COLLEGE STATION – The Texas A&M equestrian program welcomed 13 signees to its 2027 signing class, head coach Tana McKay announced Thursday afternoon.
“This is an exceptional group of young women who represent everything we look for in future Aggies,” McKay said. “They bring tremendous talent, a competitive mindset, and the character it takes to be successful at Texas A&M. We aren’t just recruiting great riders; we’re recruiting great teammates, leaders and young women who want to compete for championships. We couldn’t be more excited about the future of this program!”
The Aggies added six riders in the Jumping Seat discipline in Natalie Gannett, Yujean Kim, Addison Parins, Sophie Schaeffner, Samantha Smith and Anika Spaeth. On the Western side, the Maroon & White signed seven newcomers in Addie Allen, Adeline Atkinson, Emma Carroll, Makenna Harrison, Harper Kiseljack, Emerson Knabenshue and Elle Russell.
2027 Signing Class
Addie Allen | Horsemanship | Madisonville, Texas
Previous Athletic Experience: Allen has built a strong record in youth Western competition, highlighted by a seventh-place finish in Level 2 Western Riding at the 2026 AGHYA World Show and a fourth-place finish in Level 1 Western Riding at the 2020 event. Allen also claimed the T. Joe Jean Memorial Level 1 Trail championship in consecutive years (2021 and 2022) and was the recipient of the 2024 Bruce Walquist Sportsmanship Award.
Personal: Daughter of Quincy and Dustin Allen, and has one sister, Channing. Allen plans to major in agribusiness and is also interested in attending cosmetology school to get her hair license. She aspires to use her business degree to open her own hair salon in the future. At Madisonville High School, Allen serves as a member of student council and National Honor Society. She is also a member of the National Beta Club and the Prosperity Junior Bank Board. She served as Greenhand Second Vice President of Madisonville FFA in 2023 and was also a member of Madisonville FFA’s Ag Advocacy and Skills teams. In her free time, Allen enjoys drawing, going to concerts, hanging out with family and friends, doing ag mechanical projects, playing softball and listening to music. Her mother, the former Quincy Cahill, was a member of the Texas A&M equestrian team from 1999-02, earning multiple individual and team Western national titles. She became the first equestrian inducted into the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016 and was inducted into the NCEA’s inaugural Hall of Fame Class in 2024. Allen’s grandfather, Bubba Cahill ’74, is a graduate of Texas A&M, making Allen a third-generation Aggie.
Adeline Atkinson | Horsemanship | Independence, Minn.
Previous Athletic Experience: Atkinson arrives in Aggieland as a decorated youth competitor. She enjoyed a successful run at the 2026 Quarter Horse Congress, capturing the Level 1 Youth Horsemanship championship, bronze championship honors in Level 1 Youth Showmanship and Reserve All-Around Champion honors in Level 1 Youth 14-18. Atkinson also claimed the Level 1 Youth Equitation title at the 2026 NSBA World Show, while earning bronze champion finishes in Level 1 Youth Horsemanship and Showmanship. Additional accomplishments include the 2025 Level 1 East Championship Show Youth Horsemanship title.
Personal: Daughter of Dax and Laura Atkinson and has one sister, Estelle. Plans to major in zoology or business. She is considering a career in either career field but is keeping her options open with hopes to work in the animal industry. In her free time, Atkinson enjoys hanging out with friends, reading, spending time outside, riding her horses and shopping. At Orono High School, Atkinson was a multi-sport athlete, competing in volleyball, flag football and track & field. She was a member of National Honor Society and participated in the school’s DECA program. Her sister, Estelle, competes for the TCU equestrian program.
Emma Carroll | Reining | Cypress, Texas
Previous Athletic Experience: Carroll’s notable accomplishments include an 11th-place finish in 14-18 Reining and a ninth-place finish in 13-and-under Western Pleasure at the AGHYA World Show. She recently captured the Ranch Horse High-Point title at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo after one month with her new horse, adding to two previous Ranch Horse High-Point honors at the event. Carroll has also won numerous buckle classes in Reining and Ranch events.
Personal: Daughter of Brian Carroll and Brandi Hill, and stepdaughter of Jeff Hill. She has one brother, Gavin. Carroll plans to major in animal science and wants to pursue a career in veterinary medicine after graduation. She enjoys hanging out with friends, watching police television shows and doing anything crafty or creative. At Cy-Fair High School, Carroll served as historian and treasurer of the school’s FFA chapter and helped the team to a sixth-place finish in the state competition. She has three cousins, Dylan Carroll ’12, Sean Carroll ’18 and Charles Suchma ’20, who earned their degrees from Texas A&M.
Natalie Gannett | Jumping Seat | Hingham, Mass.
Previous Athletic Experience: Recorded top-25 finishes in the Maclay Finals and the USEF Medal Finals. She notched third at the Hermes Equitation Championship and placed in the top 12 at the USET Finals. Gannett took home a win in the Kathy Scholl show in 2024.
Personal: Daughter of Jennifer and Benjamin Gannett. She has one sister, Olivia, and a brother, Finn. Gannett currently attends Bryn Mawr School where she is a High Honor Roll student. A few of her hobbies include solidcore workouts, baking sourdough bread, reading, and enjoying sushi.
Makenna Harrison | Horsemanship | Jamestown, Ind.
Previous Athletic Experience: Harrison arrives in Aggieland as an accomplished youth competitor, highlighted by a 2025 Youth World Show championship and an L1 Championships East title in the L1 Western Pleasure 14-18 show. She also earned reserve champion honors at the 2025 NSBA World Show and placed third at the 2025 Congress. Additional accomplishments include being named the 2024 Congress Reserve Champion in L1 Western Pleasure 14-18, finishing second nationally in L2 Showmanship 14-18 and earning reserve champion honors in L1 Youth Equitation 14-18 at the 2024 L1 Championships East.
Personal: Daughter of John and Lindsay Harrison. She has two brothers, Lukas and Riggs, and one sister, Hadley. Harrison plans to major in business and hopes to pursue a career in the wedding and event-planning industry. After graduating, she aspires to return home to Indiana to work alongside her mother at the wedding venue she directs. Harrison’s hobbies include hanging out with friends and family, attending sporting events, working with animals and getting fun drinks at Starbucks and 7 Brew.
Yujean Kim | Jumping Seat | East Granby, Conn.
Previous Athletic Experience: Placed top 20 in the 2026 Gladstone Cup and notched a third-place finish in the 2026 IEA Varsity Open Flat Individual. Kim notched a top-20 placement in the WEC Equitation Cup in 2025, followed by a top-25 finish at the Dover Medal Finals while also placing top 15 in the New England Equitation Finals in 2024.
Personal: Daughter of Megumi Akamatsu and Chulwan Kim and attends the Ethel Walker School. Her favorite hobby is hiking.
Harper Kiseljack | Reining | Aledo, Texas
Previous Athletic Experience: Kiseljack placed in the youth top three at The Run For a Million and represented Team USA in Switzerland at the 2025 World Reining Championship. She was named champion at the Yellowstone Rookie Shootout Championship and was also the RMRHA Non-Pro L4 Reserve Champion. Kiseljack was a finalist in the 6666 NRHA Non-Pro and in the National Reining Breeders Classic Non-Pro Derby.
Personal: Daughter of Kristin and Scott Kiseljack, and has one brother, Beckett. Her grandfather, Charles Wedemeyer, is a member of Texas A&M’s Class of 1963. She currently attends iUniversity Grapevine and plans to major in biology. Her career goals are to attend medical school after completing her undergraduate degree to become an anesthesiologist. A few of her hobbies include riding horses, traveling, photography, hanging out with her friends and family, and shopping.
Emerson Knabenshue | Horsemanship | Whitesboro, Texas
Previous Athletic Experience: Knabenshue has established an impressive record in youth competition, highlighted by a 2025 AGHYA World Show Level 1 Horsemanship championship and Level 1 West All-Around title in the 14-18 division. She was also named a unanimous champion in Horsemanship and Trail at the event. Additional accomplishments include a 2026 Quarter Horse Congress NYATT Horsemanship Reserve Championship, the 2024 NSBA World Championship in 14-18 Novice Youth Showmanship and reserve champion honors in Level 2 Showmanship 14-18 at the 2024 AGHYA World Show. Knabenshue was also the recipient of the 2026 Dr. Robie Herman Sportsmanship Award and has earned numerous top-five finishes at major competitions in Horsemanship, Equitation, Showmanship and Trail.
Personal: Daughter of Liz and Will Knabenshue. She plans to major in biomedical sciences with aspirations to pursue a career in veterinary medicine after graduation. On top of riding, Knabenshue enjoys creating art, listening to music and going on coffee runs. At Whitesboro High School, Knabenshue was a member of the student council and National Honor Society. She competed for the school’s championship horse judging FFA team, serving as the FFA chapter officer and class senior officer. Additionally, she served as a board member for the Texas Quarter Horse Youth Association.
Addison Parins | Jumping Seat | Suamico, Wis.
Previous Athletic Experience: Parins arrives in Aggieland after securing team bronze honors at the USHJA Zone Jumper Championships twice. She placed seventh at the Arion Equitation Classic and has multiple top finishes in the 1.35 medium Junior Jumpers shows.
Personal: Daughter of Bethany and Greg Parins. She currently attends Bay Port High School where she is an honor roll student. Parins participates in FFA while also being an active member of Spanish club, Glamour Gals, Youth Service Learning (YSL) and Running Club. She plans to major in business and intends to go pro after college as a rider and trainer, focusing on the breeding and upbringing of talented horses for the equestrian community as well as riding and competing in the upper levels of show jumping. Some of her favorite hobbies include social media management and running multiple social media accounts for businesses. She is also in the process of creating a marketing business. Parins enjoys running and helping with local kids’ clubs when she has time away from showing horses.
Elle Russell | Reining | Peaster, Texas
Previous Athletic Experience: Russell arrives in Aggieland as an accomplished youth rider, highlighted by a championship win at the 2025 The Run for A Million Rookie Level 2 Challenge in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Peaster, Texas, native achieved success in the 2026 National Reining Breeders Classic, becoming the Non-Pro Classic Youth Co-Champion and the Level 1 Reserve Champion. Additional accomplishments include a third-place finish in the 2025 The Run For A Million Youth Challenge, a top-10 performance in the 2026 event and was a finalist in the 2026 National Reining Horse Association Derby.
Personal: Daughter of Keri Russell and has one sister, Kate. Russell plans to major in animal science and hopes to become a veterinarian specializing in equine medicine. Her hobbies include hunting, fishing and traveling with her family, but her favorite hobby is riding horses. Russell loves any outdoor adventure, stating that as long as she is outside, she is happy. She comes from a line of accomplished collegiate athletes in her family. Her father, Jason Russell, lettered five years at Oklahoma State as an offensive lineman and her grandfather, Grover Rains, was a national champion and Hall of Fame wrestler at Oklahoma State. At Peaster High School, Russell was an A/B honor roll student and a top fundraiser for the FFA program.
Sophie Schaeffner | Jumping Seat | Lafayette, N.J.
Previous Athletic Experience: Schaeffner has earned numerous top finishes as a youth competitor, including a fourth-place finish at the 2026 Maclay Regionals and a seventh-place performance in the USET at Devon, Pennsylvania. Additional accomplishments include a sixth-place finish in the Arion Equitation Classic, a top-25 finish in the Gladstone Equitation Classic and a seventh-place finish at the Junior Hunter Finals. Schaeffner also earned champion and Classic Winner honors in the 1.15-meter Jumpers at the Lake Placid Horse Show and qualified for the USEF Medal Finals, Washington Finals, USET Finals and Maclay Finals.
Personal: Daughter of Katie Moriarty and Chris Schaeffner and has one brother, Talon. Schaeffner plans to major in international affairs and wants to continue to develop horses and compete professionally when she graduates. She enjoys helping in the barn and adventuring with friends. Her mother, Katie, played collegiate basketball at Smith College. At Excel High School, Schaeffner was a member of the computer science, math and Spanish honor societies and was a captain of the chemistry club.
Samantha Smith | Jumping Seat | Montvale, N.J.
Previous Athletic Experience: In 2023, Smith won the USEF Pony Medal Finals and was named reserve champion at Capital Challenge in the 16-17 age group equitation division. She also placed second and 10th in the Jumping Seat Medal Final Flat Phase.
Personal: Daughter of Jessica and David Smith, and has one sister, Sydney. She is currently attending the Saddle River Day School and plans to major in business. She hopes to one day take over her parents’ barn, and one of her favorite hobbies is crocheting chunky blankets. Smith also enjoys one of her favorite foods, sushi.
Anika Spaeth | Jumping Seat | Aiken, S.C.
Previous Athletic Experience: Recorded a team and individual gold finish at the Zone 4 1.20 Meter Championships and placed first in the classic round at the Junior Hunter Finals in the 3’3 16-17 Junior Hunters in 2026. She was also a reserve champion at the Washington International Horse Show in the Large 3’3 Junior Hunter in 2026. Spaeth notched top-20 finishes in the PBIA North American Equestrian Championships in 2025 and 2026 and at the WEC Cup Equitation Finals twice in 2024 and 2025. Last year, she notched a top-25 placement in the Gladstone Cup, a Zone 4-year end championship in the 1.10 Junior Jumpers and placed fifth at the HITS Equitation Championship in Ocala.
Personal: Daughter of Meghan and Oliver Spaeth, and has one brother, Landon. Spaeth currently attends the Enlightium Academy where she is second in her class. She plans to major in biology and intends to become a pediatric anesthesiologist. Spaeth also has hopes of competing in FEI in equestrian show jumping. Some of her favorite hobbies include reading, doing spontaneous activities, going to amusement parks, traveling the world, and working in the barn with horses when she finds spare time. She also enjoys sushi and is willing to try any kind of food.
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