I want to write a story about my daughter, Boo Major, who is the Head Coach of the USC Equestrian Team. Boo was always interested in horses. I think it is something that she was born with. She started riding at the age of three at the JJ Ranch in Blythewood. They had an overnight sleep over for all those interested in horseback and she was one of the first ones to sign up. Her sisters rode also but it was not that important to them; they ventured out in other fields. As time passed Boo was really serious and wanted her own horse...
We leased a large white horse named Ajax and she was thrilled. She took riding lessons from Betty Belser, who was a wonderful teacher and very disciplined in her techniques in riding. We carpooled the riders out to a horse farm called Belle Grove owned by Sinkler Manning. This was an ideal set-up and Boo made many friends who were also interested in horses. They didn't mind mucking stalls, cleaning tack or doing whatever needed to be done. She rode there for three years then settled in at Hickory Top (a facility out the Sumter Highway), where she rode and taught through the 12th grade.
When it was time to go to college, she wanted to go to Sweetbriar in Virginia because they had a fine equestrian program. She mucked the stalls and worked in the tack room to help pay for tuition. She then came back to Columbia, enrolled at USC and continued her interest in teaching, riding and participating in horse shows throughout the region.
In 1998, she heard that the University of South Carolina was starting an equestrian program which she applied for and was hired by USC to start this program on July 1 of that year under the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. This act was designed to promote gender equity in education and athletic programs. It required that the percentage of women enrolled in a college equal the percentage of women involved in that school's athletic programs.
USC leased a barn and property near Irmo called Irish Oaks Equestrian Center and offered a very small budget and no scholarships. The first students that were part of the Equestrian Team rode out I-26 to ride and learn. In the years following, the equestrian program has flourished, adding a western rider's coach and two more assistant coaches and a barn manager. The USC Equestrain Program now owns their own property at One Wood Farm in Blythewood, with beautiful barns, an indoor ring, two or three outdoor rings and twenty five horses.
The Equestrian Team now offers 15 scholarships and has won the national championship in 2005 and 2007. On February 20, the team defeated Oklahoma State.
I've been riding since I was 7 years old and dream of being on a college team!
I am a high school senior living in Littleton, CO. I know what's it all about to clean tack, muck stalls, and groom horses in order to pursue my dreams.
I currently work for my trainer cleaning tack, mucking stalls, grooming and warming up horses at shows supplementing the cost for competing at USEF shows.
It's long days and hard work, but that sense of flying is all worth it!