Looking back on the countless years, months, and weeks throughout my life, riding is a passion I do best. Beginning my equestrian career at the age of 8, I have ventured along various east coast ‘A’ rated shows while taking part in all three rings. Currently, I am coached by Cori Reich at Old Salem Farm–who is an alumni of Centenary University and the winner of the Cacchione Cup in 2013. My shows have consisted of many 1.10m Junior Jumper rounds and equitation classes at 3’3. Through both middle school and high school, I have put great progress into my IEA Career, attending Zones twice in both eighth and ninth grade. In the past, I have ridden under Oakland Stables and Darragh Kenny–where I focused on launching and building my jumper career.
I am currently a rising junior at Darien High School in Darien, Connecticut. I partake in the National English Honor Society, the poetry club, and the ‘Current’ Magazine club in my school. Despite my love for English, I find myself to be a particularly strong and rigorous student in any class I take. Just within the first two years of high school, I have completed 5 honors classes to exemplify my academic strengths and adaptability in the face of new challenges.
Concluding my sophomore year, I maintained a 3.89 GPA and expect to have exponential results in the 2025-2026 year, where I will be challenging myself with AP classes in areas of study that I take pride in. Taking great interest in language classes as a bilingual student, I plan to join the Spanish National Honor Society during my junior and senior years. As my skills in language progress, I am on the route to becoming a trilingual student. Outside of school and the barn, I enjoy personal fitness at the gym, reading, writing, creating art, and spending time with my dogs. Starting in 2023 to help my community in unique ways, I have put many hours of effort and aid into Pegasus Therapeutic, eventually being acknowledged in 2024 as an outstanding volunteer within the Darien Community Fund (Darien Times). I plan to continue to stand out in my community through extensive volunteering and participation in local events.
With the work I have put into becoming a successful and competitive rider, my goal to join a collegiate riding team is greater than ever–and will continue to persist through the years moving forward. I am eager to explore routes with NCAA Division I collegiate teams across the country and showcase my skills as a confident and effective rider. Having the opportunity to ride horses throughout my life has been such an ‘eye-opening’ experience that continues to teach me about friendship, respect, teamwork, and grit. I am looking forward to utilizing these learned attributes to my future team and school, with no doubt that my persistence will falter.
~ Maria Gardner