DAVIS, Calif. — Attending one of the top public universities in the United States, Lauren Brigham has spent the last four years filling her brain to the brim with knowledge.

That experience did not end at the classroom door, however, as the Santa Cruz, Calif., native applied that same mentality to the arena during her brief career with the UC Davis equestrian program, soaking up every bit of information and improving day after day as part of the Aggies' fledgling Division I program.

"Lauren came to the team through tryouts and from her first day at practice she has been a sponge ready to absorb all the new knowledge and information she can get making her an ideal athlete," Head Coach Jessie Weisinger said during the team's 2021 senior ceremony. "She has improved tremendously in the short one-and-a-half years she has been with us.

"In addition to her growth in the arena, Lauren is an ideal student-athlete maintaining great grades and working hard in school. She has been a constant supporter of her teammates and I don't think I have ever seen her without a smile on her face even through the adversity she has faced this past year. We are going to miss not having her around, but know she is going to do great things in her professional career."

A world traveler who took some time after high school to work at a thoroughbred stud farm in New Zealand as well as endangered Skyrian horses in Greece, Brigham has shined in the classroom for UC Davis, twice earning NCEA American Paint Horse Association Honor Roll awards and named to the Eastern College Athletic Conference honor roll in 2020.

Now preparing to walk across the stage with her degree in human development in hand, Brigham took time to reflect on her time as a member of the Aggie program and what she has in store for her future after UC Davis.

Q: Talk about your earliest memory of horses and what drew you to want to work with them?
LB: "My earliest memory with horses is walking to the stables with my grandmother that were down the road from her house in England. I would beg her all day to take me to feed carrots to the horses. That fascination with horses continued throughout my childhood, I read every book about horses I could find and found any horse to be near until I finally broke my parents down when I was 6 years old and convinced them to let me start riding."

Q: Did you play in any other sports before attending UC Davis? What made equestrian your sport of choice?
LB: "I played softball for a couple of years in middle school, but besides that I did not play other sports seriously before coming to UC Davis. I have ridden and owned horses since I was young and so riding and taking care of them has taken up almost any extra time I've had outside of school. Equestrian to me isn't just a sport that you choose, it's just what I absolutely love to do and there's no question about it being my sport and lifestyle."

Q: How have you seen this program grow during your time as an Aggie?
LB: "I watch my coaches and teammates put in the work to improve and grow the program every single day. Our coaches encourage team spirit, good horsemanship, and help us all improve as riders and teammates every chance they get. My teammates are working at being the best individually and as a team that they can be and I am watching the program grow so quickly."

Q: Who was your favorite UC Davis horse and why?
LB: "Trevor, one of the reining horses, is my favorite UC Davis horse. He's a lot of fun to ride and has a really sensitive but wants to please personality."

Q: What is one thing that you will miss the most when you finally leave UC Davis?
LB: "I will miss how close everything is. I love the routine of going from class to practice and weights, then to the farmers market just down the road with friends. While we get really busy, Davis also promotes a simple way of life."

Q: What are your plans after graduation?
LB: "I will be taking a gap year to work for a cutting trainer and doing some traveling. I am then hoping to enter a program to earn my master's in nursing and would like to become a pediatric nurse."

QUICK FACTS…
Favorite movie – The Man from Snowy River
One thing on your bucket list – Swim with sharks
Favorite vacation spot – Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Favorite place to compete – home!
Favorite saying/quote – Be kind to everyone you meet.
Favorite meal – burritos of any kind
Favorite place to study on campus – At a table outside of the Memorial Union
If you could invite three people to dinner (living or dead), who would you invite and why?
1) My grandfather Dick Drewry, one of the wisest and well humored people and I would love to hear words of advice from him one last time.
2) Tom Yoshida, one of my mentors and the most skilled horsemen I've been lucky enough to work with.
3) Esme, my sister, because she teaches us all kindness and is my partner in everything I do.