Photo by: Wade Rackley
Getting to Know: Caroline Dance
Oct 15, 2019 | Equestrian
Q: What are your individual and team expectations heading into the 2019 season?
"Heading into this year we're all going to be focused on being accurate and bold. We want to go out and have clean patterns and still be super strong in Flat and Fences. I want to be able to walk into the ring with that confidence of standing out and I think we have that over some of the other teams, so when we compete that will show."
Q: What did you work on during the summer to help prepare for the upcoming season?
"I think most of us got to show over the summer so we were able to take a slight breather from college riding and have some fun on our horses. I got to ride a little bit for Louse Serio which I am thankful for, and even showed a few times. But overall I think we all got to take a break to be reminded why we love to ride."
Q: Entering your third year as a starter, do you view yourself as a leader and how do you think you have evolved as a competitor?
"This year I am trying to become more of a leader. I will admit I have been a little quiet the last two years. I now feel as though I have found my rounds and I think I am starting to become a better leader. In the end, that is definitely something I am trying to improve upon this season."
Q: What are some things you try to teach the freshman?
"I always remind them that they constantly have their team behind them. I think coming into a team this big can be overwhelming to find your place. They need to realize we have their backs and are lucky to be here just as much as the returners are. I always try to remind them to put your best foot forward and represent your team well."
Q: What is your favorite aspect of equestrian?
"I love being around animals. I think of the horses as being a really big dog. It truly is amazing they can understand what we're wanting by using a small pressure with our legs, hands and seat. If I ever start to get frustrated, I take a step back to think it's truly remarkable they can understand what we are wanting from them. The horses are such smart creatures that deserve so much more credit than they are given. But my favorite part about riding is the babies and teaching the young ones. I always have enjoyed getting to do that."
Q: What is your favorite moment? And why?
"One of my favorite moments came last year when we traveled to Baylor. Baylor hadn't been beaten at home in years. I was the last one to go on Flat and we were tied until it got to my spot. It was my point to win it all for us since all the other disciplines were done. Everyone ended up making their way over to watch since I was the tiebreaker point, which I ended pulling out to win the meet. It was fun to walk out of the ring and tell everyone we just did that. To top it all off, that was our last meet before heading into postseason, so it was a huge high to be on to carry us into that."
Q: Do you have a favorite event to compete in?
"I think I like both of them the same amount. Last year I started Flat and I had done Fences before. Flat was very new to me but the more I practiced the more confident I got doing it. I like walking into the Flat ring, could not tell you why but it just a feeling that'll stay with me after my career is over. During my freshman year, I was scared of the Flat box, as every rookie is since nobody knows what to expect or how to do it. It's definitely comes with a little bit of a learning curve for us. But I think my two events might have flip-flopped. I might have to say Flat over Fences which if you were to have asked me this freshman year I would have never had those two in comparison."
Q: Do you have any pre-meet rituals?
"I really like weird socks, so usually when we have a meet I'll find my strangest pair to wear under my boots. I have this pair that has unicorns and narwhals on them that are my favorite. I have a good amount of narwhal socks, don't ask me why but I have a good collection started. Another ritual I have is I will go back to spend time with the horses after our team meetings if the meet is here at home."
Q: What is your Aggie tradition?
"My favorite Aggie tradition, if I had to narrow it down to one, would be the Aggie Ring. I love what it stands for, so I am very excited to finally get my own and be a part of the whole network. It doesn't compare to any other school and their rings. We value ours so much more. The amount of work and time we put into it to show how much we love this school is something you can't find anywhere else. There have been times where I am not even in town and someone will stop to talk to me just from seeing my Texas A&M Equestrian shirt on. One time in particular, I was up in Vermont at a Ben and Jerry's and an older gentleman showed me his ring. It had been so worn it was smoothed over and couldn't tell what it said or anything. That was the first Aggie Ring I had ever seen up close, so I will always remember that."
Q: Why did you choose Texas A&M?
"I choose A&M because I really loved the people here. I was in between two schools and I had both visits planned but I came here first. I knew right then and there I loved this place so much. I remember telling my mom how much I loved the people, the atmosphere, the facilities and horses. I knew right away, but she kept telling me I needed to visit one more school to know for sure. I ended up not going to the other visit I had set up and verbally committed to A&M right away. Deep down I knew this is exactly where I needed to be."
"Heading into this year we're all going to be focused on being accurate and bold. We want to go out and have clean patterns and still be super strong in Flat and Fences. I want to be able to walk into the ring with that confidence of standing out and I think we have that over some of the other teams, so when we compete that will show."
Q: What did you work on during the summer to help prepare for the upcoming season?
"I think most of us got to show over the summer so we were able to take a slight breather from college riding and have some fun on our horses. I got to ride a little bit for Louse Serio which I am thankful for, and even showed a few times. But overall I think we all got to take a break to be reminded why we love to ride."
Q: Entering your third year as a starter, do you view yourself as a leader and how do you think you have evolved as a competitor?
"This year I am trying to become more of a leader. I will admit I have been a little quiet the last two years. I now feel as though I have found my rounds and I think I am starting to become a better leader. In the end, that is definitely something I am trying to improve upon this season."
Q: What are some things you try to teach the freshman?
"I always remind them that they constantly have their team behind them. I think coming into a team this big can be overwhelming to find your place. They need to realize we have their backs and are lucky to be here just as much as the returners are. I always try to remind them to put your best foot forward and represent your team well."
Q: What is your favorite aspect of equestrian?
"I love being around animals. I think of the horses as being a really big dog. It truly is amazing they can understand what we're wanting by using a small pressure with our legs, hands and seat. If I ever start to get frustrated, I take a step back to think it's truly remarkable they can understand what we are wanting from them. The horses are such smart creatures that deserve so much more credit than they are given. But my favorite part about riding is the babies and teaching the young ones. I always have enjoyed getting to do that."
Q: What is your favorite moment? And why?
"One of my favorite moments came last year when we traveled to Baylor. Baylor hadn't been beaten at home in years. I was the last one to go on Flat and we were tied until it got to my spot. It was my point to win it all for us since all the other disciplines were done. Everyone ended up making their way over to watch since I was the tiebreaker point, which I ended pulling out to win the meet. It was fun to walk out of the ring and tell everyone we just did that. To top it all off, that was our last meet before heading into postseason, so it was a huge high to be on to carry us into that."
Q: Do you have a favorite event to compete in?
"I think I like both of them the same amount. Last year I started Flat and I had done Fences before. Flat was very new to me but the more I practiced the more confident I got doing it. I like walking into the Flat ring, could not tell you why but it just a feeling that'll stay with me after my career is over. During my freshman year, I was scared of the Flat box, as every rookie is since nobody knows what to expect or how to do it. It's definitely comes with a little bit of a learning curve for us. But I think my two events might have flip-flopped. I might have to say Flat over Fences which if you were to have asked me this freshman year I would have never had those two in comparison."
Q: Do you have any pre-meet rituals?
"I really like weird socks, so usually when we have a meet I'll find my strangest pair to wear under my boots. I have this pair that has unicorns and narwhals on them that are my favorite. I have a good amount of narwhal socks, don't ask me why but I have a good collection started. Another ritual I have is I will go back to spend time with the horses after our team meetings if the meet is here at home."
Q: What is your Aggie tradition?
"My favorite Aggie tradition, if I had to narrow it down to one, would be the Aggie Ring. I love what it stands for, so I am very excited to finally get my own and be a part of the whole network. It doesn't compare to any other school and their rings. We value ours so much more. The amount of work and time we put into it to show how much we love this school is something you can't find anywhere else. There have been times where I am not even in town and someone will stop to talk to me just from seeing my Texas A&M Equestrian shirt on. One time in particular, I was up in Vermont at a Ben and Jerry's and an older gentleman showed me his ring. It had been so worn it was smoothed over and couldn't tell what it said or anything. That was the first Aggie Ring I had ever seen up close, so I will always remember that."
Q: Why did you choose Texas A&M?
"I choose A&M because I really loved the people here. I was in between two schools and I had both visits planned but I came here first. I knew right then and there I loved this place so much. I remember telling my mom how much I loved the people, the atmosphere, the facilities and horses. I knew right away, but she kept telling me I needed to visit one more school to know for sure. I ended up not going to the other visit I had set up and verbally committed to A&M right away. Deep down I knew this is exactly where I needed to be."
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