Davis, Calif. - It wasn't long ago that
Sabin Marquardt thought she was done with competitive riding.
Competitive throughout high school, Marquardt found herself "burnt out" with that side of the sport and didn't even apply to schools with NCAA equestrian teams.
"I came to Davis intending to focus on school and spend some quality time with my horse so that I could have fun riding and fall in love with the sport again," she recalled."
As it turned out, a four-year break from the competitive scene was exactly what the Encinitas, Calif. native needed and as coincidence would have it, about the same time her competitive itch began building again, UC Davis announced the addition of equestrian to its stable of collegiate sports.
"It seemed serendipitous that Davis announced the start of the equestrian team just as I became interested in riding seriously again," she said.
Fast forward two years and the Animal Science major isn't just riding competitively again, she's the backbone of a UC Davis Jumping Seat group that steadily improved throughout the Fall season.
In her second season with the team, Marquardt turned in what was arguably the highlight of the first half of the season for the Aggies when she was a double MOP winner in UC Davis' fall finale against Fresno State on Nov. 15.
With team season-best scores of 86 for Fences and 81 in Flat that day, she played a significant role in UC Davis taking Jumping Seat events from the Bulldogs 6-4. Marquardt's Fences score was also a career-high.
Marquardt will lead the Aggies when they return to action in their first meet of the second half on Friday, Jan. 31 when No. 1 Auburn visits the UC Davis Equestrian Center at 10 a.m.
1) What's your earliest memory with horses, that you can think of?
I believe I was around 3 years old. I rode a pony at the San Diego Fair. I smiled the whole time and practically threw a fit when I had to get off. I fell in love with horses during that pony ride and never looked back!
2) Did you play other sports before attending UC Davis and if so, what was it about equestrian that made you want to continue in college?
I dabbled in a couple of sports, like tennis, but I never enjoyed them as much as equestrian. To me, there is nothing more rewarding about the equestrian sport than caring for the horses. Most of my time before coming to college was spent taking care of horses. It can be very time consuming, but it's been such an important part of my life for so long that I could not imagine going a day without being around horses. I was extremely fortunate to be able to bring my horse to college from home. This made my transition to college very smooth because I got to maintain my same busy lifestyle and I got to continue doing what I love most.
3) More specifically, what is it about equestrian at Davis that made you want to be a part of the team?
When I applied to Davis, the team was not yet in existence. I got very burnt out with competitive riding when I was in high school, and never even wanted to apply to schools with NCAA equestrian teams. I came to Davis intending to focus on school and spend some quality time with my horse so that I could have fun riding and fall in love with the sport again. After a four year break from the show ring and in my third year at Davis, I started to miss the training and discipline of riding competitively. It seemed serendipitous that Davis announced the start of the equestrian team just as I became interested in riding seriously again.
4) It's only been a little over one season but what kind of change have you seen in the program from last year to this year?
We are all much more confident. As a brand new team last season, we felt like it was an impossible task to compete against well-qualified and more established teams. Additionally, the format of NCEA competition is very different than that of traditional horse shows. Now that we've had some competitions under our belts, we are much more comfortable with the rules and realize that we can hold our own against some great teams.
5) What's your favorite memory from competing for the team so far?
In general, I think my favorite part of competing for the team is the overwhelming amount of support we get from our teammates. At normal horse shows, everyone is competing for first place. This often means you are competing against your friends and teammates that train with you under the same coach. It's hard to fully support each other when at the end of the day you need to do better than your teammates to win. At the college level, however, you only compete against the opposing school. You don't have to compete against your teammates. Win or lose, we always have each other's backs.
Quick Facts
Favorite movie: The Shawshank Redemption
If you could only watch one tv show for the rest of your life it would be: What We Do in the Shadows
Favorite horse in the UC Davis stables: It's so hard to choose just one favorite, but I have to say Renny (but don't tell the others because I love them all).
Favorite place you've rode (competitive or otherwise): Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, California
Favorite quote from Coach Jessie: "Jiminy Crickets, y'all!"
Favorite place on campus: The Silo
One thing you'll miss about Davis: All of my teammates and horses from the team.
ABOUT UC DAVIS
Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley. The No. 5-ranked public university in the nation according to the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education, and among the top 15 public universities nationwide according to U.S. News and World Report, UC Davis offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.
MARYA WELCH INITIATIVE
Named after the former physical education instructor, coach and Dean of Women who founded women's sports on the campus 25 years before the passage of Title IX, the Marya Welch Initiative for Women's Athletics provides comprehensive support for UC Davis' 16 women's athletics programs. Through the support of the Marya Welch Initiative and its group members, student-athletes are provided the best possible opportunity to succeed inside the classroom, and in competition, through special project gifts and by increasing visibility and participation at women's events throughout the year. All gifts to the Marya Welch Initiative are matched 1:1, doubling the impact on our women's programs. Visit https://give.ucdavis.edu/ATHG/324041 for more information.
