AUBURN, Ala. – It’s the Tuesday before nationals at the Auburn Equestrian Horse Center. Practice is winding down as the horsemanship team puts the finishing touches on perfecting their technique. Heels are down, legs are tight with eyes looking up ahead.
Senior Griffin Knight sits along the rail on a big yellow horse and observes her teammates practicing the national championship round pattern. She traces the lines of the pattern mentally; navigating maneuvers and turns while preparing for potential trouble spots.
Knight takes a deep breath, sits up straight and executes a nearly perfect run, at least a perfect run to anyone who might be watching.