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NMSU Equestrian Team Working On Fundraising

Last week, NMSU’s Equestrian Team got the news the program would be cut due to budget concerns. Later, the University reversed the decision giving the team one more year to compete.

Equestrian team member Hallie Padilla says the team was heartbroken when they heard the team was being disbanded.

“I was devastated,” Padilla said. “Especially, to be given 30 days notice before school starts, really didn’t give anyone an opportunity for anything. It didn’t give us an opportunity to raise some money. The NCAA is already trying to get the equestrian sport as a whole to be self-sustaining.”

Kate Nelson says they were grateful to the university’s athletic department and administration for giving them one more year.

“One of my teammates mom actually described it best,” Nelson said. “You know you were hoping for the best, but prepared for the worst, and so when the best actually does happen, it’s kind of an unreal feeling.”

Nelson says a year gives members of team time to figure out what’s next.

“It definitely gives us the opportunity to find backing to become financially independent,” Nelson said. “And supported by outside sources. And it gives us the year if girls want to move to other programs we are able to do that now. Before, 30 days was not enough notice. It was like we could stay with the scholarship and not ride, or we could go ride somewhere and be a walk on and not have any kind of financial support, and it was really such short of notice it left us with nothing to do and we had nowhere to go.”

Hallie Padilla says the team is going to be working for the next year to raise financial support, meeting with groups like the Home Builder’s association and fundraising online.

“We’re here and getting ideas and just trying to get organized,” Padilla said. “And we have the Go-Fund me account up right now under save the NMSU equestrian team. We raised $5,000 in just 72 hours or so. And we’re hoping that in this coming year we raise a lot more.”

The team needs to raise about $417,000 to be self-sustaining. Kate Nelson says the team is one of the most important parts of her college experience.

“It really means everything to me,” Nelson said. “I came to New Mexico State solely for the equestrian team. I was recruited. I’m all the way from Chicago. My teammates are my family.”

NMSU will honor the scholarships commitments for team members, regardless if the team continues past next year.

Samantha Sonner was a multimedia reporter for KRWG- TV/FM.
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