Heels on horses ride for fun and show
UNC Equestrian Team members find friendship and community as they train for intercollegiate competitions.
The UNC Equestrian Team offers lifelong riders and newcomers alike a chance to pursue a passion while spending time with their peers away from Carolina’s campus.
The team has about 25 members, some who have been riding for 15 years and others for only two weeks.
“It’s so refreshing to see people from all different majors and backgrounds come together to form a community,” said senior Catherine Gorman, captain and co-president of the team. “It’s a safe space for everyone to unwind and unplug a little bit with each other.”
UNC Equestrian is part of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. The team competes within regional, zone and national levels against other universities, mostly within North Carolina.
Riders can compete individually or as a team in seven regular season shows. The team recently finished their regular season and are now preparing for regional competition.
“We all cheer each other on in lessons, at shows and in life as well. Our team is incredibly supportive and loves celebrating together,” said senior Kelly Peterson, social media chair and secretary for the team. “I’ve met some of my best friends on the team and love sharing horses and life with them. I’m so grateful to be able to do this sport and be teammates with such wonderful people.”
Find your new passion
The team practices once a week at Oak Hill Hunter Jumpers, an equestrian facility in Timberlake, North Carolina, learning different skills by riding different horses and practicing jumping.
Peterson has been riding for 15 years and loves continuing to pursue this passion. “I love the relationships I build with all the horses I ride. They have their own unique personalities that are so fun to get to know,” said Peterson. “I make it a priority to show my love and appreciation for them and spend time with them outside of just riding.”
Catherine Gorman and Kelly Peterson (pictured above) found friendship through their commitment to the Equestrian Team. (Submitted photo)
Gorman has been riding horses for 16 years. She played soccer, tennis and swam but found the most joy in riding due to the mental and emotional aspects of the sport.
“I’ve learned a lot in three spheres. Physically, you have to adapt to get stronger and better. Mentally, you have to figure out the right way to think about things. And emotionally, you get thrown in the dirt sometimes, and you have to figure out how to navigate that,” said Gorman. “I used to be very timid and got a lot more confident. I think a lot of people have similar stories of riding helping them beyond getting stronger.”
Carolina members regularly run into a neighbor at practice: Duke University’s teams ride out of the same barn. Despite the athletics rivalry, Peterson and Gorman say they consider them to be a “sister team.”
“In basketball, it’s quite the opposite,” said Gorman. “At the shows, we help clean everyone’s boots before they ride, on our own team and Duke’s team.”
