!  I was secretly (creepily) taking pics of some of the guys while waiting for our luggage and sending them to the girls.  All in the name of good parenting!


Picked up my rental car and started my drive to Dallas, Texas!  Having lived in Texas for many years and only remembering the heat, I was quickly annoyed to find it in the 40's and rainy.  I was leaving Michigan for this?


Our first stop was SMU Friday morning in Dallas, Texas.  It only seemed fitting that we should be greeted by longhorns driving into the farm.

UGA beat SMU 7-3.  The last girl got off the horse and they immediately loaded the bus to make the hour and a half drive to TCU in Ft. Worth, Texas.

Emily and Coach Lisa

Cheering on the rider while trying to stay warm!

Emily van der Walde

More than teammates, friends.

At TCU, both English and Western competed and UGA added another win with a score of 9-8.  

Saturday morning about 7:30am we headed North 4 1/2 hours to Stillwater, Oklahoma to take on OSU!  After a long day of showing, in the end, OSU captured the win 13-10 over UGA.  It was bittersweet but the girls all rode well and cheered each other on to the very end.

The night didn't end after the show.  The Haaland Family graciously offered to host dinner at their home after the show.  We all arrived at 10pm (that is not a typo, it was 10pm!) and what a lovely time it was!  The dinner was amazing, the home stunning and the overall atmosphere caused you to pause.  One of the riders, one of the mom's and the coaches all spoke to team and it was at that moment, as I was standing back observing that it hit me how incredible this team and coaches truly are.  I was able to spend three horse shows in two days with this group (that amounts to a LOT of time!) and I was so impressed.  The level of respect the girls have for each other, the bond they have as a TEAM.  They know that without each others assets, there would be no team.  They are teammates in the truest sense.  

The coaches:  Wow, amazing ladies.  I had the pleasure of meeting Hunt Seat coach Lisa Anderson this past fall at Indoors.  I was fortunate that through this trip, I was able to get to know Head Coach Meghan Boenig and Western Coach Mary Meneely.  Seeing their professionalism and how they interact with the girls is great.  I know I speak for other parents in saying that I'm thankful that these women are leading and being examples to my daughter!  

Coach Lisa Anderson - Hunt Seat

Coach Lisa with Carly Anthony

Head Coach Meghan Boenig with baby (due in June!)

Coach Mary Meneely - Western

Coach Boenig, Coach Mary 

Coach Mary and her "crew"

So after all was said and done, there were 3 competitions, 3 different hotels, in two different states, very little sleep with cold and rain!  Flying home on the plane today feeling completely exhausted, I couldn't help but smile when I thought of the weekend and yes, I'd do it all again!

Who am I to lead these young ladies?

I have had the immense honor of leading a group of young ladies at our church.  Two in fact!  I am often in awe of how God would use me, an ordinary woman, learning along side them about our Creator.  I know for a fact that I've learned more from them than they have from me! 


 My first group, currently going into 11th grade (so hard to believe!) were mere 8th graders when we first sat on the floor together and got to know each other.  We would get roughly 30 minutes to talk about the "talk", all the while, creating a bond that has seen us through boys, school, life, death, sports, etc.  We've been on retreats together, day mission trips, sleepovers, dinners before Velocity (high school ministry), we've laughed together, we've cried together and we've prayed for each other.  They are some of the most selfless girls I've met!   Their love for others blows me away.  They have endured my TV rants:  Teen Mom, 16 and Pregnant, Jersey Shore, Secret Life of the American Teenager, just to name a few.   They put up with me when I go into "mom" mode!  We talk about how hard it is to be a Christian teenager.  They know this all too well each day when they walk into their school.  They want to do the right thing, they want to step out and be different, not to follow the crowd.  Is it easy?  Not at all.  Will they or have they made mistakes, wrong choices?  Sure some have, but the thing that I hope they remember is that as a group, we love each other unconditionally.  They know that we won't judge each other but encourage and lift each other up.  We all fall sometimes, but it helps to know who will be there to brush your knees off and hug you.  I am so thankful that I was chosen to be a small part of their lives.  I look forward to continuing to watch them grow in life!!


My other group are some amazing soon to be eighth graders!  I got them as mere 6th graders and again, the conversations we will have about life, God, etc continue to blow me away!   They are not shy in group and not afraid to give their thoughts.  I love that we offer a place where they can feel comfortable enough to say what they think and ask questions.  This is also a group of young ladies that have a heart for others.  They want to help, they go on mission trips, they attend day mission trips etc.  I love that at their age, they can see the need of thinking of others!

My soon to be 8th graders!