Sept. 4, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M equestrian head coach Tana McKay announced three walk-ons and a transfer student-athlete have joined the defending national champion squad.
 Melody Malbin |
Kara Fishgold, a transfer from Paradise Valley Community College in Scottsdale, Arizona, and the daughter of Marty and Valerie Fishgold is very familiar with the Aggie equestrian team as her older sister, Genna, was a valuable member of the squad the past three years. Kara attended Paradise Valley High School in Arizona and has recorded a number of Top 10 finishes in reining and reining seat equitation. She has been a multiple AHA Regional Champion in reining as well as national freestyle reining champion.
"Kara has a great knowledge of our team as her sister (Genna) competed for us and helped us win our national championship this past year," McKay said. "Kara has had extensive experience in a number of events and will be a great addition to the reining team."
Melody Malbin, the daughter of Gary and Donna Malbin, attended Joel Barlow High School in Redding, Connecticut, and will walk-on to the squad. Malbin qualified for the FEI North American junior young riders championship in Parker, Colorado, in 2008. She competed in the USEF national youth reining championships in 2008 and finished fifth. She also finished fifth at the 2008 NRBC in limited non pro.
"We are very excited to have Melody join our program," McKay stated. "She is a very talented rider and has a great passion for the sport of reining."
Becca Murray, the daughter of Craig and Lisa Murray, attended Burbank High School in Burbank, California, and will join the squad as a walk-on. She graduated in the top five percent of her class and has been riding for 14 years including the last seven reining. Murray has earned numerous Top 10 finishes at the AQHA Youth World Show and just this August earned a third place in the 2009 AQYHA Youth World Show. She was the 2009 Hollywood Charity Horse Show youth champion as well as the non-pro champion, intermediate non-pro champion and limited non-pro champion. She was Intermediate non-pro reserve champion and limited non-pro reserve champion in 2008 at the North American Affiliate Championships as well as the intermediate non-pro champion and limited non-pro champion at the 2008 Southwest Affiliate Championships.
"Becca has had an extensive and very successful career showing reiners," McKay said. "We are looking forward to the talent that she will add to our roster."
Emma Myers, the daughter of Steve and Robin Myers, attended Carlton High School in Yamhill, Oregon, will also join the team as a walk-on. Myers joins the reining squad after an extensive role as a member and office of the FFA during her high school career. A member of the National Honor Society and class vice-president, Myers' name has appeared on the honor roll several times. As a member of her high school equestrian team, she was a state championship qualifier, a District All-Around Top 5 Award winner and the state championship Top 10 finisher. She was also a nationally qualifier for the AQHYA World Championship Show.
"Emma has some great experience in a number of different events," McKay said. "She most recently has been bitten by the reining bug and has had some excellent experience showing in NRHA and AQHA Shows. She qualified for the youth world show this year in reining but unfortunately her horse sustained an injury and she was unable to compete. She is very talented and we look forward to adding her to our program."
The Texas A&M equestrian team has won seven national championships in the past 11 years and Coach McKay, the only head coach in Aggie equestrian history, is excited about the new additions.
"We spent a lot of time with these ladies while we were recruiting them last year and I am very excited to be able to add so much talent to our reining team this year," McKay said. "The great thing about all of these young ladies, besides their tremendous talent, is they are all going to be great additions to the Aggie family. They all are very good students and have earned themselves some great academic scholarships. They come from wonderful families and have had great support systems during their riding and showing careers. I know they will add a great deal of team spirit and talent to our reining team and we are all excited to see how the next few years unfold."
The Aggie equestrian team opens the 2009-10 season with a competition against Fresno State set for 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11 at the Brazos County Expo Complex in Bryan.