Congratulations Madison Thiel (AQHA) and Meredith Milton (APHA) on Signing With SC Equestrian Team!

A big congratulations to our friends Madison Thiel and Meredith Milton on officially signing with the South Carolina Equestrian Team!

Madison Thiel

COLUMBIA, S.C. – University of South Carolina equestrian coach Boo Major on Wednesday announced the signing of western rider Madison Thiel (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman High School) to a National Letter of Intent to join the Gamecocks for the 2015-2016 season. A dual threat rider in the arena, Thiel will be able to compete in both horsemanship and reining for the Gamecocks.

Thiel chose South Carolina over Georgia, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma State.

“We are so happy to have Maddie join our team next year,” Major said. “Becky (Schooler) has done a great job preparing girls to compete at the college level, so we know Maddie will be ready to hit the ground running on day one. Right now Maddie’s been focusing on horsemanship but she’s such a good rider we also think she could be showing for us in the reining too.”

Thiel trains with Becky Schooler, who also trained Gamecock senior and western team captain Sam Chiodo. During her youth career, Thiel has competed in horsemanship, showmanship, halter, western pleasure, reining, and trail.

She is currently the region four national director of the American Quarter Horse Youth Association.

Last year, Thiel finished as the reserve champion in Youth Showmanship (15-18) and first in NSBA at the All American Quarter Horse Congress. She also earned a 15th place finish at Congress in the Youth Horsemanship (15-18). At the AQHYA World Show, Thiel won the world championship in showmanship and finished in the top-20 in horsemanship.

In 2013, Thiel was the AQYHA world champion in performance mares and fourth in showmanship. At Congress, she finished fourth in Youth Showmanship (15-18). In 2012, she was the Congress champion in Novice Youth (14-18) Hunter Under Saddle, fourth in Youth Showmanship (12-14) and she won NRHYA Youth Rookie at the Tradition.

A senior at Dublin Coffman High School, Thiel is currently a member of the Drama Club.

Her parents are Tiger and Cyndi Thiel. Her sister Charley Thiel is on the equestrian team at the University of Georgia.

Meredith Milton

COLUMBIA, S.C. – University of South Carolina equestrian coach Boo Major on Tuesday announced the signing of western rider Meredith Milton (Aledo, Texas/Southwest Christian School) to a National Letter of Intent to join the Gamecocks for the 2015-2016 season. Milton is a western rider and will be competing with South Carolina’s horsemanship team.

She chose South Carolina over Auburn.

“We are excited to welcome Meredith to our program,” Major said. “It’s been a while since we added a Texas girl to our team, but Meredith is a very talented rider and we’re happy she’s going to be joining us. She’s proven herself to be very successful in the show ring and we think she’s going to be a great addition for us in the horsemanship.”

Milton trains with James Saubolle.

Milton has had a lot of success showing in the American Paint Horse Association, and her resume includes two world championships, three reserve world championships, one APHA Congress championship and two APHA Reserve Congress championships.

Last year, Milton won the horsemanship championship at the APHA Congress, where she also finished as reserve champion in showmanship for the second straight year. She has two APHA World Championships, winning the working hunter in 2011 and hunter hack in 2009. She also has three APHA Reserve World Championships, winning in equitation over fences in 2012, hunter hack in 2011, and working hunter in 2010.

Milton also has superiors and multiple top-10 finishes at the World Show, including a third place showing in the 14-18 showmanship and and a fourth place finish in the 14-18 trail at this past year’s show.

Milton is currently the president of the American Junior Paint Horse Association. She is also a member of the Junior World Affairs Council.

A senior at Southwest Christian School in Fort Worth, Milton has been on the school’s honor roll all four years.

Her parents are Larry and Jeaneane Milton. She has two brothers, Garrett and Tyler. Her father and brother Garrett played football at Stephen F. Austin.