ALFRED, NY -- Just a year out from having three riders finish top-10 at the IHSA National Championships in Western Equestrian, there's more on the horizon for the Saxons to evolve and prepare for this season.
"We make our debut for both Western and Hunt Seat, and we will definitely be going up against plenty of national champion schools but we'll hold our own," Head Coach Adam D'Agostino said. "New York and the East Coast are really, really well known for Hunt Seat and we need to be in the conversation in a stronger way. We've allocated funding to go to these tournaments and help them prep and be stronger for the upcoming season."
These new tournaments the Saxons will travel to are thanks to the resources, evolution and innovation new head coach D'Agostino brings to the program. His first year at the saddle with years of success and national championships brings plenty of attention and growing to both the riders and the equine program.
Higher quality care in both riders and the horses in the stable should turn to success both in and out of the arena. Dedication to the grind is one thing, but turning the grind into success with the tools available is another.
"Giving them the resources that they need was really important to me and to take care of our herd at a higher level," D'Agostino said. "As a horseman, it's important to me that our animals are well cared for, but those will pay dividends that return on investment. Investing in your horses is investing in your student experience."
The students taking part in said experience is growing, and hoping to get stronger with larger recruiting efforts. Maggie Childs (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas) returns for her second collegiate season in Hunt Seat after a phenomenal first year. Emma Suplicki (Holland, NY/Holland) will have one last ride as a senior in both hunt seat and western shows.
Samantha Smit (Columbiana, OH/Ursuline) will enter her junior year off the back of a top-10 in the National Championships last season. Finally, D'Agostino had high praise for Helene van der Merwe (Johannesburg, South Africa/Leeuwenhof Akademie) in what will be her senior season.
"We have great riders, but that doesn't mean we have the best teams, and we have great teammates that are still developing their riding," D'Agostino said. "My goal is to build up that foundation in all of them. Helene (van der Merwe) is a learner and really challenges me as a coach which is helpful."
Alfred University has been in the conversation and in the heat of national competition for the last few seasons and gained recognition for their equestrian programs. D'Agostino's first year will help them take steps in the right direction to achieve and get to the next level.
"I consider myself a leader of leaders," D'Agostino said. "It's really important to me to be one of the primary recruiters for this program. My door is always open, really trying to stay engaged with my students, staff and faculty and really putting their trust in me and vice versa to build this program."
The Saxons season kicks off this weekend in the Hunt Seat at the Tournament of Champions hosted by Otterbein University in Ohio, and the Western Equestrian team heading to Morrisville State University on an invitational show.
-- Swords Forward Saxons --
