Interview With Coach Sarah Young

Coach Sarah Young with Hully Gully

Full Name: Sarah Elizabeth Young

Coaching Discipline: English

What were your expectations for yourself when you first started coaching the Tarleton State Equestrian Team?
- My goal for myself was to make this a fun coaching and learning environment. If there's one thing that I've learned through my experience with horses and training, is that riders are more willing to learn and be successful if you make it fun!

What were your expectations for the team when you first started as a coach?
- I think my biggest expectation was for the team to be successful as a whole, and I don't just mean by everyone winning first place ribbons (as nice as that would be). I wanted, and had each rider make personal goals for them selves to try and accomplish, which I think just about everybody has!

How has coaching the team compared to having competed with the team in the past?
- The team has grown so much since I competed on it, we have also become more competitive, and now have two girl going to Nationals for the first time ever!

Sarah Young at USEA Championships

How did you feel when you realized Summer and Jessica had qualified for IHSA Nationals?
- I cried, and I'm not a very emotional person. This was such a huge accomplishment, not just for them, but for the team! I remembered when I qualified and competed in USEA Nationals and how awesome it felt! It feels great that I get to be a part of that with Summer and Jessica for IHSA Nationals!

Have your expectations and hopes for the team changed since they have qualified? If so, how have they changed?
- I still have the same hopes for the team but the only thing that is different, is that I hope to have at least one or two riders qualify for IHSA Nationals each year.

What is a goal that you have for the team in the next five years?
- My hope is that the team continues to grow in numbers and keeps being successful in their showing. I believe that this year id the first year the team has felt so together as a while and I wouldn't want anything else. We could be terrible competitors, but as long as the riders are having fun and love being a part of the team then that's all that matters. I also hope that we continue to get more funding through the school, and keep getting big name sponsors. This is the first year that we've gotten a couple of big name sponsors, and hopefully it will get our name out there and help us grow!

Coach Sarah graduated from Tarleton State University in May 2017 with a degree in Animal Science. She started coaching at age 18 for Deer Creek Stables located in Fort Worth. Sarah worked for Brazo's Valley Equine Hospital, assisting in surgeries and taking care of equine patients, before moving on to becoming a full-time coach for the Tarleton State Equestrian Team!

~ Editor: Jade St. Denis