Langston Shines Outside TCU Equestrian Arena
9/30/2011 12:00:00 AM | Equestrian
Sept. 30, 2011
By Tori Cummings, TCU Media Relations Student Intern
The equestrian season has just started at TCU, but freshman Gabbi Langston has already made her mark as a Horned Frog.
Langston, who hails from New Port Beach, Calif., recently advanced to the ASPCA Maclay Finals in Hunt Seat. The Maclay Tournament, which was established in 1933 as a part of the National Horse Show, is one of the most prestigious finals for junior riders.
Qualifying for the Maclay Finals is not a new phenomenon to Langston though as she has competed in the finals the last three years.
To qualify for the finals, Langston competed in the Maclay Regionals in The Oaks, Calif. She was one of fifty competitors and only the top-13 riders advanced to the finals.
"I really enjoy competing in the Maclay Finals because the energy levels are so high," said Langston. "I'm not really nervous. I'm just really excited about it because its all the best riders in the country."
The finals have been hosted by the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament in Syracuse, N.Y., for the last five years, but this year were moved to the new Alltech Indoor Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.
Langston said she is very excited to show at the new venue.
In addition to competing at the Maclay finals in high school, Langston received other honors riding Hunt Seat. In 2010, she was a World Champion Hunt Seat rider in the Southwest Region. She also received runner-up accolades at the California Professional Horsemen's Association Foundation Medal Finals and at the Junior Hunter Finals in 2011.
Langston said she has encountered many new challenges competing at the collegiate level, including adjusting to the style of the program and competing as part of a team, rather than as an individual.
"One major difference between high school and college is you are on a very consistent work program. You are constantly on a different horse every lesson," said Langston. "I'm now competing with teammates rather than competing as an individual."
On Nov. 2 in Kentucky, Langston will not have teammates, but will show as an individual, an experience with which she is very familiar.
Players Mentioned
