Former AQHA Youth World Champion, Harley Huff, Named OSU Spirit Rider
By: Brittany Bevis
Harley Huff has been riding horses practically since she was born. Growing up in an equestrian family, she was poised to have success in the horse industry from an early age, and she accomplished a great deal during her youth years with the help and guidance of her family and John and Jill Briggs.
Harley has won titles at the Quarter Horse Congress four times in Horsemanship and Equitation. She has one NSBA World Championship title in Equitation and one AQHA Youth World Championship title in Horsemanship. She’s also been Reserve at the AQHA Youth World Show three times in Showmanship and Equitation and has a third place bronze in Equitation. She’s won these titles with the help of her trusty partner of six years, GW Jack Bar.
Recently, Harley accomplished another feat. She has just been named the Spirit Rider for Oklahoma State University where she’s currently enrolled in school and competes for their equestrian team.
“I couldn’t imagine going to college and not being on a team,” she says. “I love it. I love the challenge of only being able to ride each horse for four minutes before you do your pattern at a meet and going head to head against someone on the same horse. So far, I am a two time All-American, two time Big 12 Horsemanship Rider of the Year, and our team won the Big 12 during my freshman year. My favorite memory is when we won the Big 12. It was the best feeling. The OSU campus is so pretty, and I love how everything is so easy to get to. It takes about five minutes to get anywhere in Stillwater!”
In order to become the Spirit Rider, Harley had to submit an application and go through a try out process. “You have to do a pattern and an interview. Then, if you get called back from the interview, you have to show that you can carry a flag on a horse. There were at least thirty other riders there to try out to be the Spirit Rider.”
The tradition of the OSU Spirit Rider began in 1984 and has continued at every home football game since. During each game, the Spirit Rider rides Bullet down to the 30-yard-line to celebrate every touchdown. The Spirit Rider became the unofficial emblem of the university in January 2001 following a plane crash that took the lives of 10 OSU Cowboys from the men’s basketball program.
Harley knows what an honor and privilege it is to be named the Spirit Rider. “Being the Spirit Rider and being on the Spirit Rider team means that you have several different duties. There are several appearances that you go to where people get to meet Bullet and get their picture taken with him and the team. Also, you have to be available to attend all of the home football games. We also have to help care for Bullet as far as bathing him, brushing him, cleaning his stall, and all of the usual things you would do to take care of your own horse.”
Harley will likely be very comfortable with her new equine partner because Bullet is a black Quarter Horse. Prized for his exceptionally calm demeanor and striking, black coat, Bullet receives special care.
“We always turn him out during the night so that he stays very black and doesn’t get sunburnt. It takes a special kind of horse to be able to deal with the game atmosphere. Before kickoff, he runs the length of the field, right through the band, and after each touchdown while the fight song is being played while 60,000 fans are cheering.”
“The tradition of Bullet and the Spirit Rider embodies the OSU spirit and what it means to be a Cowboy. The Spirit Rider is a visual testament of the traditions, history, and heart of the cowboy: loyal and true. Everybody looks forward to when Bullet runs out on the field. It’s an honor to be a part of the Spirit Rider tradition.”
