Riding Towards Success

Chris Rhoads
May 3, 2011
Filed under Profiles

Senior Mary Phillips does one activity that is out of the ordinary to the average teen.  Not only does she have time to cheer and run track but also is an avid horse rider who has been competing for some time.

Although Mary has become a dedicated horse rider during her high school years, it has not always been the case.

“For a while I just didn’t have a passion to ride, but that all changed in my sophomore year when I had a change of heart,”  Mary said.

Ever since that point, Mary has made a major commitment to the sport the she has come to love so much.   She has spent everyday after school driving to Broken Arrow to spend up to three hours riding and training with her horse.

“It becomes a full time job to train with my horse,” Mary said.

Many riders know that they have to get on the horse everyday that way they don’t lose touch with the horse through the courses and jumps that the riders go through daily.

“You really have to keep on the horses,” senior Erin Edmiston said, who also rides.

Almost all riders understand the commitment and passion it takes to compete in this sport, not only is it a time commitment, but also can be a financial burden.  Hobbes, which is the horse Mary has been leasing for the past three years, has become a major part of her life.

“It is very expensive to own your own horse, all in all I’m glad that I’ve been able to work with Hobbes, even though I wish he was mine,” Mary said.

With the hard work and dedication Mary has shown in her riding competitions, many college’s have taken notice of her.

“We are very proud of Mary for all that she has accomplished, to ride in college is something not many people get to do and we hope she does what makes her the happiest,” her mom Connie Phillips said.

Mary has been looked at by both New Mexico and Kansas State for college, however, she recently gave her commitment to ride for the Kansas State Wildcats.