This quarter was honestly one of the most meaningful ones I’ve had as part of our equestrian club. As club president and someone who’s been riding for years, I wanted to make sure our members got to experience both sides of the horse world — the fast-paced, competitive side and the calm, healing side that first made me fall in love with horses. My own story started with therapeutic riding. I was just a kid back then, but it made a huge impact on me. Over time, I got into show jumping and started competing in some pretty intense classes. But even now, I’ve never forgotten how it all began. That’s why this semester, I planned two trips — one to a top-level jumping competition, and the other to a therapeutic riding center. I wanted to show everyone just how amazing and diverse the horse world really is.

Jumping Into the Action: Santa Anita Park & the Split Rock Show

A Legendary Horse Venue

Our first big outing was to the Split Rock Jumping Tour at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, CA. If you haven’t heard of it — it’s legit. This place was used for the 1984 Olympic equestrian events, and it’ll be part of the 2028 LA Olympics too. Pretty cool that we got to see it in person, right?

We went during their CSI5*-W Grand Prix event, which is basically the big leagues of show jumping. Picture this: blue skies, the San Gabriel Mountains in the background, and some of the best riders in the world flying over jumps taller than most of us. It was unreal.

Why Seeing It Live Is a Game-Changer

I remember my first time seeing a Grand Prix in person — it completely changed how I looked at the sport. And I could tell it was happening for others, too.

“I’ve seen show jumping on YouTube before, but being there? Totally different. I could feel the energy when a horse cleared those jumps — now I get why our president is so obsessed.”
– Graduate student, GPS

• 35+ club members came
• 40+ elite riders competed
• 2 epic days of competition

Even though we were in general admission seats, we had an awesome view. We walked around, checked out vendors at “Market Row,” and soaked in the whole vibe. There were people of all ages — families, aspiring riders, and serious equestrians — all just loving the sport together. It reminded me of why I love this world so much.

Switching Gears: Healing with Horses at Let’s Ride

Just a few weeks later, we went in a totally different direction — a visit to the Let’s Ride Therapeutic Equestrian Program. No show jumping, no ribbons, no timers. Instead, we saw something way more powerful: horses helping people heal.

What Is Hippotherapy?

At Let’s Ride, horses work alongside licensed therapists to help people with physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges. We learned that the way a horse walks (its gait) is super similar to how humans walk — which makes it amazing for helping people improve balance and coordination.

What really stood out was how personalized everything was. Each person gets matched with the right horse, the right volunteers, and a therapy plan made just for them. There’s even a psychologist on staff to help support clients with PTSD and other mental health needs.

“I thought we were just going to learn about therapy horses… but I left with a whole new understanding of what service really means. Watching a kid light up when they bonded with their horse? That was pure magic.”
– Undergraduate, Senior

Healing Goes Both Ways

A lot of the therapy horses are rescues themselves, so they’re healing too — just in a different way. The program runs entirely on volunteers, which says a lot about how strong the community is.

During the visit, we helped groom the horses, observed a few therapy sessions, and just took it all in. It wasn’t just about horsemanship — it was about connection, growth, and empathy.

“This totally changed how I think about horses. It’s not just about riding anymore — it’s about being part of something that helps people. I’m already signing up to volunteer.”
– Graduate student, Chemistry

Two Worlds, One Love for Horses

Looking back on these two trips, I realized they basically represent my whole journey with horses. The Grand Prix shows where I am now — the competitive side I’ve worked hard to reach. And Let’s Ride? That’s where it all started for me.

What made me happiest was seeing how our club members connected in different ways. Some were fired up after the show and wanted to try jumping. Others fell in love with the therapeutic side and couldn’t wait to get involved. A few even told me they finally understood why I spend so much time at the barn — they saw both the adrenaline and the heart behind it all.

The truth is, there’s no one “right” way to love horses. Whether you want to jump fences, help with therapy sessions, or just spend time brushing ponies — there’s a place for you here.

What’s Next?

We’re already planning more awesome adventures for next quarter and there are still two events in the upcomin weeks. There’s still so much to explore in the horse world, and I’m beyond excited to share it with all of you.

Because at the end of the day, every rider’s journey starts the same way — with that first moment you connect with a horse. And from there? Anything can happen.

So whether you’re dreaming of the Olympics or just want to hang out with some sweet therapy horses, come join us. Let’s keep exploring, growing, and riding together.