Every Tuesday and Thursday, seventh grader Lucia Macy leaves school swiftly to arrive at her barn in Brentwood around 4:30 p.m. Upon arriving and changing into uniform, she greets her friend, fellow athlete and riding partner, her horse named Wall-E, to begin the day’s training as a member of the equestrian team.
At Archer, student athletes can participate in 10 different sports across three seasons during the school year. Uniquely, riders practice equestrian year-round, and the sport connects middle and upper school students into one team with their similar passion for competitive horseback riding.
This season, the equestrian team is made up of 13 members, with eighth grade riders making up almost half the roster. The team practices individually before coming together to compete in the four shows within the Interscholastic Equestrian League, where riders earn points for their respective schools.
Macy has participated in equestrian since she was 2, thanks to her father who read her Western novels during her childhood. Since joining the equestrian team, she said her practices have become more challenging as she prepares for IEL’s more rigorous tournaments.
“My trainers have been pushing me a bit harder now that I go to the bigger shows,” Macy said. “But it’s actually been really fun, and I’ve been learning a lot since I joined Archer.”
Depending on the athlete’s grade and age, they are put into one of four rings: novice, freshman, JV or Varsity. Within each ring, riders can participate in events such as dressage, hunter and equitation, where judges examine either the rider’s, the horse’s or their combined footwork, jumping and posture. Because riders and their horses are judged simultaneously, co-captain Natalie London (‘26) said a healthy relationship between a rider and their horse is imperative.
“It’s definitely very important to have a horse that you can trust and that trusts you as well, that you’re both going to do your responsibilities to keep each other safe,” London said. “So I definitely think that the more time you spend with a horse … that bond is going to strengthen. It’s invaluable really that time you spend together, and you can definitely see that pay off when you’re in the ring or competing.”
Wall-E, named after Disney’s waste-collecting robot, has been with Macy since she was 11. However, as Wall-E was unwell and unable to compete during the October IEL shows, Macy has been preparing him for his first IEL show in March. Macy participates in hunter equitation, which focuses on flat work instead of jumps, and said she loves her relationship with Wall-E.
“He’s really sweet. He’s a little bit stubborn sometimes, [so I’ve] got to really get him going,” Macy said. “He really loves jumping and doesn’t like the flat work too much. But once he gets excited about something, he’s the best horse ever.”
As team captains, London and junior Goldie Bronson lead the team both at the barn during the IEL meets and on campus during the team meetings each month. London said, as one of the smallest sports at Archer, the “niche” aspects of equestrian bond the team even when they are apart.
“It definitely formed like a sense of community, even though we might not ride at the same place, you see them at competitions [and] you’re still rooting for them, even if you’re competing against them,” London said. “I would say, at least for me, I always want my friends to win, most of the time, I would say over myself … I’m always really happy for them when they get to succeed.”
The first two shows of the season took place Oct. 28 and 29; however, while riders await the third and fourth shows taking place March 23 and 24, they continue to practice and participate in barn shows and additional competitions individually outside of the league. Macy said the shows at her barn provide her with a less pressured way to ride and to see her barn mates ride as well.
As the IEL shows are on the weekend, Athletic Director Kim Smith said they are a great opportunity for the Archer community to support the equestrian team.
“You have the opportunity to see them compete, and they’re incredible athletes, incredible riders, and have these amazing horses,” Smith said. “Not only do they themselves be athletes, but they’re controlling an animal with these intricate movement movements, and it’s really quite a spectacle to see. I encourage the Archer community to come out in the March show.”
Additional reporting by Senior Reporter Sydney Tilles (’26).
