Off To The Races: How The Sarah Lawrence Equestrian Team Is Starting Their 2026-2027 Season In Style

Elise Hendricks ‘28

Photos by Summer Stammely ‘28 (left), Claire Woodruff  ‘29 (middle), and Emma Androne ‘27 (right)

If you’re looking for a new sport to watch that’s different from what Campbell Sports Center usually has to offer, then you’re in luck.

The 2026-2027 Equestrian season has begun.

Gearing up for yet another year, the Sarah Lawrence Equestrian Team started off the new season with their first meet on Oct. 11 at Marist in Lagrangeville, New York. Nyah Raposo ‘28 and Quinn Sarrazin ‘29 earned first-place finishes, and in total, the Gryphons took home a total of 10 ribbons.

The equestrian team has strong roots at Sarah Lawrence, being introduced at SLC in the early 1980s. Being part of the IHSA, Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association, Sarah Lawrence is in the Zone 3 category of the IHSA Geographic Region along with schools such as Marist University, SUNY New Paltz, Vassar, and more.

It’s evident that this season is one already filled with excitement and confidence. With returning riders alongside some newer additions to the team, the hope is that this upcoming season is shaping up to be a ribbon-filled one.

Claire Woodruff ‘29 is on the Sarah Lawrence Equestrian team and has a unique perspective as a newer member. She began in the Spring of 2026 and has since grown fond of the sport. “I’ve been taking horse lessons since 2020 to have something to do during the pandemic,” said Woodruff. “But I fell in love with it.”

Woodruff gave a sneak peek into the usual routine of a rider on the team. With two practices every week either at 8 a.m. or 9 a.m., the team gathers to commute to their practice stables where they hit the ground running with training in walk, trot, canter, and sometimes jumping.

The meets take place in the mornings, meaning that the team is usually up and on the road by 6 a.m. They gear up and go to their respective classes and levels with their horses, who are, by that point, already tacked up and ready to go. When the meet begins, the announcer starts directing each athlete and their horse on what they need to show. From here, each rider is assessed and then ranked based on their performance.

“I haven’t been involved for very long”, said Woodruff. “But I really enjoy it. I love trying to get better and spending time with the horses and the team.”

For senior Emma Androne, who’s been on the team since freshman year, the community that horseback riding brings to the forefront is something that is important to her. “We have gotten to make friends with riders from other schools,” said Androne. “Which seems rare regarding other sports.” Androne has been riding horseback ever since she was 7 years old, but took a brief break in high school. When she came to Sarah Lawrence and realized she could get back into the game, she decided it was time to start again. “I really like to ride because you and your horse feel like a team,” said Androne. “It takes a lot of effort out of me; however, it makes me feel accomplished and gives me a confident start to the day.”

The team had a successful 2025-2026 season last year, resulting in riders Nyah Raposo and Maeve Lamson, both finishing in third place overall in the IHSA regionals. Other members of the team were also recognized at the 2025-2026 sports banquet. One rider in particular, Summer Stammely, was awarded the Rasky Award. This award, specific to the Sarah Lawrence Equestrian team, has been awarded to one team member since 1990 who embodies “effort, spirit, and determination.” Stammely spoke to the meaning of this award for her, saying, “I’m incredibly thankful to have received it this past year, but I believe many of my teammates were equally deserving.”

For Stammely, the Rasky award means so much more than just effort, spirit, and determination. It means having the determination that is expected of you and knowing how to work through the “less glamorous” parts of equestrian, as Stammely put it. 

“I believe that being an equestrian encompasses many things. Only part of it is actually training, working out, and riding,” said Stammely. “The most important parts of the sport are what happens ‘on the ground,’ as we say, such as caring for the horses, cleaning the barn, and equipment.” It goes without saying that this sport is one that requires skill and a strong mindset to get through the early practices, meets, and the labor that goes into equestrian.

So, if you’re looking to rally together to see a sport different than the likes of which you’ve seen at Campbell, make sure to review the schedule and do whatever you can to support the Gryphons representing us on horseback. As Stammely concluded the interview, she made one thing clear: “Horseback riding is often seen as ‘lesser’ compared to traditional sports, but those of us who are in the sport know how much athleticism, endurance, and risk is involved.”

For the 2026-2027 season schedule, visit https://gogryphons.com/sports/equestrian and follow the team on Instagram @slcequestrianteam.

Equestrian Season Schedule: gogryphons.com