Anticipating The First Legacy Mother – Daughter Horsemanship Team Combination

 

By Delores Kuhlwein

Will Madi Dolan become the all-time first “legacy” college varsity horsemanship rider?

Accomplished exhibitor Madi Dolan, a Junior in high school, has begun the recruiting process to ride on a college varsity team, and Oklahoma State University (OSU) is high on her list of choices.  Not only would OSU serve as an excellent opportunity for any college student, but for Madi, there’s a deeper significance.

Madi’s mom, Natalie, rode on the OSU team when it first became a D1 sport from 1999-2002.  “We know at OSU, she would be the first all-time ‘legacy’,” explains Natalie.  “We were trying to figure out if possibly A&M, Auburn, GA, SMU, Baylor, or TCU could have one, but all those teams are too new. Even if she ends up on another team, we still can’t think of any mom-daughter horsemanship combinations.”

Natalie and her husband are both OSU graduates and huge fans, and Madi has grown up on campus, following the team and going to meets.

Besides that sense of belonging, Madi says it would be special to ride at OSU so she could follow in her mom’s footsteps on the same team with the same head coach, Larry Sanchez. “If I end up riding on another team, I would still be excited to get a chance to compete at the collegiate level. I set it as my goal 2 years ago, and reaching that goal would be a great accomplishment,” she says.

It was Fall 1999 when Natalie began her college equestrian experience, when college teams moved from club to an NCAA emerging sport, she explains. She tried out and walked on that year, immediately traveling for both horsemanship and equitation on the flat. “Most of us rode both disciplines and other teammates did both flat events and either fences or reining,” she says. “I learned how to run! I had never been a runner in my life, but we had conditioning practice twice a week at 6am. I puked at my first conditioning practice running sprints across the football field. Many years later, I ran 3 ½ marathons and 1 full. I learned how to work as a team, manage my time, meet expectations, work hard, and that being on time is 5 minutes late. I also learned how to make the best horsemanship bun!”

She’d love for Madi to ride at her alma mater, Natalie says, but it is ultimately Madi’s choice, since the rider, team, and college all must be a perfect fit.  “To be able to watch her as a college student athlete, on a much bigger stage than we had back in 1999…. I can’t even think of the words or emotions to describe it. Madi and I sharing the same passion, love, and obsession is a rare gift. For her to meet her goal, of competing for a top 10 NCEA equestrian program would mean the world to both of us. It has taken years and hours of blood, sweat, and tears to get this far,” she explains.

For most of Madi’s younger years, Natalie hauled the trailer, helped her get her horse show-ready, and made sure she knew her patterns. “When she decided around age 12 she wanted to make a Top 10 collegiate team, she started showing AQHA at the national level with top trainers,” Natalie says. “We have been with some amazing trainers along the way and could never have achieved the level of riding required for a team without them.  Currently, Madi is in training with Kayla Kohler Show Horses.”

Natalie reveals that she never pushed horses on Madi, who got on at age three and went to her first Leadline show at age four, and she never looked back. “She feeds, cleans stalls, stacks hay, and all the responsibilities that come with owning show horses. She has never quit or taken a break,” Natalie says.

“My mom has taught me so much about horses, in and out of the show arena. She passed down the love of horses and the drive to push to be the best I can be in everything I do,” explains Madi.

Natalie says that the countless benefits she found on the OSU team are the kind she’s eager for Madi to experience. “Becoming a scholarship rider was a huge blessing. I paid for my own college. I am forever thankful and grateful to the team for easing my financial burden. The experience of riding 3-4 different horses at every practice in both Western and English is also invaluable. Another benefit you don’t recognize when you’re young is learning to be coachable. That is a great trait to carry with you in life.”

In addition, Natalie explains, their team was very close, which resulted in lifelong friendships. She says, “We had the first ever OSU Equestrian reunion Sept 2022. You would have never guessed 20+ years had passed since some of us had seen each other in person. It was a magical weekend.”

Madi says she’s excited to go to college and to be on a team more than anything. “I am looking forward to the relationships that are built on a team. Showing horses has always been an individual sport, so the team aspect is very exciting to me,” she says.

Although Madi can commit any time now to a varsity team, she will be officially signing November of her Senior year.  It’s only a matter of time before Madi Dolan will quite possibly become the all-time first “legacy” college varsity horsemanship rider.